ASCLEPIAS PHYSOCARPA

Family:- APOCYNACEAE

Common names:- Balloon plant, Balloon cotton-bush, Swan plant.

Synonyms:- Gomphocarpus physocarpus

Meaning:- Asclepias (Gr) After Aesculapius the Greek god of medicine.

Physocarpa (L) Bladder-fruited.

General description:- An under-shrub perennial herb, that can grow to over 2 m.

The plant blooms in warm months.

Leaves:-

a) 7.5 to 10 cm. long, 1.2 cm wide.

b) narrow-elongate to lance-shaped.

c) light green.

Flowers:-

a) Small, about 1 cm across.

b) with white hoods.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) upto 7.5 cm diam.

b) shape, an inflated sphere.

c) covered with rough hairs.

d) pale green.

2) Seeds:

a) with silky tufts.

Habitat:- Moist but well drained sandy soil in sunny locations.

Distribution:- The plant is native to southeast Africa, but it has been widely

naturalized. Distribution on Crete is uncertain.

Flowering time:- Aug-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton