Milkweed

Eating milkweeds is a touchy subject. People express concern for taking away plants that are necessary for monarchs, important pollinators that are plummeting towards extinction.

This decline is not only a concern for butterfly admirers, but is also a warning sign of an unhealthy ecosystem. The majority of crops that we eat and provide our nutrition (fruits, vegetables, nuts) and an overwhelming majority of plants outside our agricultural systems, use animal-mediated pollination like monarchs. Thus making pollinators a crucial part of maintaining biodiversity of our natural ecosystems.

The declining population of monarchs is largely due to habitat loss, which is primarily milkweed plants.

With urbanization and agricultural growth, fields where milkweed once flourished have been destroyed. Milkweed would still grow between farm crop, however, being viewed as a noxious weed coupled with the increase use of genetically modified crops and chemicals like pesticides, milkweed has almost been eradicated.

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) lay eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves and once hatched, caterpillars eat the leaves.

Interestingly, milkweed contains toxins known as cardenolides. Monarchs are immune to it, but cardenolides accumulate in their system as the go through metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. Predators that eat monarchs are susceptible to this poison and become very sick. The monarchs beautiful wing pattern has evolved into a warning sign to predators.

Caution: eat milkweed in moderation, it has caused gastric distress for some individuals with large consumption.

If consumption of milkweed is treated as a delicacy and collected sustainably, the plant will continue to healthfully propagate.

From this plentiful milkweed field, I lacro-fermented almost opened buds, deep pink, still with a pop. Perfect for a wild summer martini. Stuffed some pods with chorizo, battered and fried them. Delicious.

Dr. Cristina Allen ND