Crown flower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crown flower |
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Calotropis
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C. gigantea
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| Calotropis gigantea |
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Crown flower (Calotropis gigantea) is a species of plant. It is also known as Giant Milkweed. It belongs in the subfamily Asclepiadodeae. It is native to southeast Asia. It has been naturalized in Hawai'i.
It is a large shrub growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall. It has clusters of waxy flowers that are either white or lavender in colour. Each flower consists of five pointed petals and a small "crown" rising from the center which holds the stamens. The aestivation found in calotropis is valvate i.e. sepals or petals in a whorl just touch one another at the margin, without overlapping. The plant has oval, light green leaves and milky stem. The latex of Calotropis gigantea contains cardiac glycosides, fatty acids, and calcium oxalate.
Images for kids
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Calotropis gigantea flower in Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal
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Calotropis gigantea (Ankhade) plant with full bloom at Haridwar
See also
In Spanish: Algodón de seda para niños
