Apocynaceae, Araliaceae & Asclepiadaceae

DICOTYLEDONS

APOCYNACEAE - Periwinkle Family

A large family of 2000 species found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Usually shrubs or climbers and often with latex or clear sap. Generally poisonous because they contain alkaloids and other compounds. In Western Australia there are 15 native species and four naturalised ones. Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) is a common garden plant with mauve, pink or white flowers produced in summer and simple elliptical leaves. It has escaped from cultivation in parts of the Pilbara and Kimberley, including Yampire Gorge and Koolan Island.

Vinca major (blue periwinkle) is a low-growing perennial with arched or prostrate stems that bear dark green or variegated leaves in opposite pairs and solitary, large blue or purple flowers 3-5cm in diameter, in winter and spring. Stems take root where in contact with the ground. It has escaped from gardens into shady sites, including creeklines and disturbed woodlands, near habitation from Perth to Albany. Native to the Mediterranean region. Another two species are locally naturalised on creeklines at Koolan Island; the climber Allamanda cathartica (yellow allamanda) and the shrub Thevetia peruviana (also named Cascabela thevetia) (yellow oleander).

Vinca major, RR

ARALIACEAE - Ivy Family

A family of some 700 trees, shrubs and climbers with fleshy fruits, found worldwide in both tropical and temperate regions. In Western Australia there are one native and one introduced species.
Hedera helix (ivy) sprawls or climbs, rooting from the stem, and using the roots to attach itself when climbing. It has dark green, leathery, palmate leaves, yellow-green flowers and shiny black fruits. An occasional garden escape in creeklines in the Perth area. Native to Europe.

Hedera helix, PH

ASCLEPIADACEAE

A family of about 2000 species, mainly tropical and sub-tropical. The stems exude a milky sap when cut. The seeds are topped by a tuft of silky hairs and released from a pod. Seven species have naturalised in Western Australia while 20 are native.Araujia sericifera (moth plant) is a climbing shrub that has spread from gardens into wasteland around Perth and Bunbury. The tubular, white, perfumed flowers are about 8mm across and are borne in the axils of leaves. Flowers in summer. Native of Peru.

Asclepias curassavica (redhead cotton bush, blood flower) can be found from Carnarvon to Mandurah. It is a garden escape, found in disturbed urban bushland and wasteland. The flowers are 16-18mm across and produced in clusters. The petals are red, reflexed around a bright yellow structure, the 'corona'. A perennial, to 1m that flowers mainly in late summer. Native to tropical America.

Asclepias curassavica, GK

Calotropis procera (rubber tree, calotrope) DP is a shrub or small tree, growing up to 4m tall. The flowers are purple and white. The underside of the leaves are densely covered in white hairs. It has escaped from gardens and is now a widespread, serious weed of the Kimberley. The milky sap can cause contact dermatitis. It originates from tropical Africa and Asia and is not related to the commercial rubber tree.
C. gigantea (giant calotrope) is a larger, coarser shrub naturalised near Broome and on a beach near Kalumburu. Native to Asia and sub-tropical parts of South-East Asia.

Calotropis procera, GK

C. grandifloraDP is a serious weed in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and has been found on Koolan Island. Native to Madagascar. The related Cryptostegia madagascariensis (rubber vine) DP is a vigorous climbing shrub with milky sap, shiny dark green leaves and large pink flowers. It is a native of Madagascar and is spreading from gardens in Broome.

Cryptostegia grandiflora, CB

Gomphocarpus fruticosus (swan plant, narrowleaf cotton bush) DP is an escaped garden shrub, to 2m, that has spread into disturbed, moist sites on the Swan Coastal Plain and Darling Range from Perth to Busselton. It is capable of forming dense thickets. The flowers have a similar structure to Asclepias (see above), but both petals and corona are white to cream and are produced in summer. The seed pods are inflated, thin-walled, 4-6cm long, sparsely covered in soft spines and narrowing to a point; they are borne on an S-shaped stalk. G. physocarpus (balloon cotton bush) is spreading into similar habitats and regions as the previous species. It can be distinguished by its more symmetrical ball-like pod, lacking a point and borne on a straight stalk. Both native to South Africa.

Gomphocarpus fruticosus, PH

Previous page to Asteraceae

Back to home page.

Webmaster: Rod Randall

A family of about 2000 species, mainly tropical and sub-tropical. The stems exude a milky sap when cut. The seeds are topped by a tuft of silky hairs and released from a pod. Seven species have naturalised in Western Australia while 20 are native.Araujia sericifera (moth plant) is a climbing shrub that has spread from gardens into wasteland around Perth and Bunbury. The tubular, white, perfumed flowers are about 8mm across and are borne in the axils of leaves. Flowers in summer. Native of Peru. *Asclepias curassavica* (redhead cotton bush, blood flower) can be found from Carnarvon to Mandurah. It is a garden escape, found in disturbed urban bushland and wasteland. The flowers are 16-18mm across and produced in clusters. The petals are red, reflexed around a bright yellow structure, the 'corona'. A perennial, to 1m that flowers mainly in late summer. Native to tropical America.	*Asclepias curassavica*, GK
*Calotropis procera* (rubber tree, calotrope) DP is a shrub or small tree, growing up to 4m tall. The flowers are purple and white. The underside of the leaves are densely covered in white hairs. It has escaped from gardens and is now a widespread, serious weed of the Kimberley. The milky sap can cause contact dermatitis. It originates from tropical Africa and Asia and is not related to the commercial rubber tree. *C. gigantea* (giant calotrope) is a larger, coarser shrub naturalised near Broome and on a beach near Kalumburu. Native to Asia and sub-tropical parts of South-East Asia.	*Calotropis procera*, GK
*C. grandifloraDP is a serious weed in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and has been found on Koolan Island. Native to Madagascar. The related Cryptostegia madagascariensis* (rubber vine) DP is a vigorous climbing shrub with milky sap, shiny dark green leaves and large pink flowers. It is a native of Madagascar and is spreading from gardens in Broome.	*Cryptostegia grandiflora*, CB
*Gomphocarpus fruticosus* (swan plant, narrowleaf cotton bush) DP is an escaped garden shrub, to 2m, that has spread into disturbed, moist sites on the Swan Coastal Plain and Darling Range from Perth to Busselton. It is capable of forming dense thickets. The flowers have a similar structure to Asclepias (see above), but both petals and corona are white to cream and are produced in summer. The seed pods are inflated, thin-walled, 4-6cm long, sparsely covered in soft spines and narrowing to a point; they are borne on an S-shaped stalk. *G. physocarpus* (balloon cotton bush) is spreading into similar habitats and regions as the previous species. It can be distinguished by its more symmetrical ball-like pod, lacking a point and borne on a straight stalk. Both native to South Africa.	*Gomphocarpus fruticosus*, PH