ASCLEPIAS PHYSOCARPA

Family and Genus:- See- APOCYNACEAE

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

Homotypic 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:-

1) 7.5 to 10 cm. long, 1.2 cm wide, narrow-linear to lanceolate, light green.

Flowers:-

1 Small, about 1 cm across, white cucullate

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, upto 7.5 cm diam. shaped like an inflated sphere, hispid, pale green.

2) Seeds, with silky tufts.

Click here for a glossary of terms used..

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