Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton

Images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record

Photo: Mark Hyde
North of Mutoko, Mutoko CL

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyanyadzi, Save Valley

Synonyms:
Common names:	Apple of Sodom (English) Giant milkweed (English)
Frequency:	Locally common and invasive
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Shrub or small tree with a rough corky bark, stems producing copious latex when broken. Leaves glaucous, ± sessile; inflorescence terminal; flowers purplish-pink and white; fruits inflated; seeds with pappus of silky hairs.
Notes:	Originally introduced as an ornamental, it is a recorded escape and has become quite widely naturalised and somewhat invasive in places, particularly in Communal areas.
Derivation of specific name:	procera: very tall
Habitat:	In rocky disturbed areas, particularly in Communal Lands.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tropical Africa and Asia
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,E,S
Growth form:	sST
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 15 March 2012
Literature:

comments powered by Disqus

Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Calotropis procera page
Flora of Mozambique: Calotropis procera
African Plant Database: Calotropis procera
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Calotropis procera
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Calotropis procera
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Calotropis procera
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Calotropis procera
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Calotropis procera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Calotropis procera
JSTOR Plant Science: Calotropis procera
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Calotropis procera
Tropicos: Calotropis procera
West African Plants database: Calotropis procera