Posts Tagged ‘apocynaceae’
Critter Week - Asclepias currasavica and Danaus caterpillar
Posted by: The Lorax in: ● October 28, 2008
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Monarch caterpillar, eating unopened blooms on a red milkweed, Asclepias currasavica. Monarch butterflies are a fairly common sight in Ecuador, although their caterpillars, like the one pictured, are more notable (largely because of Ecuador’s huge butterfly population). They will gleefully lay waste to any milkweed they encounter, and are sometimes considered to be garden pests when milkweeds are used as decorative borders.
Allamanda cathartica - Golden Trumpets
Posted by: The Lorax in: ● June 7, 2008
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Allamanda, growing near Malacatos, Loja Province. Allamanda is a South American tropical genus of about 40 species, all of which are fast-growing, shrubby evergreen creepers or vines that produce bright, colourful flowers year round. They have long, leathery, deep green lanceolate foliage and woody trunks. Flowers range from bright yellow to deep purple, with five petals that are fused in the throat to form trumpets. The blossoms are highly fragrant with a delicate, somewhat fruity scent. Large, hairy seeds follow the flowers. Propagation is by seed and by cutting; in the wild, Allamanda grow on sunny riverbanks and meadows, and in cultivation prefer rich, well-draining soils of neutral pH, with plenty of water and full to three-quarter sun. The plant will not tolerate shade or frost, but is otherwise very easy to grow. Cultivars rarely come true from seed, while species plants are vigorous seeders. Both types will come readily from cuttings.
As with most members of the Apocynaceae, all parts of the plant are toxic to humans and sap can cause contact burns, blistering, and itchy rashes. However, compounds in the sap of Allemanda cathartica is being researched for strong anticancer activity.
