Haplophyton

{{Short description|Genus of plants}}

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Haplophyton is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described in 1844. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Cuba, and Guatemala.{{cite web|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=96248 |title=Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |publisher=Apps.kew.org |date= |access-date=2020-10-26}}{{cite web|url=http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Haplophyton%20crooksii.png |title=Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Haplophyton crooksii |date= |access-date=2020-10-26}} It is a suffrutescent herb with alternative leaves and showy colorful flowers.Williams, J. K. 1995. Miscellaneous notes on Haplophyton (Apocynaceae: Plumerieae: Haplophytinae). Sida 16(3): 469–475

The common name cockroach plant (or hierba de la cucaracha) is in reference to its insecticidal properties. It has been used to kill cockroaches, fleas, flies, lice, and mosquitoes.McLaughlin, S.P. 1993. Apocynaceae A.L. Juss., Dogbane Family. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 27:164-168. Leaf extracts and sap contain many insecticidal compounds — such as the indole alkaloid aspidophytine.