Giant Milkweed, Crown Flower, Giant Calotrope, Swallow-wort

Calotropis gigantea

Physical Characteristics

Calotropis gigantea is an evergreen Tree growing to 5 m (16ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Butterflies, Wasps. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Distribution

E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Manna Edible Uses: Drink The central part of the flower is candied and used as a sweetmeat[ 46 ]. An alcoholic drink is made from the leaves. The plant yields a manna.

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Antiasthmatic Antidiarrhoeal Antirheumatic Antiseptic Diaphoretic Dysentery Emetic Epilepsy Expectorant Febrifuge Leprosy Mouthwash Poultice Purgative Skin Stings Vermifuge The milky sap (latex) coagulates when warm and is said to have similar cardiac properties to digitalis (from various Digitalis spp.)[ 307 ]. It is also considered to be antiseptic, emetic, purgative and vermifuge[ 299 ]. It is used in the treatment of a variety of other conditions including dysentery, leprosy, elephantiasis, epilepsy, asthma and many other complaints[ 307 ]. Mixed with salt, it is taken orally as an emetic for treating severe colds[ 348 ]. In Nepal, the latex is applied to sprains, body pains, boils and pimples[ 272 ]. The milky latex is used externally to stop bleeding, and for treating a wide range of conditions including leprosy, rheumatism, ringworm, boils, scabies, stings, burns, bruises, cuts, sores and wounds, [ 299 , 348 ]. It is applied to the gums and teeth to treat caries and toothaches[ 299 ]. The bark is used as a medicine for the treatment of neurodermatitis and syphilis[ 266 ]. The powdered bark is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, elephantiasis, and leprosy [ 272 , 299 ]. The stem bark is diaphoretic and expectorant, and is used for dysentery, spleen complaints, convulsions, lumbago, scabies, ringworm, pneumonia, and to induce labour. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat severe chest colds and heart conditions[ 348 ]. The leaf juice is used in the treatment of intermittent fever[ 272 ]. The smoke of dried, burned leaves is inhaled to calm asthma attacks[ 299 ]. The crushed leaves are warmed and used as a poultice on sores, burns, headaches and rheumatic pains[ 46 , 266 , 272 , 299 ]. The powdered flowers are valued for treating coughs, colds and asthma[ 272 , 299 ]. An infusion is taken to treat intestinal worms, rheumatism and epileptic attacks[ 299 ]. The juice of young buds is dropped into the ear in the treatment of earache[ 272 ]. The fruit pulp is considered abortive[ 299 ].

Known Hazards

The sap (latex) is somewhat poisonous[ 302 ]. It is used for poisoning arrows[ 299 ]. All parts of the plant are toxic, due to the presence of several cardiac glycosides[ 299 ]. The plant is also known to cause allergic contact dermatitis, and the latex causes kerato-conjunctivitis[ 299 ].(Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested)