Calotrope
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Calotrope
  
(Calotropis procera)
  
NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE SCIENCE LIBRARY, SOUTH OF CACTUS GARDEN
  
17 A straggly shrub with large leaves and big, attractive milkweed flowers.

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In Depth Calotropis procera, Calotrope
Location: NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE SCIENCE LIBRARY, SOUTH OF CACTUS GARDEN
Family: Asclepiadaceae, the Milkweed family.
Distribution: Saudi Arabia, Middle East and India. Introduced in South America
Habitat: Hot deserts, but in isolated wet places (riparian areas and oases).
Habit: shrub
Flowering: summer
Natural History Notes: The genus name, Calotropis, means "beautiful keel," referring to the a specialized structure, called the corona, in the center of the flower. The species name, procera, means "tall", as most milkweeds are much shorter than this plant. In Israel, the native pollinators are carpenter bees (Xylocopa). Large white flowers in the summer produce inflated fist-size, football shaped pods in the fall. The pods open in the fall to release numerous seeds attached to silky white threads (called comae) that facilitate dispersal by wind. Outside of its native habitat, this plant can become invasive. Distinguishing Characteristics: The corolla of the flowers is cupped upward, about ½ inch long and 3/4 inch wide, with petals that are pale green below and pale lilac above. The leaves reach 12 inch long and 7 inches across, and are oppositely arranged along the branches. The leaves are covered by a coating of dense, wool-like hairs that peal off in small sheets (this type of surfaced is termed lanate). The trunk is woody, with corky bark. The plant is hardy to temperatures as low as the mid-20s F; in Tucson, it freezes back periodically. Human Uses: The leaves contain several active chemicals, including three toxic glycosides; calotropin, uscharin and calotoxin. The plant is poisonous, but has been used in small amounts for folk remedies for various ailments, and the plant continues to be studied for anti-coagulent and anti-cancer properties.