Observe ⇒ Differentiate ⇒ Identify ⇒ NURTURE
Botanical Name: Calotropis gigantea
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 23-Nov-2018 07:45 AM
Photo Description: None
Family: Apocynaceae
Common Name: मांदार
Etymology - Genus: From the Greek kalos (beautiful) and tropis (ship's keel)
Etymology - Species: Large, gigantic
Ecosystem: Evergreen
Origin: Native
Location: Vetal Hill
Description: Large shrub or a small tree if allowed to grow. All parts of the plant has milky latex a typical Apocynaceae family character.Petiolate, ovate, acute, coriaceous leaf with rounded basel lobes almost clasping the stem.Base of the leaf has bristle like hairs.Individual flowers are arranged in umbel type of inflorescence - flowers appear to be arising from a single point and forming a shape like an umbrella.Flowers are either white or lavender in colour. Flower buds like "modak".Corona lobes shorter than gynostegium. Petals curve outwards completely when fully open.The fruit is a follicle, curved and appears inflated.Fruit breaks open on maturity exposing numerous seeds with long, silky, parachute like hairs. Seeds disperse over wind.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 3 Photo Date-Time: None
Photo Description: None
Root type: Taproot-Woody hard
Stem Appearance: Tree
Stem Cross Section: Circular
Stem Texture: Smooth
Root-Stem-Bark Description: Large shrub or a small tree if allowed to grow. All parts of the plant has milky latex a typical Apocynaceae family character.
Leaf - Characters
Attachment: Petiolate
Stipules: Exstipulate
Leaf Type: Simple
Phyllotaxy: Opposite-Decussate
Leaf Description: Petiolate, ovate, acute, coriaceous leaf with rounded basel lobes almost clasping the stem.
Leaflet - Characters
Lamina: Oblong
Lamina Bases: Rounded basel lobes
Lamina Margins: Entire
Lamina Apices: Acute
Lamina Texture: Coriaceous
Venation: Reticulate-Unicostate
Leaflet Description: Base of the leaf has bristle like hairs.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 23-Nov-2018 07:45 AM
Photo Description: None
Inflorescence - Characters
Inflorescence: Umbel
Bract:
Inflorescence Description: Individual flowers are arranged in umbel type of inflorescence - flowers appear to be arising from a single point and forming a shape like an umbrella.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 23-Nov-2018 07:45 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 23-Nov-2018 07:45 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: None
Photo Description: Flowers are either white or lavender in colour
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 25-Dec-2018 08:52 AM
Photo Description: None
Flower - Characters
Flower Type: Complete
Flower Symmetry: Actinomorphic
Thalamus Types:
Position of Whorls: Hypogynous
Aestivation: Valvate
Flower Description: Flowers are either white or lavender in colour. Flower buds like "modak".
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 23-Nov-2018 07:45 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 05-Jan-2019 17:31 PM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 05-Jan-2019 17:31 PM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 12-Feb-2021 18:35 PM
Photo Description: One in hand - C procera, others are C gigantea. Illustrates the difference in height of gynostegium as compared to Corona lobes in two species of Calotropis genus.
Floral Parts - Characters
Calyx Arrangement: Actinomorphic polysepalous
Calyx Persistance: Caducous
Calyx Number of sepals: 5
Corolla Arrangement: Rosaceous
Corolla Appendages: na
Corolla Number of petals: 5
Perianth Arrangement: na
Perianth Number of tepals: na
Androecium Attachment of anther:
Androecium Length of filament: equal
Androecium Union of Stamens: Corona
Androecium Number of Stamens: 5
Gynoecium Placentation:
Gynoecium Union of Carpels: Gynostegium
Gynoecium Number of Carpels: 2
Floral Parts Description: Corona lobes shorter than gynostegium. Petals curve outwards completely when fully open.
Fruit type: Follicle
Fruit type Description: The fruit is a follicle, curved and appears inflated.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 4 Photo Date-Time: 16-Jun-2018 07:29 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 4 Photo Date-Time: 20-Jun-2018 18:19 PM
Photo Description: None
Seed Type: Dicotyledon
Germination type: Epigeal
Dispersion Method: Wind
Preprocessing for germination:
Germination time:
Seed shelf life:
Germination %:
Seed Description: Fruit breaks open on maturity exposing numerous seeds with long, silky, parachute like hairs. Seeds disperse over wind.
