Asclepias \As*cle"pi*as\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, named from Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.) A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties. [1913 Webster] {Asclepias butterfly} (Zool.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly ({Danais Archippus}), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias. [1913 Webster]
Butterfly \But"ter*fly`\, n.; pl. {Butterflies}. [Perh. from the color of a yellow species. AS. buter-fl[=e]ge, buttor-fle['o]ge; cf. G. butterfliege, D. botervlieg. See {Butter}, and {Fly}.] (Zool.) A general name for the numerous species of diurnal Lepidoptera. Note: [See Illust. under {Aphrodite}.] [1913 Webster] {Asclepias butterfly}. See under {Asclepias}. {Butterfly fish} (Zool.), the ocellated blenny ({Blennius ocellaris}) of Europe. See {Blenny}. The term is also applied to the flying gurnard. {Butterfly shell} (Zool.), a shell of the genus {Voluta}. {Butterfly valve} (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve, consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape. [1913 Webster]