Asclepias curassavica L.

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Asclepias curassavica

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Asclepias curassavica

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Asclepias curassavica

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Asclepias curassavica

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Asclepias curassavica

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names: Bloodflower (English) Scarlet milkweed (English)
Frequency:
Status: Introduced
Description:
Subshrub to 1 m tall with milky sap. Stems simple or branched. Leaves opposite, elliptic-lanceolate, to 12 cm long; apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences of axillary and terminal, pedunculate umbels. Corolla orange-red, rarely yellow or white, the lobes 5-8 mm long, becoming reflexed. Corona hoods orange, each with a needle-like horn 7 mm long. Follicles 5-10 cm, fusiform. Seeds bearing silky hairs, 2-4 cm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: curassavica: from CuraƧao in the West Indies
Habitat: Disturbed places such as roadsides and by streams
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Native in tropical America; cultivated and widely naturalised in the Old World tropics
Zimbabwe distribution: N,W,C,E
Growth form(s): Shrub under 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Saturday 24 July 2010
Literature:

Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 25.

Binns, B. (1968). A First Check List of the Herbaceous Flora of Malawi The Government Printer, Zomba, Malawi Page 19.

Davies, H.F. (Undated). Alphabetical Catalogue of Plants growing in the gardens of Ewanrigg National Park, Arcturus. [Possibly not published (typed only)] Page 5.

Goyder, D.J. (2009). A synopsis of Asclepias (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) in tropical Africa Kew Bulletin 64 Pages 374 - 375.

Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 262 - 263.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 19.


Other sources of information about Asclepias curassavica:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Asclepias curassavica
Flora of Malawi: Asclepias curassavica
Flora of Mozambique: Asclepias curassavica
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Asclepias curassavica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Asclepias curassavica
African Plant Database: Asclepias curassavica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Asclepias curassavica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Asclepias curassavica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Asclepias curassavica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Asclepias curassavica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asclepias curassavica
JSTOR Plant Science: Asclepias curassavica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Asclepias curassavica
Plants of the World Online: Asclepias curassavica
Tropicos: Asclepias curassavica
Wikipedia: Asclepias curassavica


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Asclepias curassavica.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=145870, retrieved 4 December 2024

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