Allamanda
Encyclopedia
Allamanda, also known as Yellow Bell, Golden Trumpet or Buttercup Flower, is a genus of tropical shrubs or vines belonging to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae
).
The genus Alamanda is native to South
and Central America
. Their year-round production of large, bright flowers have made the Allamanda popular ornamentals.
A woody, evergreen shrub with vigorous growth, Allamanda may reach a free-standing height of 2 metres or more. The leathery leaves are lancelike, pointed, and may either be opposite or in whorls of three or four. The yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are 5-7.5 centimetres in diameter; cultivated forms tend towards larger blooms which may also be white, purple, pink or orange in colour. Their scent may be described as delicate and fruity.
In the wild, Allamanda grow along riverbanks and other open, sunny areas with adequate rainfall and perpetually moist substrate. The plants do not tolerate shade, salty or alkaline soils; they are highly sensitive to frost. Allamanda are otherwise undemanding and with appropriate conditions will grow rapidly, from 1-3 metres annually. The seed capsules are oval and prickly; cultivated forms rarely produce seeds, but Allamanda are easily propagated from cuttings. Discarded cuttings are quick to take root.
Allamanda have become naturalized throughout the tropics; they may be seen in roadside ditches, abandoned yards and dumps. As a controlling measure, cutting is ineffecive with Allamanda and will lead to vigorous coppicing
. Owing to its fast growth, Allamanda has been introduced widely where it is used as a groundcover
or for hedges and screens. In some areas Allamanda are an invasive species
, notably Allamanda cathartica in Queensland
, Australia
.
Allamanda cathartica is also notable for its medicinal properties: all parts of the plant contain allamandin, a toxic iridoid lactone. The leaves, roots and flowers may be used in the preparation of a powerful cathartic
(hence the name); the milky sap is also known to possess antibacterial and possibly anticancer properties. Gardeners exposed to the sap will develop rashes, itch, and blisters.
The genus name Allamanda derives from Dr. Frédéric-Louis Allamand
(1735-1803), a Swiss
botanist
of the late 18th century.
The City of Canóvanas in the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico, has named the Allamanda Carthica (Yellow Bell) it's official flower/plant due to the vast amount of these thru the entire city and it's rivers. It's also in their seal and downtown plaza.
Apocynaceae
The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
).
The genus Alamanda is native to South
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Their year-round production of large, bright flowers have made the Allamanda popular ornamentals.
A woody, evergreen shrub with vigorous growth, Allamanda may reach a free-standing height of 2 metres or more. The leathery leaves are lancelike, pointed, and may either be opposite or in whorls of three or four. The yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are 5-7.5 centimetres in diameter; cultivated forms tend towards larger blooms which may also be white, purple, pink or orange in colour. Their scent may be described as delicate and fruity.
In the wild, Allamanda grow along riverbanks and other open, sunny areas with adequate rainfall and perpetually moist substrate. The plants do not tolerate shade, salty or alkaline soils; they are highly sensitive to frost. Allamanda are otherwise undemanding and with appropriate conditions will grow rapidly, from 1-3 metres annually. The seed capsules are oval and prickly; cultivated forms rarely produce seeds, but Allamanda are easily propagated from cuttings. Discarded cuttings are quick to take root.
Allamanda have become naturalized throughout the tropics; they may be seen in roadside ditches, abandoned yards and dumps. As a controlling measure, cutting is ineffecive with Allamanda and will lead to vigorous coppicing
Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level...
. Owing to its fast growth, Allamanda has been introduced widely where it is used as a groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance .- Ecosystem :...
or for hedges and screens. In some areas Allamanda are an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, notably Allamanda cathartica in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Allamanda cathartica is also notable for its medicinal properties: all parts of the plant contain allamandin, a toxic iridoid lactone. The leaves, roots and flowers may be used in the preparation of a powerful cathartic
Laxative
Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and/or bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under...
(hence the name); the milky sap is also known to possess antibacterial and possibly anticancer properties. Gardeners exposed to the sap will develop rashes, itch, and blisters.
The genus name Allamanda derives from Dr. Frédéric-Louis Allamand
Frédéric-Louis Allamand
Frédéric-Louis Allamand was a Swiss botanist. Born in Payerne, Switzerland, he moved to Leiden, Netherlands in 1749 to live with his uncle, Jean-Nicolas-Sébastien Allamand , a professor in philosophy and mathematics at Leiden University, well known naturalist, member of the Royal Society and...
