Calotropis procera

botanical names: Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton … homotypic synonyms: Asclepias procera Aiton • Madorius procerus (Aiton) Kuntze … and more at POWO, retrieved 23 July 2026

• Flowers of India … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• Habeeb A, Ramesh S, Shanmugam R. Calotropis procera and the Pharmacological Properties of Its Aqueous Leaf Extract: A Review. – Cureus. 2024 May 15;16(5):e60354. doi: 10.7759/cureus.60354. PMID: 38883127; PMCID: PMC11178124. … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• EPPO (2026) EPPO Global Database. Calotropis procera … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• The name “rubber bush” is an internationally recognized common name for Calotropis procera. The moniker directly references the plant’s copious, thick, milky white latex that oozes immediately from any cut stem or leaf. This latex dries into a rubbery, resilient film and contains hydrocarbons structurally similar to natural rubber. … compiled from the web.

• Basak SK, Bhaumik A, Mohanta A, Singhal P. Ocular toxicity by latex of Calotropis procera (Sodom apple). – Indian J Ophthalmol. 2009 May-Jun;57(3):232-4. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.49402. PMID: 19384022; PMCID: PMC2683444. … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• Sharma, Rajnesh & Kumar Goyal, Atul & Bhat, Rayees. (2013). Antifertility Activity of Plants Extracts on Female Reproduction: A Review. – International Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences. 3. 493-514. … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• Raja Tiwari, Deepesh, Ayush Singh. (2025). An Overview of Calotropis Procera (Madar): A Versatile Medicinal Plant with Broad Therapeutic Potential. – International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3(5), 3810–3822. … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• “Sodom apple” and “Apple of Sodom” are used interchangeably in global as well as Indian literature; however these historical / geographical names are not genuinely prevalent or recognized among the general public in India. … compiled from the web.

• উইকিপিডিয়া – একটি মুক্ত বিশ্বকোষ … Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia … (accessed: July 25, 2026)
• ছোট chhota = small, lesser; আकন্দ akondo = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor ‘small’ refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering, woodier, tree-like structure of Calotropis gigantea.

• A forest flora of Chota Nagpur including Gangpur and the Santal-Parganahs by Haines, Henry Haselfoot, 1867-1943
• अकौंन akaon is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis.

• Many thanks to OM Prakash Vidyarthi for help with this name … facebook
• देसी desi = native, common, or local; अक्क akk = Calotropis shrub. The name highlights the plant’s everyday abundance across the dry plains and lower foothills of the Jammu region, distinguishing this common wild shrub from its larger counterpart. … compiled from the web.

• Sumeet Gairola, Jyotsana Sharma, Yashbir Singh Bedi – A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use – Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 155, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 925-986, ISSN 0378-8741 … (downloaded: Jan 29, 2022)
• Bhatia, Harpreet & Sharma, Yash & Manhas, Rajesh & Kumar, Kewal. (2014). Traditional phytoremedies for the treatment of menstrual Disorders in district Udhampur, J & K, India. – Journal of ethnopharmacology. 10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.041. … (downloaded: July 26, 2026)
• दरियाई daryai = riverine; अक्क aak = Calotropis shrub. Thus translates literally to “the riverine calotrope”. This unique name reflects authentic folk taxonomy; local communities in the Jammu foothills (like Kathua and Billawar) use the prefix daryai because this resilient shrub aggressively colonizes dry, gravelly riverbeds and flash-flood channels. … compiled from the web.
• निक्का nikka = small, little; अक्क akk = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor ‘small’ refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering structure of Calotropis gigantea.

