Dilip Walse Patil

Scientific Name : Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand.

Category : Angiosperms

Status : Alive

Habit : A large shrub, much branched, contains milky latex. Stem : Herbaceous, lower portions woody, aerial, erect, branched, cylindrical, solid, lower portions smooth, upper portions covered with woolly hairs, pale green, contains milky latex. Leaves : Cauline and ramal, acute, hairy, woolly, unicostate reticulate, hermaphrodite, pentamerous, hypogynous and cyclic. Inflorescence : Polychasial cymes. Flowers : Large, purplish, sometime white, not scented, bracteates, bracteolate, pedicellate, complete, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, pentamerous, hypogynous and cyclic. Calyx made up of 5 sepals, polysepalous, quincuncial. Corolla made up of 5 petals, gamopetalous, twisted, coloured. Stamens 5, united with the stigma to form gynostegium, each stamen is represented by two pollinia with their retinaculae. The pollinia of the adjacent anthers are joined by their retinaculae to corpusculum in a groove, to form a unit known as translator. A coronary outgrowth is present at the back of each stamen. Carpels 2 distinct, ovaries free but upper portion of style and stigma are fused, superior, placentation marginal, ovules many per locule, stigmatic head pentagonal. Fruit : Etaerio of follicles. Flowering and Fruiting Time : Throughout the year. Significance : Fiber extracted from stem is made into cordage. Floss from seeds is used as stuffing material. Milky juice is used as an infanticide and abortifacient. The leaves are insecticidal and are also used in fomentation.