Taxon:  Calotropis gigantea (L.) W. T. Aiton



Summary
Genus:
Calotropis
Family:
Apocynaceae
Subfamily:
Asclepiadoideae
Tribe:
Asclepiadeae
Subtribe:
Asclepiadinae
Nomen number:
8652
Place of publication:
Hortus kew. ed. 2, 2:78.  1811
Comment:
the generic treatment and the species description in Hortus kewensis is not attributed to "Brown mss." so W. T. Aiton is the author of the name (see Shenzhen ICN Art. 46 Ex. 25)
Verified:
07/07/2011 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
5 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Asclepias gigantea L.

No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Backer, C. A. & R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Jr. 1963-1968. Flora of Java.
  5. Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
  6. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1950. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. 2:22.
  7. Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
  8. DeFilipps, R. A. 1992. Ornamental garden plants of the Guianas Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
  9. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  10. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1267.
  11. Fosberg, F. R. et al. 1979-1982. Geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae/ Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae.
  12. Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
  13. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  14. Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
  15. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  16. Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
  17. Hokche, O. et al. 2008. Nuevo catálogo de la flora vascular de Venezuela.
  18. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): plant threats to Pacific ecosystems (on-line resource).
  19. Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
  20. Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:9-11.
  21. Krings, A. et al. 2005. New and rediscovered milkweeds from Cuba: Calotropis gigantea and Gonolobus stephanotrichus (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Willdenowia 35:315-318.
  22. Kunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
  23. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  24. Mabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
  25. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  26. Missouri Botanical Garden. Flora of China Checklist (on-line resource).
  27. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  28. Rahman, M. A. & C. C. Wilcock. 1991. A taxonomic revision of Calotropis (Asclepiadaceae). Nordic J. Bot. 11:301-308.
  29. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  30. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  31. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbowstring-hemp  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishcrownflower  1Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Englishcrownplant  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishgiant milkwood  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Englishgiant-milkweed  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Frencharbre à soie  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Frenchmercure végétal  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchmudar  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanMudarpflanze  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
India (Hindi)madar  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishlechoso  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishkronbuske  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaGuangdong Sheng Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaGuangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaHainan Sheng Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaSichuan Sheng Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaYunnan Sheng Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentBhutan  Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:9-11.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentNepal  Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentSri Lanka  Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaLaos  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaMyanmar  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaThailand  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaVietnam  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia  Backer, C. A. & R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Jr. 1963-1968. Flora of Java.
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaMalaysia  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
2Cultivated    also cult.PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaEast Tropical AfricaKenya  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaEast Tropical AfricaTanzania  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaSudan  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaAngola  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaMozambique  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaWest-Central Tropical AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaWest-Central Tropical AfricaGabon  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaWestern Indian OceanMauritius  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAfricaWestern Indian OceanSeychelles  PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalPapuasiaPapua New Guinea  Rahman, M. A. & C. C. Wilcock. 1991. A taxonomic revision of Calotropis (Asclepiadaceae). Nordic J. Bot. 11:301-308.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaNorthern Territoryn.George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaQueenslandn.George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaii Rahman, M. A. & C. C. Wilcock. 1991. A taxonomic revision of Calotropis (Asclepiadaceae). Nordic J. Bot. 11:301-308.
4NaturalizedPacificSouth-Central PacificFrench PolynesiaTuamotu Archipelago Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): plant threats to Pacific ecosystems (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificFiji  Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): plant threats to Pacific ecosystems (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificSamoa  Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): plant threats to Pacific ecosystems (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanCuba  Krings, A. et al. 2005. New and rediscovered milkweeds from Cuba: Calotropis gigantea and Gonolobus stephanotrichus (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Willdenowia 35:315-318.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanTrinidad and Tobago  Krings, A. et al. 2005. New and rediscovered milkweeds from Cuba: Calotropis gigantea and Gonolobus stephanotrichus (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Willdenowia 35:315-318.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaGuyana  Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaSuriname  Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuela  Hokche, O. et al. 2008. Nuevo catálogo de la flora vascular de Venezuela.
Native
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Iran
  • CHINA: China [Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hainan Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng]
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan
  • INDO-CHINA: Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
  • MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Sudan
  • EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania
  • WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon
  • SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola, Mozambique
  • WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Mauritius, Seychelles
Asia-Tropical
  • PAPUASIA: Papua New Guinea
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland (n.), Northern Territory (n.)]
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]
  • SOUTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: French Polynesia [Tuamotu Archipelago]
  • SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Fiji, Samoa
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago
  • NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela

Reference(s)
  1. PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
  2. Backer, C. A. & R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Jr. 1963-1968. Flora of Java.
  3. Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
  4. Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
  5. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  6. Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
  7. Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
  8. Hokche, O. et al. 2008. Nuevo catálogo de la flora vascular de Venezuela.
  9. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): plant threats to Pacific ecosystems (on-line resource).
  10. Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:9-11.
  11. Krings, A. et al. 2005. New and rediscovered milkweeds from Cuba: Calotropis gigantea and Gonolobus stephanotrichus (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Willdenowia 35:315-318.
  12. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  13. Rahman, M. A. & C. C. Wilcock. 1991. A taxonomic revision of Calotropis (Asclepiadaceae). Nordic J. Bot. 11:301-308.
  14. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  15. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental DeFilipps, R. A. 1992. Ornamental garden plants of the Guianas Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Food additivesflavoringinner part of flowersKunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
Materialsfibersource of wara or yercumMabberley, D. J. 1997. The plant-book: a portable dictionary of the vascular plants, ed. 2
Medicinesfolklore Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinesfolklore Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1950. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. 2:22.
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1950. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. 2:22.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=8652. Accessed 15 April 2026.