• Biological Diversity of Gujarat – published by Gujarat Ecology Commission … (downloaded: Dec 16, 2020)
• S Rajendra Kumar, S Kalavathy (2010) – Floristic status and its conservation in the forests of the north Gujarat region (NGR) Gujarat, India :: Chapter 4 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
• Solanki, Hitesh & Gamit, Binang & Maurya, Rupesh & Qureshimatva, Umerfaruq. (2015). CHECK LIST OF FLOWERING PLANTS IN TAPI DISTRICT, GUJARAT, INDIA. International Journal of Advanced Research. Volume 3. 1104 – 1123. … (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
• Patel, Mayur & Punjani, Bhasker. (2021). A study of angiosperm diversity in Bayad taluka of Aravalli district, Gujarat. – International Journal of Botany. 6. 709-718. … (downloaded: Sep 15, 2023)
• આકડો akado is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Biological Diversity of Gujarat – published by Gujarat Ecology Commission … (downloaded: Dec 16, 2020)
• નટવરલાલ પુ. મહેતા, શોભન વસાણી, મ. દી. વસાવડા, સરોજા કોલાપ્પન — આકડો — ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ
• નાનો nano = small (plant smaller in size compared to that of Calotropis gigantea); આકડો akado, રૂઇ rui = these are generic names given to both species of Calotropis.

• નટવરલાલ પુ. મહેતા, શોભન વસાણી, મ. દી. વસાવડા, સરોજા કોલાપ્પન — આકડો — ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ
• વનસ્પતીઓ ના ગુજરાતી તથા બોટનીકલ નામ ની યાદી :: સંકલન કર્તા વૈધ શ્રી કે,જે,ઝાલા … (downloaded: 19 Jan 2026)
• રાતો rato = red-coloured or reddish; આસમાની aasmaani = sky-coloured or bluish; રક્ત rakt = literally blood-coloured, to mean reddish; આકડો akado = name given to this Calotropis spp.
• All colour descriptor prefixes clearly reference the pigmented petals of Calotropis procera, as opposed to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of its larger cousin.

• Haryana Forest Flora – A Comprehensive Database of Ligneous Plants of Haryana (India) … (accessed: July 26, 2026)
• आक aak as well as मदार madar are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Department of Bio Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University (2002) – Medicinal plants of some districts of Haryana an ethnobotanical survey :: Chapter 4 – Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET … (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
• अक ak, अकड़ा akra and अणकटा ankta — all these names are generic, shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• FRLHT’s ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants … (accessed: July 24, 2026)

• The Useful Plants of India (CSIR, Publications & Information Directorate)
• FRLHT’s ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants … (accessed: July 24, 2026)

• Patel, Yatin & Patel, Rohitkumar & Pankaj, Joshi & Dabgar, Yogesh. (2011). Study of the Angiospermic flora of Kachchh district, Gujarat, India. Life Sciences Leaflets. 19. 739-768. … (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
• આક aak as well as આકડો akado are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• કચ્છ સ્વસ્થાન ની વનસ્પતિઓ ઠાકર જયકૃષ્ણ ઇન્દ્રજી 1926 [PLANTS OF CUTCH AND THEIR UTILITY by THAKAR, JAIKRISHNA INDRAJI, 1926]
• અક ak is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Parimala, R & Hegde, G R (2011) – Flora of Dharwad district – Part 1 :: Chapter 1 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
• ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Kittel, Ferdinand. Kittel’s Kannada-English dictionary. Rev. and enl. ed. [Madras] University of Madras, 1968-1971.
• ಹೆಣ್ಣು hennu = lady, female; ಎಕ್ಕೆಯ ಗಿಡ ekkeya gida = Calotropis shrub. Thus, the name literally means “female plant of Calotropis” which traditionally implies that the larger, more robust Calotropis gigantea is viewed as the male counterpart (ಗಂಡು ಎಕ್ಕೆ gandu ekke) in local folk taxonomy.

• Katrahalli, Kotresha & Kambhar, Sidanand & Harihar, N. (2011). FLORISTIC COMPOSITION OF WOODY SPECIES IN KARNATAK COLLEGE, DHARWAD (KCD), KARNATAKA, INDIA. Life sciences Leaflets. 18. 656 –669. … (downloaded: Nov 25, 2024)
• ಕರಿ kari = black, dark-coloured; ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida = Calotropis shrub. The descriptor ‘dark-coloured’ refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature a deep, dark hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.

