Gomphocarpus physocarpus
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Redirect|Hairy balls|the mathematical theorem|Hairy ball theorem|the former mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana|Harry Baals}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Asclepias physocarpa2.jpg
|image_caption = Photo of balloonplant with capsules
|image2 = Gomphocarpus physocarpus swan plant.jpg
|image2_caption = Detail photo of balloonplant capsules
|genus = Gomphocarpus
|species = physocarpus
|authority = E.Mey.
|synonyms =
- Asclepias brasiliensis (E.Fourn.) Schltr.
- Asclepias physocarpa (E.Mey.) Schltr.
- Gomphocarpus brasiliensis E.Fourn.
|synonyms_ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2828854|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species}}
}}
Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly known as hairy balls, balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush, bishop's balls, nailhead, or swan plant,{{cite web |last1=Mahr |first1=Susan |title=Balloon Plant, Gomphocarpus physocarpus |url=https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/balloon-plant-gomphocarpus-physocarpus/ |website=Wisconsin Horticulture |publisher=University of Wisconsin-Madison |access-date=4 September 2023}} is a species of plant in the Milkweed subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae), related to the milkweeds. The plant is native to southeast Africa, but it has been widely naturalized as it is often used as an ornamental plant.
Description
File:Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars.JPG caterpillars feeding on Gomphocarpus physocarpus]]
Gomphocarpus physocarpus is an undershrub perennial herb, that can grow to over six feet (two meters) with narrow lanceolate leaves. The plant blooms in warm months. It grows on roadside banks, at elevations of 2800 to 5000 feet above sea level. The plant prefers moderate moisture, as well as sandy and well-drained soil and full sun.
Its propagation can be done by seeds or by cuttings. To propagate through seeds, sow the seeds in a light, well-drained substrate. To propagate by cuttings, cut a branch about 10 cm long and remove the leaves at the base. Plant the branch in a pot with light, well-draining substrate.{{Cite web |last=Maria |first=Mel |date=2023-10-06 |title=Planta balão: a beleza e a curiosidade de uma planta exótica |url=https://petalaseflores.com.br/externas/planta-balao/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |language=pt-BR}}
Gomphocarpus physocarpus is traditionally used to produce ointments for the treatment of warts and the seeds are used in rituals. The leaves and stems produce milky latex that is toxic, yet it has never been described in detail particularly with regards to the anatomy of lactiferous cells.
Munsamy, A., & Naidoo, Y. (2017). Characterisation of the indumentum and the laticifers in the leaves and stems of Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Apocynaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 109, 356–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.01.134
The flowers are small, with white hoods and about 1 cm across. The follicle (a type of fruit) is a pale green, in shape an inflated spheroid, and filled with an unspecified gas. It is covered with rough hairs. It reaches three inches (eight cm) in diameter. The leaves are light green, linear to lanceolate and 3 to 4 inches long, 1.2 cm broad. The brown seeds have silky tufts.{{cite book |last1=Llamas |first1=Kirsten Albrecht |title=Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation |publisher=Timber Press |year=2003 |isbn=0-88192-585-3 |page=73 }}{{cite book |last1=Iremonger |first1=Susan |title=A Guide to the Plants of the Blue Mountains of Jamaica |publisher=The University of West Indies Press |year=2002 |isbn=976-640-031-8 |page=47 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tkTKtH77KpoC&pg=PA47}}
This plant will readily hybridize with Gomphocarpus fruticosus creating intermediate forms.{{cite book |first1=A. |last1=Gurib-Fakim |chapter=Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T.Aiton |chapter-url=http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Gomphocarpus%20fruticosus_En.htm |editor1-last=Schmelzer |editor1-first=G.H. |editor2-last=Gurib-Fakim |editor2-first=A. |title=Prota 11(2): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 2 |publisher=PROTA |location=Wageningen, Netherlands |year=2011 }}
Other names for the plant include in Africaans: balmelkbossie, balbossie, wilde kapok and in Zulu: umbababa, umbemiso, umangwazane, umqumnqwewe, uphuphuma, usingalwesalukazi, umsingalwesalukazi.
Ecology
The plant's stamens are fused to the head of the style and all the pollen of each stamen is within two pollinia. The pouch-like structure formed by the petals that surrounds the reproductive organs encourages pollinia to stick to the legs or proboscis of pollinating insects. As a result the pollen packets are carried from plant to plant. The species is self-incompatible, and these specialised structures support this reproduction.{{cite web |last1=Notten |first1=Alice |title=Gomphocarpus physocarpus E.Mey. |url=https://pza.sanbi.org/gomphocarpus-physocarpus |website=South African National Biodiversity Institute |access-date=1 January 2025}}
Gomphocarpus physocarpus is a food of the caterpillars of Danaus butterflies, including the African monarch butterfly (Danaus chrysippus orientis). They store the unpleasant tasting and toxic cardenolides from the plants to deter predators. Distinctive colouration alerts predators before they attack.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Gomphocarpus physocarpus}}
- [http://www.barbadine.com/pages/Asclepias_physocarpa_lien.htm Asclepias physocarpa] photos
- [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASPH2 USDA Plants Profile]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q311186}}