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araujia

Scientific Name: Araujia

Family: Asclepiadaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Araujia sericifera (Moth Vine)

Araujia sericifera, commonly known as moth vine or mothplant, is a perennial ornamental vine belonging to the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family.

Considerations for Pets

  • This plant contains milky sap which is released if broken.

Considerations for Children

  • This plant contains milky sap which is released if broken.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Araujia sericifera Brot.
  • Common Names: Moth vine, mothplant, bladderflower, cruel plant, moth catcher, milk vine
  • Family: Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae/Asclepiadoideae)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonyms:
    • Araujia hortorum E.Fn.
    • Araujia sericofera Brot. (orthographic error)
    • Araujia albens (Martius) Don
    • Physianthus albens Martius
    • Araujia calycina Decne.
  • Alternative Name: Araujia hortorum

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to South America, including southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina and Peru.
  • Also found in Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Argentina (San Luis, Chaco, Formosa, Jujuy, Santa Fe), Paraguay (Alto Paraguay, Concepcion, Pres. Hayes), WC-Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo).
  • Introduced to other regions, including the North Western Iberian Peninsula in Europe and the United States.

Ecological Role

  • Regarded as a significant environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland, and a minor environmental weed in Victoria (Australia).
  • Successful invasive plants such as Araujia sericifera usually either are capable of automatic self-pollination or maintain pollinator services.
  • Araujia mosaic virus (ArjMV) is considered a potential biological control agent for moth plant.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Evergreen climber growing up to 10 meters (32 ft 10 in) at a fast rate.
  • Perennial herb or vine.
  • Leaves are light gray-green.
  • Produces racemes of white or pink, delicately scented, salver-shaped flowers.
  • The flowers have flat spreading terminal petals that trap nocturnal moths.
  • Releases a milky, smelly exudate when broken.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "Cruel Plant" refers to its flowers' ability to trap moths.
  • The plant was named Araujia in memory of the Portuguese Antonio de Matos Araujo.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The flowers trap nocturnal moths.
  • A new host of Alfalfa mosaic virus in Italy.

Further Information

  • The Plant List: Includes 13 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Araujia, of these 7 are accepted species names.
  • International Plant Names Index.
  • Brazilian Flora Checklist - Lista de Espcies da Flora.
  • Whitney Western Art Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.