Asclepias curassavica

Butterweed

Apocynaceae Edible: Flavouring, Caution Potential hazards — see below 37,748 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Asclepias curassavica, commonly known as tropical milkweed, is a flowering plant species of the milkweed genus, Asclepias. It is native to the American tropics and has a pantropical distribution as an introduced species. Other common names include bloodflower or blood flower, cotton bush, hierba de la cucaracha, Mexican butterfly weed, redhead, scarlet milkweed, and wild ipecacuanha.

Description

An erect small shrub. It grows 60-90 cm high. The leaves are 13 cm long. They are narrowly oval and taper at both ends. The flowers are in clusters at the ends of branches. These are 5-10 cm across. They are orange and red. The fruit are spindle shaped pods.

Edible Uses

The plant is used to flavour tortillas in Mexico.

Traditional Uses

Caution: The plant is poisonous. It is used to flavour tortillas in Mexico.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The latex of the plant as well as the roots, leaves, and flowers are used medicinally. The root is febrifuge. A decoction is used in the treatment of dysentery and as an eyewash for infected eyes. The root contains a glycoside, asclepiadin, which is used as an emetic and purgative. It has been used as a substitute for ipecacuanha. A paste made of the crushed leaves, combined with salt, vegetable oil and bread, is used for treating skin ulcers. The plant contains an abundant white latex which is applied to warts and corns in order to kill them. The juice of the whole plant is used to treat ringworm, sores, rashes, dermatitis etc. The plant is considered cicatrizant (healing cuts etc by encouraging the formation of scars). The aerial parts of plant are sometimes used in the treatment of dysentery and as an eyewash for infected eyes. The root contains cardenolides with aglycones such as asclepogenine and curassavogenine. The latex contains cardenolides and esterified triterpenes. Extracts stimulate the central nervous system. The latex also contains quercetin, caffeic acid, sterols, flavonoids, carbohydrates, fatty acids and acidic mucilage. The plant contains beta-sitosterol, which is antihypercholesterolemic (reduces cholesterol), anti-prostatic, and oestrogenic.

Known Hazards

The root contains a glycoside, asclepiadin, which is emetic and purgative - in large doses it can cause death. The plant is suspected to be poisonous to grazing animals.

Distribution

It needs subtropical climates. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andaman Is., Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Caroline Islands, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R., Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, French Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies*, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow and make sure the seeds are kept moist.

Other Uses

The stem fibres are used for spinning, partly in mixture with cotton. The seed hairs are used as a stuffing material for pillows. This is too elastic for spinning unless altered by chemical treatment after which it can be spun admixed with cotton. The stems are used, tied in bundles, as brooms.

Notes

It is used in medicine.

Synonyms

Asclepias aurantiaca Salisb. [Illegitimate]Asclepias bicolor Moench [Illegitimate]Asclepias cubensis Wender.Asclepias curassavica var. concolor Krug & Urb.Asclepias curassavica f. flaviflora TawadaAsclepias curassavica f. pallidiflora Griseb.Asclepias margaritacea Hoffmanns. ex Schult.Asclepias nivea var. curassavica (L.) Kuntze

Also Known As

Bloodflower, Fanoromena, Kitseakanalika, Red head cotton bush, Scarlet milkweed, Svilnica, Treniombilahy, Truka-keree

References (14)

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Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 43
Ekman Herbarium records Haiti
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 76
Kew Plants of the World Online

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