CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Madar / Crown Flower

(Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand.)

Botanical name	: Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand.
Common Name	: Madar/ Crown Flower
Family	: Asclepiadaceae
Synonym	: Asclepias gigantea L.
About	: A large shrub or a small evergreen tree, it can grow to a height of 3-4 m or more. All parts of the plant have an abundance of milky latex, young branches covered with white, cottony hairs. Stem is erect, branched, cylindrical, solid. Leaves are 10-20 cm long, opposite decussate, obovate or elliptic-oblong, shortly acute, sub-sessile, cordate. Inflorescence is umbellate cymes. Flowers are large, white or lavender in color, not scented, peduncles arising between the petioles. Calyx lobes 5, divided to the base. Corolla valvate, lobes 5 in number. Stamens are 5, anthers short with membranous appendages. Pollinium one in each cell. Carpels are 2 in number distinct, styles 2, united to the single pentagular stigma, Fruits are pairs of large green and pale-yellow inflated pods, boat-shaped, 6.5-10 x 3-5 cm with many, flattened and rather broad seeds, each with a tuft of hairs 2.5-3 cm long. Flowering and fruiting time is from November to April .Plant is of Indian origin.