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Useful Tropical Plants

Cryptostegia grandiflora

Roxb. ex R.Br.

Apocynaceae


Closely related to Cryptostegia madagascariensis, and often confused with it[
457
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 62
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1975
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. This volume contains the Asclepiadaceae section of the Flora of Panama.
].

+ Synonyms

Nerium grandiflorum (Roxb. ex R.Br.) Roxb.

Common Name: India Rubber Vine

Cryptostegia grandiflora
Climbing into, and smothering a tree
Photograph by: Fagg, M.
Image credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens
Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora Cryptostegia grandiflora

General Information

Cryptostegia grandiflora is an evergreen climbing shrub, scrambling over the ground and climbing into nearby plants, supporting itself by means of its slender, twining stems. Older plants can climb 20 - 30 metres into the forest canopy[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
The plant has, in the past, been utilized and occasionally cultivated, for the fibre and latex that can be obtained from the stems[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
302
Title
Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
Publication
 
Author
Whistler. W. Arthur.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-88192-448-2
Description
An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. Since the advent of synthetic rubber it is no longer considered to be of value. The plant is often cultivated as an ornamental in tropical areas, valued especially for its large, showy flowers[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Known Hazards

The plant contains glucosides that interfere with heart function; ingestion will also provoke stomach and intestinal upset[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
]. In Madagascar the plant has reportedly been used for criminal purposes and as a poison for vermin. The powdered leaves, mixed with water, when swallowed can cause persistent vomiting after half an hour; followed by death within 15 hours[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
Although Cryptostegia grandiflora is highly poisonous, it is extremely unpalatable and thus grazing animals usually avoid it[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Africa - southern and southwestern Madagascar.

Habitat

Growing into the canopy of riverine forests, it is also found as a sprawling shrub along gullies, creeks, as well as disturbed areas such as roadside ditches where run-off water accumulates, around waterholes and at the edge of coastal salt marshes[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Medicinal Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Climber
Height15.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cryptostegia grandiflora is a plant of the dry south-west of Madagascar where annual rainfall is less than 600mm and as low as 300 mm, at an elevation below 600 metres. The plant is known to tolerate rainall to 1,800mm in cultivation. The dry season lasts at least 8 months, but droughts of 12 - 18 months are not uncommon[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. Frosts are unknown.
Succeeds in a sunny position in a moist but well drained soil[
302
Title
Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
Publication
 
Author
Whistler. W. Arthur.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-88192-448-2
Description
An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
].
Cryptostegia grandiflora is a highly invasive weed in semi-arid natural ecosystems, especially dry or monsoonal rainforest. It has the potential to spread much further, especially in Australia where it poses a threat to national parks and has been declared a noxious weed. It is now a common and highly invasive component of dry rain forest and of the fringing riverine vegetation, as well as on flood plains from where it invades grazing land; mainly in the tropical to subtropical 500 - 1,400mm annual rainfall zone. The historical evidence suggests that there is a significant lag period before the plant assumes an invasive status. Thus, those countries where the plant has been cultivated as an ornamental or as a crop, but where it has not yet become invasive, are at future risk of invasion[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
New shoots can elongate rapidly during favourable conditions, which can result in long, unbranched stems up to 5 metres long being produced[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
The robust roots can penetrate 12 metres into the soil, producing yellow, fibrous feeding roots[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The leaves and the latex are used to treat fungal infections and heart problems[
1505
Title
Medicinal Plants in Nigeria (website)
Publication
 
Author
Professor Tolu Odugbemi
Website
http://www.medicinalplantsinnigeria.com/uploads/1/7/4/8/17482593/plantsdatabase.xls
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line database, downloadable in .xls format, it has basic information on 628 species of plants
]. Extreme caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be pruned and grown as a hedge[
302
Title
Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
Publication
 
Author
Whistler. W. Arthur.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-88192-448-2
Description
An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
].

Other Uses

A latex obtained from the stems can be used to make rubber[
302
Title
Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
Publication
 
Author
Whistler. W. Arthur.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-88192-448-2
Description
An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. It is equal in quality to the latex obtained from the rubber tree, Hevea sp.[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Very difficult to obtain by tapping[
458
Title
Rubber. Its Sources, Cultivation and Preparation.
Publication
 
Author
Brown H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
John Murray; London.
Year
1914
ISBN
 
Description
Written in the days before synthetic rubbers and the loss of interest in finding new rubber sources. A good amount of information on latex-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A reasonably high-quality rubber is obtained from the latex[
457
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 62
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1975
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. This volume contains the Asclepiadaceae section of the Flora of Panama.
,
458
Title
Rubber. Its Sources, Cultivation and Preparation.
Publication
 
Author
Brown H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
John Murray; London.
Year
1914
ISBN
 
Description
Written in the days before synthetic rubbers and the loss of interest in finding new rubber sources. A good amount of information on latex-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The plants of this genus abound in a milky juice, which, when exposed for a short time to the sun,
is converted into pure caoutchouc[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

A fibre is obtained from the stems[
302
Title
Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
Publication
 
Author
Whistler. W. Arthur.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-88192-448-2
Description
An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. Said to be a fine, strong fibre, resembling flax. which may be spun into the finest yarn[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed - usually germinates well if sown soon after ripening, but can lose viability within the first 12 months if the seed is not stored dry at temperatures of around 5°c[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Cuttings
Air layering.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cryptostegia%20grandiflora>

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