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Asclepias physocarpa
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Family:
ASCLEPIADACEAE
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Citation: Asclepias physocarpa (Meyer) Schltr. in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 21. Biebl. liv. 8. 1895; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 833(585). 1923; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 537. 2009.
Gomphocarpus physocarpus Meyer, Comm. Pl. Afr. Austr. 202. 1838.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Balloon cottonbush, Balloon Plant
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Description:
Compact subshrub; branchlets downy pubescent; latex milky. Leaves decussate, linear-lanceolate, to 12 x 1.2 cm, tapering at both ends, margins revolute; petiole 1 cm. Cymes umbel-like, solitary at nodes; peduncle to 3 cm; pedicel to 3 cm; bracts linear, 1 cm. Calyx-lobes 5, lanceolate, 7.5 mm. Corolla cream, 1 cm wide; lobes 5, ovate, 9 x 6 mm, reflexed, margin bearded. Corona staminal, in 1 series, of 5 erect, 4 mm segments strongly compressed laterally, attached to staminal column. Stamens 5; connective produced; pollen masses solitary per cell, pendulous. Carpels 2, oblong, echinate. Follicles obliquely ovoid, inflated, to 5.5 x 3.5 cm, covered with long bristles; stalk to 5 cm; seeds comose.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
December-June
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Grown as garden plant, sometimes seen as an escape
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Distribution:
Native of South Africa
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White, Violet
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
Yes
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
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