Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton

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Photo: Mark Hyde
North of Mutoko, Mutoko CL

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyanyadzi, Save Valley

Photo: Bart Wursten
By Mazowe River, between camp and weir, Hippo Pools

Photo: Stephen Long
Near Sinamatella Camp, Hwange NP.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Asclepias procera Aiton Calotropis busseana K. Schum. Calotropis inflexa Chiov.
Common names:	Apple of Sodom (English) Calotrope (English) Rubber bush (English)
Frequency:	Locally common and invasive
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Shrub or small tree 2-4 m tall, with a rough corky bark; stems producing copious latex when broken. Leaves rounded or ovate, glaucous, waxy, thick, ± sessile; base clasping the stem. Flowers 1.5-2.5 cm across, borne in clusters of 3-15; petals white to pink with dark purple or purplish tips. Fruits inflated, grey-green, turning brown when mature, containing numerous seeds each with a tuft of long silky hairs.
Notes:	Originally introduced as an ornamental, it is a recorded escape and has become quite widely naturalised and somewhat invasive in places, particularly in Communal areas.
Derivation of specific name:	procera: very tall
Habitat:	In rocky disturbed areas, particularly in Communal Lands.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tropical Africa and Asia
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,E,S
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Danaus chrysippus aegyptius (Larval food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 16 September 2013
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 104 - 105. (Includes a picture). Binns, B. (1968). A First Check List of the Herbaceous Flora of Malawi The Government Printer, Zomba, Malawi Page 20. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 816. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 25. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 270. Also as Calotropis chirindense? Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 236 - 238. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 20. Witt, A. & Luke, Q. (2017). Guide to the naturalized and invasive plants of Eastern Africa CAB International, UK. Page 298. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Calotropis procera:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Calotropis procera
Flora of Burundi: Calotropis procera
Flora of Malawi: Calotropis procera
Flora of Mozambique: Calotropis procera
Flora of Zambia: Calotropis procera
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Calotropis procera

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Calotropis procera
African Plant Database: Calotropis procera
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Calotropis procera
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Calotropis procera
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Calotropis procera
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Calotropis procera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Calotropis procera
JSTOR Plant Science: Calotropis procera
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Calotropis procera
Plants of the World Online: Calotropis procera
Tropicos: Calotropis procera
Wikipedia: Calotropis procera