Narrow-Leaf Cotton Bush

Gomphocarpus fruticosus

Alternative Name(s): Swan Plant

Family: Asclepiadaceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of Africa, Arabia and Mediterranean.

Flowers/Seedhead: Inflorescence a drooping umbel of flowers. Flowers all year round.

Description: Erect perennial shrub to 2 m high. Stems densely covered with apressed short weak soft hairs when young, becoming hairless with age. Leaves 4–12.5 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, upper and lower surfaces with scattered hairs; on leaf stalk to 1 cm long. Fruit a green pod initially, turning brown with age, covered with soft spines to 1 cm long, splitting to release seeds; pod with inner wall separated from outer wall by an air space and seeds within inner chamber; pod stalk S-shaped. Seeds numerous, ovoid, flat, about 0.6 cm long and ending in a tuft of white silky hairs about 3 cm long.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by shrub habit; milky latex; lanceolate opposite leaves; flowers white to cream; fruit a thin walled inflated ovoid pod, 4–7 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide, ending in a tapering point.

Dispersal: Spreads by seeds and lateral roots.

Confused With: Balloon Cotton Bush, Gomphocarpus physocarpus, that has ball-shaped pods without a tapering point and Broad-Leaf Cotton Bush, Gomphocarpus cancellatus, that has inner surface of pods without spines.