Calotropis gigantea (L.) Aiton.

Common Name : Crown flower
Family : Asclepiadaceae

HABIT

LARGE SHRUB, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A SMALL TREE; UP TO 5 M TALL.

STEMS

WOODY WITH YELLOWISH-WHITE BARK. YOUNG STEMS AND BRANCHES COVERED WITH SOFT, LOOSELY APPRESSED, WHITISH, WAXY OR SOME TIMES POWDERY PUBESCENCE.

LEAVES

FLESHY, OBOVATE OR OBOVATE-OBLONG, APEX ACUTE, RARELY ROUNDED, BASE CORDATE, 6-20 CM LONG AND 3-8 CM WIDE, GLAUCOUS GREEN, SMOOTH ABOVE, COTTONY BELOW.

FLOWERS

14-15 MM LONG AND 3-4.5 CM IN DIAMETER; CLUSTERS OF WAXY FLOWERS THAT ARE EITHER WHITE OR LAVENDER IN COLOUR. EACH FLOWER CONSISTS OF FIVE POINTED PETALS AND A SMALL, ELEGANT “CROWN” RISING FROM THE CENTRE.

FRUITS

A FOLLICLE.

SEEDS

BROADLY OVATE, FLATTENED, BROWN IN COLOR 2.5-3.2 CM LONG INCLUDING THE WHITE TUFT OF HAIRS AT THE POINTED END.