• ಪದಕಣಜ – ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಅಧಿಕೃತ ಜಾಲತಾಣ … Padakanaja – Official website of Government of Karnataka
• S G Narsimhachar – Latin and Kannada names of indigenous and medicinal plants of Mysore – Mandayam Digital Library … (downloaded: Nov 27, 2020)
• FRLHT’s ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants … (accessed: July 24, 2026)
• ಕೆಂಪು kempu = red or reddish; ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptor refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature deep, dark hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.

• A forest flora of Chota Nagpur including Gangpur and the Santal-Parganahs by Haines, Henry Haselfoot, 1867-1943
• पलती palati is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis.

• V D Vartak (1966) – Enumeration of plants from Gomantak India with a note on botanical excursions to the Castlerock area :: Chapter 5 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
• रुई rui is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Osmaston, A. E. 1927. A Forest Flora for Kumaon. Govt. Press, Allahabad.
• अक ak is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• വിക്കിപീഡിയ – സ്വതന്ത്രസർവ്വവിജ്ഞാനകോശം … Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia … (accessed: July 24, 2026)
• ചിറ്റ് chittu = small, lesser; എരിക്ക് erikku = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor ‘small’ refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering, woodier, tree-like structure of Calotropis gigantea.

• FRLHT’s ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants … (accessed: July 24, 2026)
• എരിക്ക് erikku is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Flowers of India … (accessed: July 23, 2026)
• Sharma, H. Surmangol. Learners’ Manipuri-English dictionary. Imphal : Sangam Book Store, 2006.
• ꯑꯡꯀꯣꯠ angkot is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis.

• The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society Vol II (1887)
• लाल lal = red or reddish; मांदार mandar = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptor refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature reddish hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.
• तांबडा tambara = red or reddish; अकडा akara = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptor refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature reddish hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.

• FRLHT’s ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants … (accessed: July 24, 2026)
• डॉ मल्हार विनायक आपटे — वनश्रीसृष्टी खंड १ — महाराष्ट्र राज्य साहित्य आणि संस्कृती मंडळ … (downloaded: Sep 16, 2016)
• मांदार mandar as well as रुई rui are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De – Flora of Assam – Vol III
• আকন akon (formal: আকণ akon) = name borrowed from the Assamese for Calotropis; আচিং asing = tree or woody shrub in the Tani/Mishing language. … compiled from the web.

• A forest flora of Chota Nagpur including Gangpur and the Santal-Parganahs by Haines, Henry Haselfoot, 1867-1943
• अकौंन akaon is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis.

• Many thanks to Saroj Kumar Kasaju for help with this name … eFloraofIndia
• बाह्रमासे bahramaase = all of twelve months, entire year; आँक aank = Calotropis shrub. Refers to flowering-fruiting all-round the year.

• Toku, Bani & Deuri, Mundeep & Borah, Dipankar & Tangjang, Sumpam & Das, Abhaya. (2021). Traditional phyto-medicines from the districts along the course of Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh, India: A review. … (downloaded: Sep 13, 2023)

• Forest Survey of India — Report Resourcers of Koraput District of Orissa State … (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
• ଅରଖ arakha is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis.

• Green Audit Report — Swami Vivekanand Government College, Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur (H.P.) … (accessed: July 26, 2026)
• आक aak, अक ak and मदार madar — all the names are generic, shared by both species of Calotropis.

