I think the second one is wild lettuce.

Got me there Fata - I'm useless on N American natives. Maybe some sort of Asclepias there somewhere? Beautifully produced and written, as usual.

I think the second one is milkweed?

I won't spoil it for folks who want to try to guess. The answers are linked in the article and below. But this is such a good example of look a likes that could be very dangerous to make a mistake with when wildcrafting.

Thanks for the compliments, Flora! :) BTW, I've seen you ID many N. American natives on the Name That Plant forum and you are, I suspect, better than I would be with UK native plants.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: answers

So if they're that identical, how do you tell them apart? I've looked at your pics, and the leaves -shape, veining, color - and the stems look exactly alike.

I know that milkweed has the characteristic milky sap when the stem is broken. Does the other have that also, or is that the way you tell them apart?

I'd say common milkweed for #2. First one... not sure... going to go look at the answers now. LOL :)

Strike out, :)

The other plant most certainly does have milky sap - so no help there!

I find the two very easy to tell apart by a collection of subtle differences. I find the leaves between the two to be ever so slightly different in shape. The number of leaves per stalk is greater with one plant over the other. The one plant is more "stocky" than the other. Last year's stalks to can clue you into either plant type. And one of the plants sports some hair while the other has none.

Thankfully, they stay in a similar looking state for only a very short time before the toxic ones starts to branch. I attached two photos taken tonight - sorry for the poor quality. It has rained here all day and it is pretty dismal out so poor images. But the images show the branching starting to happen in the toxic plant. The other photo shows last year's stalks for the toxic plant - since it is an EXCEPTIONAL cordage plant, the stalks last well into this season.

FataMorgana