Asclepias subulata
Desert Milkweed, Rush Milkweed
Oʼodham[unknown]
Description
Asclepias subulata appears as a 3 foot tall spray of leafless green stems. It grows in or near washes and other places with higher soil moiture, at 1000 to 3000 ft. During the Monsoon, the stems produce a terminal cluster of bell-shaped, succulent white flowers that are a favorite feeding place for several species of insect including the Tarantula hawk wasp. The photo shows a milkweed Bug which is immune to the toxic nectar produced by the flowers.
