Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton

Tree to 4 m high. Leaves sessile or with petiole 0.2–0.7 mm long; lamina elliptic to oblong, to 10 cm long, to 8 cm wide, cordate to auriculate, acute to rounded; colleters 19 or 20. Inflorescence of 1–3 fascicles. Flowers 14–15 mm long, 3–4.5 cm diam.; pedicels 2.5–3.2 cm long. Sepals lanceolate-ovate to ovate, 5–7 mm long. Corolla subrotate; lobes ovate, 15–17 mm long, 10–11 mm wide, cream-tipped internally. Staminal corona lobes 11–12 mm long, 6–6.5 mm wide, broadly flanged, cream, with base elongated into an upturned vesicle c. 5 mm long. Follicles oblong, 7–10 cm long.

It is a tropical plant. They can grow in hot dry situations. They can grow in humid climates if they have very good drainage. They can tolerate salt. It can grow in arid places. In southern China it grows in woods in dry areas and along stream banks from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.

An alcoholic drink is made from the leaves. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The plant yields a kind of manna. The flowers are made into a sweet meat. CAUTION: The milky sap is poisonous. It can also cause skin irritation.

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings.