Asclepias fruticosa

Taxobox
name = "Asclepias fruticosa"

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image width = 250px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Gentianales
familia = Apocynaceae
subfamilia = Asclepiadoideae
genus = "Asclepias"
species = "A. fruticosa"
binomial = "Asclepias fruticosa"
binomial_authority = Dcne.:Common names: ::Zulu: umsinga-lwesalukazi::Sotho: legabana; lerete-la-ntja::South Sotho: modimolo::Afrikaans: tontelbos; wilde kapok::English: milkweed; :Description: An erect multi-stemmed shrub up to two metres in height, with green-yellow flower, followed by a large, bladder-like seed pod, releasing numerous seeds each with a plume of long silky hairs.:Range: Common throughout South Africa. :Medicinal Use: The leaves are used medicinally to treat headaches, tuberculosis and as an emetic. Beware THIS PLANT IS POISONOUS, and contains heart glycosoids, which cause the same symptoms as tulp (Homeria pallida) poisoning [Clive Bromilow; Problem Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications 2001 ISBN 1875093273] and may lead to death in both livestock and humans. [Van Wyk, Van Oudshoorn & Gerike: Medicinal plants of South Africa, Briza Publications 1997. ISBN: 1875093095] :Other uses: In the past the seed hair was used as a kapok substitute for making tinder in tinder boxes.

References