Gomphocarpus fruticosus

Gomphocarpus fruticosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Subfamily:	Asclepiadoideae
Genus:	Gomphocarpus
Species:	G. fruticosus
Binomial name
Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T.Aiton
Synonyms[1]
List Apocynum salicifolium Medik. Asclepias angustifolia Schweigg. Asclepias cornuta (Decne.) Cordem. Asclepias crinita (G.Bertol.) N.E.Br. Asclepias decipiens N.E.Br. Asclepias flavida N.E.Br. Asclepias fruticosa L. Asclepias glabra Mill. Asclepias rostrata N.E.Br. Asclepias salicifolia Salisb. nom. illeg. Asclepias setosa Forssk. Asclepias virgata Balb. Gomphocarpus angustifolius (Schweigg.) Link Gomphocarpus arachnoideus E.Fourn. Gomphocarpus cornutus Decne. Gomphocarpus crinitus G.Bertol. Gomphocarpus rostratus (N.E.Br.) Bullock Gomphocarpus setosus (Forssk.) R.Br. ex Schult.

Gomphocarpus fruticosus (syn. Asclepias fruticosa) is a species of milkweed native to South Africa.^[2] It is also common in New Zealand where it is the main host of the Monarch butterfly. The plant's tissues contain sufficient cardenolides that consumption of significant quantities of the plant's leaves, stems, or fruit may lead to death in livestock and humans.^[3][4][5]

The species is closely related to Gomphocarpus physocarpus.

References

1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, version 1.1".
2. Clive Bromilow; Problem Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications 2001 ISBN 1-875093-27-3
3. Van Wyk, Van Oudshoorn & Gerike: Medicinal plants of South Africa, Briza Publications 1997. ISBN 1-875093-09-5
4. Philip H. Quanjer. "Milk Weed Asclepias fruticosa". Retrieved 10 January 2014.
5. p. 36 in D. Jesse Wagstaff (2008). International Poisonous Plants Checklist, An Evidence-Based Reference. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.

External links

• Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). [http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?submitForm=true&page_id=77&searchTextMenue=Gomphocarpus+fruticosus&filterRegionIDs[]=6&filterRegionIDs[]=1&filterRegionIDs[]=2&filterRegionIDs[]=3&filterRegionIDs[]=5 "Gomphocarpus fruticosus"]. African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.