Calotropis gigantea
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Photo: Christopher Hines
South of Luanda, Angola
Photo: Christopher Hines
South of Luanda, Angola
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| Synonyms: |
Asclepias gigantea L. |
| Common names: | Bowstring hemp (English) Calotrope (English) Giant milkweed (English) Giant rubber bush (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Introduced |
| Description: |
Shrub to 4 m tall; stems producing copious latex when broken. Leaves rounded or ovate, glaucous, waxy, thick, ± sessile; base clasping the stem. Flowers 2-3 cm across, borne in clusters of 3-15; petals white to pale lilac-blue, reflexed. Fruits inflated, grey-green, turning brown when mature, containing numerous seeds each with a tuft of long silky hairs. |
| Type location: |
Sri Lanka |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | gigantea: huge, gigantic |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 100 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native of Asia; introduced widely into other parts of the world |
| FZ divisions: | N,M |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Thursday 28 September 2017 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 816. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 25. Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Page 238. Witt, A. & Luke, Q. (2017). Guide to the naturalized and invasive plants of Eastern Africa CAB International, UK. Page 296. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Calotropis gigantea:
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Calotropis giganteaAfrican Plant Database: Calotropis gigantea
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Calotropis gigantea
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Calotropis gigantea
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Calotropis gigantea
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Calotropis gigantea
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Calotropis gigantea
JSTOR Plant Science: Calotropis gigantea
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Calotropis gigantea
Plants of the World Online: Calotropis gigantea
Tropicos: Calotropis gigantea
Wikipedia: Calotropis gigantea