Species

Gomphocarpus fruticosus

Common Name(s)

swan plant, narrow leaf cotton bush

Authority

Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) R.Br.

Family

Apocynaceae

Brief Description

Semi-woody short-lived shrub withalmost glabrous opposite leaves; all green parts excude a milky poisonous latex when broken. Pods (actually follicles) inflated, soft-bristly and 'swan-shaped', packed with black seeds each bearing a white coma ('parachute').

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Year Naturalised

1870

Origin

Southern Africa

Poisonous plant

The tissues are full of a poisonous white milky latex making all parts of the plant toxic including the bladder-like fruits.







This page last updated on 4 Jan 2019