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Plants

Araujia sericifera

Cruel Plant

an evergreen member of the Araujia genus in the family Asclepiadaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Araujia
Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
10 m
Fertility
Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Lepidoptera

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - after preparation[4]. No further details are given but the fruit is a long grooved pod 12.5 x 7.5cm, tapering to a fascicle of hairs 2.5cm long[6].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A strong fibre obtained from stems is used in making textiles[8][11].

Product or use
Fibre

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
S. America - Brazil and Peru. Naturalized in S.W. Europe
Habitat
Sandy sea shores in S.W. Europe[9][12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed can be sown at any time of the year if the greenhouse is heated[3]. Germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 20°c according to one report whilst another says that it takes 1 - 6 months at 25°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, late autumn in a frame[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good loamy soil but succeeds in any fertile soil[2][5]. Requires a sunny position[5]. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, they succeed outdoors only in the mildest areas of the country[1][2]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. Plants produce fruit when growing on a wall at Glendurgan gardens in Cornwall[10]. A very vigorous twining plant when growing in a suitable position[5][7]. The flowers have a very strong scent that can be offensive if approached too closely[7]. This scent attracts night-flying moths who are seeking nectar, but the flowers are designed in such a way as to trap the moths by their tongues until morning when those who have survived the ordeal can escape[6][7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  10. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  12. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

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