Gomphocarpus fruticosus (swan plant; narrow-leaved cotton bush) is a species of plant native to South Africa.[2] It is also common in Australia and New Zealand where it is a host of the monarch butterfly.[3] The plant's tissues contain sufficient cardenolides that consumption of significant quantities of the plant's leaves, stems, or fruit may lead to death in livestock and humans.[4][5][6]
| Gomphocarpus fruticosus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Gomphocarpus |
| Species: | G. fruticosus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T.Aiton
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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The plant, also referred to as Narrow leaf cotton bush, has officially been declared a pest in Western Australia.[7]
The species is closely related to Gomphocarpus physocarpus.
References
edit- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, version 1.1".
- ^ Clive Bromilow; Problem Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications 2001 ISBN 1-875093-27-3
- ^ Multiple sources:
- Wise, K. A. J. (June 1963). "Food-Plants of 'Monarch' Butterfly Larvae". Tuatara. 11 (2). Wellington, New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington: 81–82. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- "Narrow-leaved Cotton Bush (Gomphocarpus fruticosus". Weeds of Melbourne. March 30, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Van Wyk, Van Oudshoorn & Gerike: Medicinal plants of South Africa, Briza Publications 1997. ISBN 1-875093-09-5
- ^ Philip H. Quanjer. "Milk Weed Asclepias fruticosa". Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ p. 36 in D. Jesse Wagstaff (2008). International Poisonous Plants Checklist, An Evidence-Based Reference. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. ISBN 9781420062533.
- ^ "Narrow leaf cotton bush: declared pest". agric.wa.gov.au. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
Narrow leaf cotton bush (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA).
External links
edit- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Gomphocarpus fruticosus". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
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