Cryptostegia
{{Short description|Genus of plants}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Rubber vines
| image = Starr 050517-1475 Cryptostegia madagascariensis.jpg
| image_caption = C. madagascariensis
| taxon = Cryptostegia
| authority = R.Br.{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?3141 |title=Genus: Cryptostegia R. Br. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2007-09-17 |access-date=2010-11-26 |archive-date=2010-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528155957/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?3141 |url-status=dead }}
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
| range_map = Cryptostegia, verspreiding, a.png
| range_map_caption = Native range of genus{{cite journal |last1=McFadyen |first1=R.E. |last2=Harvey |first2=G.J. |title=Distribution and control of rubbervine, Cryptostegia grandiflora, a major weed in northern Queensland. Plant Protection Quarterly |journal=Plant Protection Quarterly |date=1990 |issue=5 |pages=152–155 }}
{{leftlegend|#FF7F27|C. madagascariensis, glabrous form|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#CE4B04|C. madagascariensis, hirsute form|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#7B855F|C. madagascariensis (hirsute form) in sympatry with C. grandiflora|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#28BFBA|C. grandiflora|outline=gray}}
}}
Cryptostegia is a genus of flowering plants native to tropical Africa and Madagascar. The genus is in the family Apocynaceae.
Description
Cryptostegia includes three species of slender, many-stemmed, woody, perennial vines. When their stems or leaves are damaged they exude a milky latex that is extremely toxic to livestock; it contains cardiac glycosides that cause sudden death, especially after violent exertion. Though the latex is of good quality it is not used commercially.
Cryptostegia are evergreen and are grown for their showy ornamental vines. They are vigorous and self-supporting and their vines sometimes attain a length of 15m. Leaves are ovate, opposite, glossy and dark green. They are 6–10 cm long and 3–5 cm wide. Clusters of large, showy, funnel-shaped flowers with 5 white to rose-pink or reddish-purple petals bloom in summer after the wet season. Seed pods are rigid 10–12 cm long and 3–4 cm wide, and grow in pairs at the end of a short stalk. The seeds are attached to a silky white floss. The plants grow rampantly in a favourable climate and are invasive in some areas. In Australia Cryptostegia grandiflora in particular has been declared a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts.Weeds of National Significance Department of the Environment and Heritage and the CRC for Australian Weed Management, 2003 {{ISBN|1 9209 3215 1}}
In cultivation, the plants require a hot climate.
Image Gallery
File:Cryptostegia at Padnekad.jpg|Cryptostegia
File:Cryptostegia buds at Padnekad in Kasaragod.jpg|Cryptostegia buds
File:Cryptostegia leaves at padnekad in kerala.jpg|Cryptostegia leaves
File:Cryptostegia plant at padnekad.jpg|Cryptostegia plant
Species
- Cryptostegia grandiflora R.Br. – rubber vine, purple allamanda
- Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer ex Decne.{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?3141 |title=GRIN Species Records of Cryptostegia |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2010-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120143550/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?3141 |archive-date=2009-01-20 |url-status=dead }} – purple rubber vine
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.homolaicus.com/scienza/erbario/utility/botanica_sistematica/hypertext/0395.htm#000000 Botanica Sistematica]
- {{Commons category-inline|Cryptostegia|Cryptostegia}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Cryptostegia|Cryptostegia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5191067}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)
{{Apocynaceae-stub}}