Home | > | List of families | > | Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | > | Cynanchum | > | viminale |
Synonyms: |
Cynanchum tetrapterum (Turcz.) R.A. Dyer Euphorbia viminalis L. Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R. Br. subsp. viminale |
Common names: | Caustic vine (English) Milk rope (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | |
Description: |
Succulent vine. Stems and branches mostly prostrate or scrambling over other vegetation, grey-green, producing milky sap when broken. The leaves are reduced to scales. Flowers in spherical umbels, sweetly scented. Fruits carrot-shaped, containing seeds with a pappus of white, silky hairs. |
Type location: |
South Africa |
Notes: | The plants occurring in shaded woodland or riverine vegetation have a more lush and vigorous growth. The stems are shiny bright green and twining, climbing into the trees. The inflorescences may be more densely flowered. |
Derivation of specific name: | viminale: from vimen (Lat.) meaning an "osier" or "pliant twig" referring to the weeping habit of the branches. |
Habitat: | A species mostly of drier scrub and rocky areas but also found as a twining climber in shade in woodland and riverine vegetation |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Throughout year |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in Africa and the Middle East to India, Indochina, Southern China, Indomalaya and Australia. Also on Indian Oceans islands including Mauritius, Réunion and the Seychelles. |
National distribution: | N,SE |
Growth form(s): | Climber. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Binns, B. (1968). A First Check List of the Herbaceous Flora of Malawi The Government Printer, Zomba, Malawi Page 22. as Sarcostemma viminale Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 49. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. as Sarcostemma viminale Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. as Sarcostemma viminale Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 27. as Sarcostemma viminale Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 270. as Sarcostemma viminale Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 316 - 317. as Sarcostemma viminale (Includes a picture). Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 341 - 342. Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 59. as Sarcostemma viminale (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 22. as Sarcostemma viminale Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 26. as Sarcostemma viminale Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 552 - 553. as Sarcostemma viminale (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 29. as Sarcostemma viminale Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Page 5. as Sarcostemma viminale Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24. As Sarcostemma viminale Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 48. as Sarcostemma viminale Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 96 - 97. as Sarcostemma viminale (Includes a picture). |
Home | > | List of families | > | Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | > | Cynanchum | > | viminale |