Butterweed
Asclepias curassavica

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

An erect small shrub. It grows 60-90 cm high. The leaves are 13 cm long. They are narrowly oval and taper at both ends. The flowers are in clusters at the ends of branches. These are 5-10 cm across. They are orange and red. The fruit are spindle shaped pods.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It needs subtropical climates. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andaman Is., Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Caroline Islands, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R., Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, French Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The plant is poisonous. It is used to flavour tortillas in Mexico.

Edible parts

Flavouring, caution

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bloodflower, Fanoromena, Kitseakanalika, Red head cotton bush, Scarlet milkweed, Svilnica, Treniombilahy, Truka-keree

Synonyms

Asclepias aurantiaca Salisb. [Illegitimate]; Asclepias bicolor Moench [Illegitimate]; Asclepias cubensis Wender.; Asclepias curassavica var. concolor Krug & Urb.; Asclepias curassavica f. flaviflora Tawada; Asclepias curassavica f. pallidiflora Griseb.; Asclepias margaritacea Hoffmanns. ex Schult.; Asclepias nivea var. curassavica (L.) Kuntze;