(1735-1803), a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
of the late 18th century.
The City of Canóvanas in the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico, has named the Allamanda Carthica (Yellow Bell) it's official flower/plant due to the vast amount of these thru the entire city and it's rivers. It's also in their seal and downtown plaza.
Species and synonyms
- Allamanda angustifoliaAllamanda angustifoliaAllamanda angustifolia is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Cerrado vegetation. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:...
Pohl - Allamanda angustifolia var. psilophylla Müll.Arg. = Allamanda angustifoliaAllamanda angustifoliaAllamanda angustifolia is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Cerrado vegetation. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:...
- Allamanda aubletii Pohl = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda blanchetiiAllamanda blanchetiiAllamanda blanchetii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family.-See also:*List of plants of Caatinga vegetation of Brazil...
A.DC.: Purple Allamanda, Violet Allamanda - Allamanda brasiliensis Schott ex Pohl = Allamanda schottiiAllamanda schottiiAllamanda schottii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:* photo*...
- Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
L.: Golden-trumpet, Large Yellow Bells, Brownbud Allamanda, Yellow Allamanda - Allamanda cathartica Schrad. = Allamanda schottiiAllamanda schottiiAllamanda schottii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:* photo*...
- Allamanda cathartica f. salicifolia Voss = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda cathartica var. grandiflora (Aubl.) L.H.Bailey & Raffill nom. inadmiss. = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda cathartica var. hendersonii (Bull ex Dombrain) L.H.Bailey & Raffill = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda cathartica var. nobilis (T.Moore) L.H.Bailey & Raffill = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda cathartica var. schottii L.H.Bailey & Raffill = Allamanda schottiiAllamanda schottiiAllamanda schottii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:* photo*...
- Allamanda cathartica var. williamsii (Anon.) L.H.Bailey & Raffill = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda doniana Müll.Arg.
- Allamanda grandiflora . (Aubl.) Lam. nom. inadmiss. = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda grandiflora Poiret nom. Iileg. = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda hendersonii Bull ex Dombrain = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda hendersonii W.Bull ex Dombrain = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda laevis Markgr.
- Allamanda latifolia C.Presl = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda linnei Pohl = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda magnifica Williams = Allamanda schottiiAllamanda schottiiAllamanda schottii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:* photo*...
- Allamanda martii Müll.Arg.
- Allamanda martii var. parvifolia Müll.Arg. = Allamanda martii
- Allamanda neriifolia Hook. = Allamanda schottiiAllamanda schottiiAllamanda schottii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:* photo*...
- Allamanda nobilis T.Moore = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda oenotherifolia Pohl
- Allamanda parviflora C.Presl
- Allamanda polyanthaAllamanda polyanthaAllamanda polyantha is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil.-External links: photo...
Müll.Arg. - Allamanda puberula A.DC. = Allamanda puberulaAllamanda puberulaAllamanda puberula is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Caatinga, and Cerrado vegetation...
- Allamanda puberula var. gardneri A.DC. = Allamanda puberulaAllamanda puberulaAllamanda puberula is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Caatinga, and Cerrado vegetation...
- Allamanda puberula var. glabrata Müll.Arg. = Allamanda puberulaAllamanda puberulaAllamanda puberula is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Caatinga, and Cerrado vegetation...
- Allamanda puberula var. lasiocalycina Müll.Arg. = Allamanda puberulaAllamanda puberulaAllamanda puberula is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Caatinga, and Cerrado vegetation...
- Allamanda salicifolia hort. = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda schottii Hook. = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda schottiiAllamanda schottiiAllamanda schottii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.-External links:* photo*...
Pohl: Bush Allamanda - Allamanda setulosa Miq.
- Allamanda thevetifolia Müll.Arg.
- Allamanda wardleyana Lebas = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda weberbaueri Markgr. .
- Allamanda verrucosa Gardn. ex Müll.Arg. = Allamanda puberulaAllamanda puberulaAllamanda puberula is a species of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil, typically in Caatinga, and Cerrado vegetation...
- Allamanda verticillata Desf.
- Allamanda williamsii Hort. = Allamanda catharticaAllamanda catharticaAllamanda cathartica is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family, which is native from Brazil. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius....
- Allamanda violacea Gardn. & Field. = Allamanda blanchetiiAllamanda blanchetiiAllamanda blanchetii is an ornamental plant of Allamanda genus in the Apocynaceae family.-See also:*List of plants of Caatinga vegetation of Brazil...