ARAUJIA SERICIFERA

Family:- APOCYNACEAE

Common Names:- Moth Plant, White Bladderflower, Common Moth Vine and

Cruel Vine.

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Araujia (L) Derived from Antonio de Araujo e Azevedo, 1st Count of

Barca (1754-1817), a Portuguese amateur botanist.

Sericifera (L) Silk-bearing.

General description:- A creeping vine that can climb up to 5-7 metres. If broken

this plant releases a milky smelly exudate.

Leaves:-

a) about 10-12 mm.

b) opposite.

c) almost triangular, with entire margins.

d) dark green, glossy and quite fleshy.

Flowers:-

a) about 2 cm diam.

b) bell-shaped (campanulate).

c) with five white, creamish, violet or pale pink petals.

d) fragrant, bisexual.

Fruit:-

1) Pods:

a) large about 8-10 cm.

b) pear-shaped (pyriform).

2) Seeds:

a) numerous, surrounded by silky hairs which enable them to be dispersed by

the wind.

b) black.

Habitat:- Wastelands with trees and hedges, in forests and in rocky places or

cliffs. They prefer sunny or partially shady places, at an altitude of 0-1,800 m.

Distribution:- This plant native to South America, introduced in Europe.

Limited distribution on Crete, mainly in the west.

Flowering time:- July-Sept.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis