Calotropis procera facts for kids
The Apple of Sodom (scientific name: Calotropis procera) is a fascinating plant known for its unique fruit. It's also sometimes called the Roostertree. This plant belongs to a group called Asclepiadoideae, which is a subfamily of plants.
Quick facts for kids Apple of Sodom |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Apple of Sodom near the Dead Sea in Israel | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: |
Calotropis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calotropis procera |
|
Where Does It Grow?
This plant naturally grows in many parts of the world. You can find it in North Africa, Central Africa, Western Asia, South Asia, and a region called Indochina.
It has also spread and started growing naturally in other places. These include Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Hawai'i, and southern California.
What's Inside the Fruit?
The fruit of the Apple of Sodom is quite special. If you press or hit it, it "explodes" with a puff of air. It's a bit like a balloon or a puff-ball bursting. After it bursts, all you are left with are thin pieces of its skin and a few fibers.
The fruit is mostly filled with air, which is why it has its round shape. In the very center, there's a small, thin pod. This pod holds a small amount of fine, silky material. People in some areas, like Arabs, used to collect this silk. They would twist it into matches for their guns.
Interesting Uses
The Apple of Sodom isn't only found in one place like Palestine. It grows all over the tropical parts of the world. It's also very common in the West Indies, for example, in Jamaica. There, local people call it "pillow cotton."
When the ripe fruits burst open, the silky fibers and seeds are pushed out. Jamaicans collect these fibers. They use them to fill pillows, making them soft and comfortable.
Images for kids
-
A small plant of stabragh in Ab Pakhsh
-
Seeds
-
Flower and fruit
_2.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Manzano de Sodoma para niños
