Nerium oleander L.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Nerium > N. oleander

Description: An evergreen shrub (or small tree) that grows to approximately 6 m. A sticky latex is exuded if the stem is cut. Leaves are usually in groups of three and narrowly lanceolate. The flowers are tubular with five lobes, red or pink in the wild, but may be white, cream, yellow or purple in cultivars, and double forms have also been selected. Some are scented. The fruit is composed of a pair of follicles that split along one side to release the seeds. The seeds are oblong, with a plume of hairs at one end.

Flowering and Fruiting : All the year round.

Uses : Ornamental: Nerium oleander is widely cultivated as an ornamental shrub or as an informal hedge in warm-temperate and dry subtropical regions, and as a plant for the conservatory in cooler climates. Pest control: Its sap has been used as rat poison. The leaves also show insecticidal activity against sugarcane mite and citrus leaf miner. Medicinal: Oleandrin is used for treating cardiac conditions in patients who cannot tolerate digitalis.

Cultivation : Ornamental

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org