Family Asclepiadaceae

Milkweed Family

Sometimes included in Family Apocynaceae.  Most have poisonous milky sap.

HAWAII - NATURALIZED

Stapelia gigantea

Makapu'u, Oahu

CARRION FLOWER, GIANT TOAD PLANT, ZULU GIANT, STARFISH FLOWER

Succulent, cactus-like plant without spines.  Flowers exceed 12 inches in diameter.  Foul odor attracts insects for pollination.  Formerly cultivated and naturalized in dry rocky areas from Manoa to Makapu'u, Oahu.  Native to Tropical & Southern Africa.

Calotropis gigantea

UH Manoa, Oahu

CROWN FLOWER

Shrub or small tree naturalized near old home sites.  Purple or white flowers 1.25 inches wide, wide an elevated 'crown' used for making lei.  Capsular fruits open explosively to release silky seeds.  Native to SE Asia.  Poisonous.

Calotropis procera

Kanaha Beach, Maui

SMALL CROWN FLOWER, APPLE OF SODOM

Shrub naturalized near old home sites.  3/4 inch flowers white with purple tips, large capsular fruits open explosively to release silky seeds.  Native to North Africa & the Middle East.  Poisonous.

Asclepias physocarpa

Kanaio, Maui

BALLOON PLANT

Spindly perennial naturalized in dry disturbed areas.  Small white pendant flowers, large bladder-like fruits adorned with bristles contain silky seeds.  Introduced to Hawaii to produce fiber.  Native to South Africa.

HAWAII - CULTIVATED

Marsdenia floribunda

UH Manoa, Oahu

STEPHANOTIS or MADAGASCAR JASMINE    PUA MALE

Stout vine with thick leaves, waxy fragrant flowers & woody oval fruit.  Native to Madagascar.  Formerly known as Stephanotis floribunda.

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