CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Allamanda /Golden-Trumpet

Allamanda cathartica L.

Botanical name	: Allamanda cathartica L. .
Common Name	: Allamanda, Golden-trumpet
Family	: Apocynaceae
Synonym	: Orelia grandiflora Aublet
About	: Allamanda is an evergreen, vine-like woody shrub , may reach a free-standing height of 2 m and an extension of 5 m or more. Older plants often have multiple stems from the root crown and long stems with relatively few branches. Bark of lower stems is brown and furrowed. Twigs are green or yellow green. Stems and twigs exude a milky sap when cut and considered poisonous. All parts are highly cathartic (hence the botanical name). Leaves are glossy, dark-green, leathery obovate to oblong-lanceolate, pointed at both ends and have entire margins, 8-15cm long x 4-5cm wide and arranged in whorls (spirals) of 3-4 .Inflorescences are few-flowered, axillary cymes that grow near the ends of branches. The trumpet shaped bright yellow flowers are 5 to 7.5 cm across. Prickly seed pods follow the flowers with winged seeds that fly about when the pod dries and breaks open. Native to Brazil and widely distributed in tropical areas. It is used as an ornamental plant and it also has medicinal values.