Common Name: Balloon Cotton

General Information

Gomphocarpus fruticosus is an evergreen shrub growing up to 2 metres tall[].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and as a fibre plant. It is also occasionally cultivated as a medicinal plant, especially in China, and, because of its attractive flowers, is often grown as an ornamental in gardens[, ].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids[]. The plant is said to be used in parts of Africa as an arrow or ordeal-poison[].
The plant as a whole is poisonous to grazing animals[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Africa - Guinea, Botswana; Lesotho; Namibia; South Africa; Swaziland, Madagascar, Yemen.

Habitat

Savannah grassland[]. In dry or perfectly drained soils[]. Disturbed areas along the roadside and in abandoned fields in S. Africa[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates.
Requires a well-drained soil and a position in full sun[].
Plants are deep-rooted and do not transplant readily[].
Seedling plants can flower within one year[].
The stems are hollow and, when cut, exude a milky latex[, ].
Plants tend to become leggy after a few years and are usually replaced every 2 - 3 years when grown as an ornamental[].

Edible Uses

The rootstock is eaten as a vegetable[]. Some caution should be applied - see above regarding toxicity[].

Masai of Tanganyika eat the fruit[]. Some caution should be applied - see above regarding toxicity[]

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally in many parts of Africa, whilst it is also cultivated for medicinal use in China. Some care needs to be employed, however, because of the presence of toxins. Research has shown the presence of alkaloids in all parts of the plant[]. The presence of cardio-active glycosides, named gofruside A and B, has been reported[].

A decoction of all parts of the plant is used as a treatment for stomach troubles[].
A decoction of the plant is taken by mouth for treating asthma and difficulty in breathing. The patient must vomit after taking the dose[].
Applied externally, it is used to treat sores, boils and swellings on the neck[]. Swellings generally are treated by massaging the area with a decoction of the plant combined with Vernonia appendiculata, whilst for lumbago the plant is dried and mixed with honey to make a paste and then applied with a massage[].
The plant (part unspecified) is taken in small doses for treating excess of bile; it is also used for headaches[]

The leaves are used as a treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis[]. They are used as a sedative in the treatment of headache and tuberculosis[].
The dried leaves, flowers and young shoots are ground up and used as a snuff given to seriously ill patients. If the patient does not sneeze the case is considered hopeless![]

The roots are used to relieve stomach pain and general aches in the body[, ].

A latex contained in the plant is used against toothache[]

A decoction of the seeds is used as a cough-medicine[].

Other Uses

The floss from the seeds is used for stuffing pillows[, , ]. It is also spun into a white cotton which is used for decoration and to make into belts[].

The inner bark yields a strong, white bast fibre. Fibre length is uneven though an average is about that of cotton. There is an absence of twist which may make it difficult to spin, but if it can be properly handled a soft fabric should be producible[]. It may be suitable for admixture with cotton[].
The fibre is spun into a cotton for sewing clothes and for snaring birds[]. In Somalia it is commonly used as string for snares and to make waistbands[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow and make sure they do not dry out. Make sure the seedlings are potted on as soon as they are large enough to handle, and plant them out when about 20cm tall.
Cuttings of young growth, rooted in a sandy medium[].
Root cuttings[].

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