Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Calotropis > C. gigantea

Description: Large shrub or small tree up to 4(–10) m tall, much-branched at base, stems erect, up to 20 cm in diameter; bark pale grey, longitudinally cracked; young shoots woolly hairy; latex in all parts. Leaves opposite, decussate, simple and entire, sessile; stipules absent; blade broadly ovate to oblong-obovate, base cordate with semi-amplexicaul lobes, apex almost acute, short-hairy beneath. Inflorescence an axillary, umbellate to almost corymbose cyme, peduncle stout, secondary branches up to 2 cm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, white, cream, lilac or purple; pedicel densely woolly hairy; calyx lobes broadly ovate, corolla lobes broadly triangular, corona with 5 narrow, fleshy scales, laterally compressed, adnate and shorter than the staminal column, forming an upturned horn with 2 rounded auricles on either side, cream or lilac to purple, with a dense longitudinal dorsal row of short white hairs; ovary superior, 2-celled, gynostegium up to 1 cm long, stigma head star-shaped. Fruit a pair of follicles, each follicle ovoid, boat-shaped, inflated, many-seeded. Seeds ovoid, with 2–3 cm long coma at one end.

Flowering and Fruiting: Throughout the year

Uses: The whole plant is used as an insect repellent during the Sesamum orientale harvest. Young fruits are boiled in water and a paste prepared which is applied on the body to remove blood clots.

Cultivation: Wild and common.

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org