Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3579089

Crown Flower

Calotropis gigantea

Also known as Giant Milkweed, Crown Plant, Madar, Bowstring Hemp

Crown flowers form tall, woody shrubs renowned for waxy, star-shaped blooms with a prominent central crown. Rich in sticky milky latex, the plant produces powerful chemical defenses that deter most herbivores while providing critical food for monarch and plain tiger butterfly larvae. Native across tropical Asia, it thrives in sunny coastal dunes, roadsides, and disturbed soils.

FloweringHost PlantToxic
Crown Flower reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceJeevan Jose, Kerala, India / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Photosynthetic
Predators
  • Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars
  • Plain Tiger Butterfly Caterpillars
  • Oleander Aphids
ThreatsLand development, weed eradication
HabitatsTropical dry scrub, coastal dunes, roadsides, disturbed land
Life span10–20 years
Classification
  1. OrderGentianales
  2. FamilyApocynaceae
  3. GenusCalotropis
  4. SpeciesCalotropis gigantea
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Milky latex contains cardiac glycosides that irritate skin and eyes; do not ingest or touch broken stems.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic cardiac glycosides like calotropin that cause severe vomiting and heart disturbances if ingested, plus milky latex that burns eyes.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by broad pale leaves, sticky white sap, and waxy purple or white crown-shaped flowers.
What to do
Observe without breaking stems or leaves; wash skin immediately if sap makes contact.
Responsible observation
  • Caterpillar Hunting: Inspect the underside of broad leaves for monarch or plain tiger larvae.
  • Flower Details: Examine the waxy central crown structure closely without plucking the blossoms.
  • Sap Safety: Avoid snapping stems or leaves to prevent milky latex from spraying onto skin.
Related species
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