What is Calotropis in biology?
Allotropy is the property of some chemical elements to exist in two or more different forms, in the same physical state, known as allotropes of the elements. Example : Allotropes of carbon: Diamond, Graphite and Buckminsterfullerene.
What is another name of Calotropis?
11.4.
Calotropis gigantea is a weed that grows in the wastelands of Africa and Asia. It is commonly called “crown flower,” “giant milkweed,” and “shallow wort” (Kanchan and Atreya, 2016). In India, it is called “aak,” “akauwa,” or “arka” (Gautam and Bhadauria, 2009; Kanchan and Atreya, 2016).
Why is Calotropis called the apple of sodom?
The fruits are apple-like but hollow, full of seeds with long hairy fringes, from which arises the name “apple of Sodom” (Figure 3).
Why is Calotropis poisonous?
All parts of the plants are toxic; there are many case reports of gastrointestinal, cutaneous and ocular toxicity with Calotropis. The plant contains Cardenolide glycosides which have Digoxin like effects and can cause severe cardiotoxicity.
Which part of Calotropis is most poisonous?
The milky latex sap of Calotropis gigantea is a known cause of toxic keratoconjunctivitis and reversible vision loss.
What is the use of Calotropis?
[1] Calotropis procera is a well known plant and has been traditionally used for diarrhoea, stomatic, sinus fistula, and skin disease,[2,3] and the leaf part is used to treat jaundice.
Is Calotropis fruit edible?
Calotropis is a poisonous plant.
What happens if Calotropis milk drops in eyes?
In conclusion, the latex of Calotropis procera causes immediate severe corneal damage with painless sudden dimness of vision. It may also cause reduction in endothelial cell count over a period of time.
What is Calotropis fruit?
Calotropis procera is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae that is native to North Africa, Pakistan,tropical Africa, Western Asia, South Asia, and Indochina. The green fruits contain a toxic milky sap that is extremely bitter and turns into a gluey coating which is resistant to soap.
Where is Calotropis found?
Calotropis procera is native to Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Western Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Indo-China (GRIN, 2021). However, the introduction of the plant outside its native boundaries has led to its naturalization in parts of Africa, Australia, and America (GRIN, 2021).Jun 17, 2021