Closely related to, and sometimes confused with, Cryptostegia grandiflora[].

Common Name: Madagascar Rubbervine

General Information

Cryptostegia madagascariensis is an evergreen, climbing shrub, scrambling over the ground and climbing into nearby plants, supporting itself by means of its slender, twining stems; it can grow around 6 - 8 metres tall[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a source of rubber and fibre. It is widely grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its large, showy flowers[].

Known Hazards

Cryptostegia madagascariensis contains glucosides and is a poisonous species. It has been used in committing suicide for religious purposes[].
The copious latex is reported to cause varying degrees of skin irritation[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - northwest Madagascar.

Habitat

Deciduous thickets; at elevations below 600 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cryptostegia madagascariensis is natve to northwestern Madagascar and can flourish in areas where the mean annual rainfall can range from 400 - 2,400mm[]. It is also able to extend its range into drier areas with 400mm or less of annual rainfall. Plants cannot tolerate frost[]
The plant is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types[]. Tolerant of saline soils[].
Cryptostegia madagascariensis is a fast-growing invasive woody vine. Originally native to north-western Madagascar, 0t has become widely distributed in India, Kenya, Brazil, Hawaii, Australia and the West Indies. Plants can begin to reproduce after about 200 days and they can produce large amount of seeds which are rapidly dispersed by wind, floodwaters, or stuck to the fur of animals. Seeds can remain viable up to one year and studies have reported germination rates ranging from 90 to 95%. The plant has the ability to quickly spread along water courses, coastal forests, pastures, forest edges, and disturbed areas. It can form dense impenetrable thickets by climbing up trees and covering them, and may also displace and out-compete native vegetation[].
A long-lived species, living for several decades[].

Edible Uses

The bark is used for making rum[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A latex obtained from the plant contains 7 - 10% rubber[]. It is of slight commercial value[]. The yield of rubber is small, and the product is of inferior quality, being usually soft and deficient in elasticity[]. 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[].

A fibre obtained from the plant is used for making nets, ropes etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - germination requires high humidity and temperatures around 30°c. Viability is more than 90% in fresh seeds, but viability only lasts for a year or less at room temperature[].

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