Cryptostegia

Cryptostegia
Cryptostegia
Cryptostegia madagascariensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Periplocoideae
Genus: Cryptostegia
R.Br.[1]
Species

See text.

Cryptostegia is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It consists of three species of thin, many-stemmed, woody, perennial vines native to tropical Africa and Madagascar. The milky sap, that oozes from the stems or leaves, is extremely toxic to all livestock. It contains cardiac glycosides which causes sudden death after exercise. Though the sap is also some quality latex, there is no commercial use for its production. These evergreen plants are grown for their showy ornamental vines. They are vigorous, self-supporting, beautiful vines that could reach 15m in length. Leaves are ovate, glossy, dark green 6-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide and in opposite pairs. Clusters of attractive, large, showy, funnel-shaped flowers with 5 white to rose-pink or reddish-purple petals bloom in summer after the wet season. Seed pods are rigid 10-12 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, and grow in pairs at the end of a short stalk with silky white floss. The plants are rampant growth and are invasive in some areas. In Australia, they are threatened as some of a most restricted weeds.

In cultivation, the plants prefer a hot climate.

Species

References

  1. ^ "Genus: Cryptostegia R. Br.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-09-17. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?3141. Retrieved 2010-11-26. 
  2. ^ "GRIN Species Records of Cryptostegia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?3141. Retrieved 2010-11-26. 


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