Calotrope

Calotropis procera

Alternative Name(s): Calotropis, Rubber Bush, Kapock Tree.

Family: Asclepiadaceae.

Form: Shrub

Origin: Native of tropical Asia and Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Inflorescence a number of raceme-like umbels of flowers. Flowers with 5 sepals; joined petals (corolla) bell-shaped, 5-lobed, lobes about 1 cm long. Flowers winter.

Description: Shrub or small tree to 4 m high. Stems with soft thick corky bark. Leaves grey-green, 5–20 cm long, 4–15 cm wide, lower leaf surface densely covered in short white hairs; base of leaf heartshaped and stem-clasping; on leaf stalk to 0.4 cm long. Fruit a grey-green pod, splitting to release seeds. Seeds numerous, ovate, flattened, brown, ending in a tuft of white silky hairs.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by milky latex; leaves ovate, thickened, opposite with each successive pair at right angles to the previous pair, hair-like glands at base of leaf; flowers with sepals 7–8 mm long; corolla 2–3 cm wide, white with purple tips internally; fruit ovoid, inflated, 8–12 cm long and almost as wide.

Dispersal: Mainly spread by seed that is transported by wind and water but also locally by suckering from the roots.

Confused With: Likely to be confused with Calotropis gigantea which has sepals 5–7 mm long and corolla 3–4 cm wide.