Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Milkweed—A war strategic material and a potential industrial crop for sub-marginal lands in the United States

  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In 1943 the U. S. Federal Government erected a milk weed floss- and seed-extracting plant at Petoskey, Michigan, the only one of its kind in the world, and in one year this plant furnished to the armed forces two million pounds of milkweed floss that was used in lieu of kapok from Java in the manufacture of life saving equipment. Two million pounds of seed and tons of fibers were by-products as potential commercial sources of oil and cellulose, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Anonymous. Research on sound control— Summary of principles of sound control in airplanes. Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Aug. 1, 1943.

  2. Beckett, R. E. and Stitt, R. S. The desert milkweed(Asclepias subulata) as a possible source of rubber. U. S. Dept. Agr., Tech. Bull. 472. 1935.

  3. Berkman, B. Milkweed instead of kapok. Chem. Ind., April, 1942.

  4. Milkweed today and tomorrow. 9th Ann. Chemurgic Conf., March 24, 1943. Paper #208.

  5. -. Statement of Dr. Boris Berkman before Congressional Committee on Agriculture. March, 1942.

  6. Braun, K. Die Buluba Faser(Gompho carpus semilunatus A. Rich—Asclepias semilunata N.E.Br.). Pflanzer7(1): 22–26. 1911.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cook, O. F. Rubber possibilities, of many kinds exist in the United States. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1927: 562–565.

  8. Dodge, C. R. A report on the uncultivated bast fibers. U. S. Dept. Agr., Fiber Inves., Rep. 6. 1894.

  9. -. A descriptive catalogue of useful fiber plants of the world. U. S. Dept. Agr., Fiber Inves., Rep. 9. 1897.

  10. Gerhardt, F. Commercial possibility of the common milkweed as indicated by its yield and composition. Ind. & Eng. Chem. 22: 160–163. 1930.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. —. Propagation and food translocation in the common milkweed. Jour. Agr. Res. 39: 837–851. 1929.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Grace, N. H.et al. Extraction of rubber from milkweed in Canada. Chem. Ind. 54: 842–845. 1944.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Groh, H. Notes on common milkweed. Sci. Agr. 23: 625–632. 1943.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. — and Dore, W. G. A milkweed survey in Ontario and adjacent Quebec. Sci. Agr. 25: 463–481. 1945.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hall, H. M. and Long, P. L. Rubber content of North American plants. Carnegie Inst. Wash., Pub. 313. 1921.

  16. Henkel, Alice. American root drugs. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bull. 107. 1907.

  17. Jardine, W. M. The year in agriculture. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1925: 51–53.

  18. -. The year in agriculture. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1926: 68–70.

  19. Iowa Agricultural Experimental Station. Physiological and Chemical studies of milkweed. Ann. Rep. 1929: 32.

  20. Kalm, P. Travels into North America. 1772.

  21. Kirkwood, A. A short treatise on the milkweed or silkweed, and the Canadian nettle, viewed as industrial resources. 1867.

  22. Kondratsky, P. (Lastotschnik,Asclepias syriaca.) Bote f.d. Flachsmarkt pp. 301–303. Moscow, 1927.

  23. Kuzmenko, A.Asclepias cornuti Decaisne, and its distribution and culture in the Ukraine. Leningrad. April, 1928.

  24. Lanson, H.et al. Milkweed seed oil; potential value in protective clothing. Ind. & Eng. Chem.37: 179–181. 1945.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Matsurevich, I. K. La composition du sue lactifère deI’Asclepias cornuti (Syriaca L). Zhhur. Prik. Khim.8(3): 476–487. 1935.[Russian; French summary.]

    Google Scholar 

  26. —. An investigation of the caoutchouc obtained fromAsclepias cornuti (Syriaca L.). Zhur. Prik. Khim. 9(4): 728–730. 1936.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Meitzen, H. Ueber den Werth derAsclepias cornuti Decaisnc (Syriaca L.) als Gespinnstp flanze. Diss., Göttingen. 1862.

  28. Mell, C. D. Interesting sources of natural dyestuffs. Textile Colorist 56. 1934.

  29. Nebovidsky, H. Le problème de la culture des plantes àa caoutchouc vu sous le jour des expériènces acquisés en U.S.S.R. V Congr. Int. Tech. & Chimique Ind. Agr. Vol. 3. 1938.

  30. Novikow, V. A. and Gerber, E. K. The inducing of rubber formation in plants by ultraviolet rays. Leningrad. Akad Nauk. SSSR. Dok 1933 (3) 131–136.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Orlove, M. P. On the chemical characteristics of certain forms of caoutchouc of Soviet Russia and the latex ofAsclepias. Chem. Zeutr.107(2): 2242. 1936.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Paul, E. B.et al. The rubber hydrocarbon ofAsclepias syriaca L. Canad. Jour. Res. 21B: 219–223. 1943.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Pellett, F. C. American honey plants. Am. Bee Jour. 221–223. 1930.

  34. Rees, W. H. The overall specific volume compressibility and resilience of fibrous materials. Jour. Textile Inst. (British) 39(4). 1948.

  35. Rheineck, A. E. Phytochemical study ofAsclepias syriaca Linne. Pharm. Arch.10(4–6): 53–64; 69–80; 93–96. 1939.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Sonnini de Manoncourt, C. S. Traité des Asclepiades, particulièrement de l’Asclepiade de Syrie, précède de quelques observations sur la culture du coton en France. 146 pp. 1810.

  37. Sparrows, F. K. and Pearson, Norma L. Pollen compatibility inAsclepias cyriaca. Jour. Agr. Res. 77: 187–199. 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Stepanov, G. R. Die industrielle Bedeutung der Seidenpflanze. Kaouchuk i Resina. No. 9. 40–43. 1939. Abs. Chem. Zentralb. 111(1): 1760. 1949.

  39. Stouffer, L. Latest developments in milk weed floss. Rayon Textile Monthly 23: 603–604. 1942.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Sturtevant, E. I. Notes on edible plants. 686 pp. 1939.

  41. Sweeney, O. R. and Arnold, L. K. Report on the work of the Milkweed Fellowship at Iowa State College. 1939.

  42. Tremont Explor. Expedition, 1845.

  43. Turrall, W. T.et al. Froth flotation of rubber and resin components of milk weed and other plants that contain resins, rubber, balata, or related gummy substances. Canad. Jour. Ees. 21B: 195–201. 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Wallace, H. C. The year in agriculture. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1923: 49.

  45. -. The year in agriculture. U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook 1924: 74.

  46. Whalley, Muriel E. Extraction of rubber from plants. Nat. Res. Council, Canada. 1942.N.E.C. 1071.

  47. Whitford, A. C. Textile fibers used in eastern aboriginal North America. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Anthrop. Papers 38(1). 1941.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Milkweed Floss Corporation of America, Chicago, Illinois

    Boris Berkman (President)

Authors
  1. Boris Berkman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berkman, B. Milkweed—A war strategic material and a potential industrial crop for sub-marginal lands in the United States. Econ Bot 3, 223–239 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859094

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859094

Keywords

Search

Navigation