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Calotropis procera (fruits)


Calotropis procera (fruits)
Photo Information
Copyright: Nirmal Roberts (nirmalroberts) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 77 N: 708] (2840)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-04
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd, Fujinon f=6.2-66.7(28-300)mm 1:2.8-4.9, Marumi 58mm UV Haze
Exposure: f/8, 1/450 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-04 1:16
Viewed: 412
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Calotropis procera.
Common names: Swallow Wort.
Common Hindi names: Aak, Alarkh, Madar, Rakta Arka.
Plant: 0.9-1.8m. Shrub.
Leaves: 15cm long, 10cm broad. Opposite, gray-green.
Flower: 3.8cm across.
Fruits: 8-12cm long. Gray-green. Containing numerous seeds with tufts of long silky hairs at one end.
One of the two common species of Calotropis, native to India. The other being Calotropis gigantea (Sveta Arka).
Calotropis grows wild up to 900 meters throughout the country on a variety of soils in different climates, sometimes where nothing else grows.
Calotropis is used as a traditional medicinal plant with unique properties. Traditionally Calotropis is used alone or with other medicinals to treat common disease such as fevers, rheumatism, indigestion, cough, cold, eczema, asthma, elephantiasis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. According to Ayurveda, dried whole plant is a good tonic, expectorant, depurative, and anthelmintic. The dried root bark is a substitute for ipecacuanha. The root bark is febrifuge, anthelmintic, depurative, expectorant, and laxative. The powdered root used in asthama, bronchitis, and dyspepsia. The leaves are useful in the treatment of paralysis, arthralegia, swellings, and intermittent fevers. The flowers are bitter, digestive, astringent, stomachic, anthelmintic, and tonic. Calotropis is also a reputed Homoeopathic drug.
Calotropis yields a durable fiber (commercially known as Bowstring of India) useful for ropes, carpets, fishing nets, and sewing thread. Floss, obtained from seeds, is used for stuffing purposes. Fermented mixture of Calotropis and salt is used to remove the hair from goat skins for production of "nari leather" and of sheep skins to make leather which is much used for inexpensive book-binding. Fungicidal and insecticidal properties of Calotropis have been reported.
For Calotropis procera (flower), please click here.
loot, zulfu, bahadir, nkasot, jpdenk, Maite has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5718 W: 605 N: 3416] (9129)
  • [2008-05-04 2:15]
  • [2]

Hi Nirmal

I've never heard of this plant before so thanks for the introduction. TrekNature once again stood up for its mission: "To learn more about Nature through Photography".

At first I thought it could be very similar to a bean or pea plant, but then I read your notes that say it's actually a shrub of up to 1.8m. An interesting shot and a good composition that shows the fruit well while it also show some nice leaf detail. The DOF was well chosen to include everything of the plant in the area of focus and rendering the BG well OOF. The colours have a nice natural tone and are pleasing on the eyes.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi Nirmal,very interesting work,you choose a brave and unusual species to show us and i appreciate so much,perfect pic and very interesting note,thanks for share ,Luciano

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (583)
  • [2008-05-04 4:42]

Hello Nirmal,
Marvelous close-up capture of these strange fruits. I have not seen before. Thanks for sharing. Regards,
Mehmet

Hello Nirmal,
Nice capture of these fruits. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

Hello Nirmal, Yes these are very strange plant for us and thanks your usefull notes. We are learnin with you. Thanks and regards,

Nazım

Hello Nirmal,

An excellent note, this is an amazingly useful plant. The fruit are very interesting-looking, and you've photographed them very well. This plant and its fruits look very similar to some plants in the Asclepias genus here in America, and I see its in the same family, Asclepiadaceae.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 103 W: 0 N: 497] (1882)
  • [2008-05-06 22:36]

Hi Nirmal,

Very nice indeed.

The side-lighting brings out nicely the the texture of the fruit.

TFS,

Ishi

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 979 W: 64 N: 1189] (4888)
  • [2008-05-09 11:17]

Hi again Nirmal
How curious this plant and how curious its fruits. The shot is perfectly sharp and clear showing interesting details on the pods and the leaves. Interesting reading too about its properties.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes
Maite

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