Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton, Apocynaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Asclepias gigantea L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: niu jiao gua

English: bowstring hemp, calotrope, crown flower, crownplant, giant milkweed, madar

French: arbre à soie, mercure végétal, mudar

Hawaiian: puakalaunu

I-Kiribati: te bumorimori

Spanish: lechoso

Tahitian: tahinu

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree to 4 m tall. 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 ca 5 mm long. Follicles oblong, 7-10 cm long" (Forster et al., 1996; p. 214).

Habitat/ecology:  "Crownflower grows anywhere, but it truly thrives in hot, sunny, dry environments, including areas near the coast that receive salt exposure"  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; pp. 140-141).  In Australia, "Found on roadsides, disturbed areas, watercourses, river flats and coastal dunes.  Thrives on poor soils particularly where overgrazing has removed competition from native grasses."  (Smith, 2002; pp. 28-29).

Propagation:  "Seeds spread by wind and water over large distances.  Local stands increased in size by suckering.  Also spread as an ornamental plant."  (Smith, 2002; pp. 28-29).

Native range:  Sri Lanka, India, China and Malesia (Forster et al., 1996; p. 214).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 33) Not common.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 123356) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 123357) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 64)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 25)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 27)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1988) (p. 110) Voucher cited: DA 12172 (L.8255) Sparingly naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1988) (p. 110) Voucher cited: DA 5677 Sparingly naturalized.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 46) Voucher cited: Florence 4731
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 4731 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492643) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 46)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 46) Voucher cited: Florence 5251
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492245) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 46) Vouchers cited: BRY 24836a, BRY 26338
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 4463 (PAP) Cultivée. Ornementale assez commune.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 558156) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Hao (Hau) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10107 (PAP) Cultivée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Raro‘ia Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Fourdrigniez, Marie (2008) (p. 13) Subspontanée d'introduction européene.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Tikehau (Tikahau) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 219)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 649337) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 238) Cultivated, possible escapes.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 238) Cultivated, possible escapes.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wysong, Michael/Hughes, Guy/Wood, K. R. (2007) (p. 2) Voucher cited: Wysong 763 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2008) (p. 3) "Naturalized in a dry, grassy road construction site". Voucher cited: A. Lau & D. Frohlich 2007101508 (BISH)
Kiribati Phoenix Islands	Kanton Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Stoddart, D. R. (1994) (p. 11) Vouchers cited: Degener & Hatheway 21294 (BISH), Clegern 4 (BISH)
Kiribati Phoenix Islands	Kanton Island	introduced	Luomala, Katharine (1951) (p. 173)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 219)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 13)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1967) (voucher ID: PTBG 13244) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1967) (voucher ID: PTBG 13245) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Bikini (Pikinni) Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 649952) Taxon name on voucher: Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 68)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Mili (Mile) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2010) (p. A10) Rare; few shrubs in private yard, southern portion of town, said to have been brought from Majuro.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 97) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58771 (US), Hassall 152 (SUVA)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 48) Voucher cited: CHR 168881
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 22)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 39)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 84)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 18)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 18)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 79)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Peleliu (Beliliou) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 90)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 341) Occasional in hedges, etc., about dwellings, usually or (?) always planted.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 65)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 54)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Wake Islands	Wake Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 219)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 147)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 28-29)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Woods of dry areas, stream banks; 0-1400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 23) Cultivated only
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 107)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 30) "Common". Voucher cited: Fosberg 36827 (US)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  An invasive species in Timor. Naturalizing in Northern Territory and northwest Western Australia, Australia (Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Calotropis gigantea, please let us know.