Home | > | List of families | > | Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | > | Asclepias | > | curassavica |
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. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | > | Asclepias | > | curassavica |