Asclepias curassavica

Common name: Redhead Cotton Bush

Meaning of name:

Asclepias was the name used by Pliny for Vincetoxicum officinale, from the Greek Asceplios, in Homer, the name of a Thessalian prince famous as a physician. Curassavica is from the Latin place name of Curacao, West Indies.

Distribution:

Found in disturbed areas throughout Australia.

Description:

This plant is a garden escapee which grows to 1 metre tall.

Notes:

It is originally from tropical America.

References:

Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.

Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.

Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/taxon/apni/51430971

Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6580