• Bamber, Charles James – Plants of the Punjab : a descriptive key to the flora of the Punjab, North-west Frontier Province, and Kashmir, the names of plants listed in this book are a mix of Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu … (downloaded: Jan 7, 2023)
• ਅੱਕ akk as well as ਮਦਾਰ madar are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis in Punjab. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• these names prevalent in Jammu
• Sumeet Gairola, Jyotsana Sharma, Yashbir Singh Bedi – A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use – Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 155, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 925-986, ISSN 0378-8741 … (downloaded: Jan 29, 2022)
• Bhatia, Harpreet & Sharma, Yash & Manhas, Rajesh & Kumar, Kewal. (2014). Traditional phytoremedies for the treatment of menstrual Disorders in district Udhampur, J & K, India. – Journal of ethnopharmacology. 10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.041. … (downloaded: July 26, 2026)
• ਦਰਿਆਈ daryai = riverine; ਅੱਕ aak = Calotropis shrub. Thus translates literally to “the riverine calotrope”. This unique name reflects authentic folk taxonomy; local communities in the Jammu foothills (like Kathua and Billawar) use the prefix daryai because this resilient shrub aggressively colonizes dry, gravelly riverbeds and flash-flood channels. … compiled from the web.
• ਨਿੱਕਾ nikka = small, little; ਅੱਕ akk = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor ‘small’ refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering structure of Calotropis gigantea.

• Rawat, Laxmi & Manhas, Rajesh & Kholiya, Deepak & Kamboj, Sushil. (2013). Floristic Diversity of Kandi Region of Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. – Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 1. 49-54. 10.12691/aees-1-4-3. … (downloaded: July 25, 2026)
• ਦੇਸੀ desi = native, common, or local; ਅੱਕ akk = Calotropis shrub. Named so, because this wild, native shrub Calotropis procera populates almost every roadside, pasture, and dry canal embankment across the plains of Punjab. … compiled from the web.

• Bundi – Forest Department – Rajasthan Government … (downloaded: Sep 21, 2020)
• Banswara – Forest Department – Rajasthan Government … (downloaded: Sep 5, 2020)
• Barmer – Forest Department – Rajasthan Government … (downloaded: Jul 1, 2025)
• Manju Chaudhary and S.K. Shringi – Floristic Composition of Beer Jhunjhunu Conservation Reserve of Rajasthan, India – The Biobrio 4(1 & 2), 2017 … (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
• Charan, P. & Sharma, K. (2016). FLORAL DIVERSITY OF THAR DESERT OF WESTERN RAJASTHAN, INDIA. … (downloaded: June 19, 2024)
• आंक ank as well as आंकडा ankada are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.

• Tripathi, Yogesh & Prabhu, V.V. & Pal, R.S. & Mishra, R.N.. (1996). Medicinal Plants of Rajasthan in Indian System of Medicine. Ancient Science of Life. 15. 190-212.
• मदार madar — a generic baseline name shared by both species of Calotropis across the eastern and southern belts of Rajasthan. It functions as a prominent regional loan word from neighboring Hindi dialects. … compiled from the web.

• Ethnobotanyofnortheastindia (2020 onwards). Database of names of useful plants of north-east India – developed by the members of ethnobotanyofnortheastindia Google-site … Accessed on 25 July 2026

• FRLHT & NMPB — Indian Medicinal Plants Database … (accessed: July 25, 2026)

• A forest flora of Chota Nagpur including Gangpur and the Santal-Parganahs by Haines, Henry Haselfoot, 1867-1943
• ᱟᱠᱟᱣᱱᱟ akaona is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis.

• सिन्धी-अंग्रेजी शब्दकोश – विक्षनरी – एक मुक्त शब्दकोष … Wiktionary – the free dictionary
• اڪ aku — functions as the standard, single-syllable shared generic name for both species of Calotropis in Sindhi. It is the direct phonetic equivalent of the Punjabi ਅੱਕ akk and Hindi आक aak. … compiled from the web.
• اڪٽٽڙو akatatido — this is a highly specific, descriptive folk word used to denote the distinct, puffed-up, curved green fruit pod of the Calotropis procera shrub. … compiled from the web.

• Shamim, Saad Ahmed, Lubna Fatima – Pharmacological actions and therapeutic uses of Aak (Calotropis procera): A Review. – Pharma Innovation 2019;8(2):40-47. … (accessed: July 26, 2026)
• آڪ akk — this functions as a generic baseline name shared by both species of Calotropis across the arid terrains of the Thar and Kutch deserts. … compiled from the web.

• Ethnobotanyofnortheastindia (2020 onwards). Database of names of useful plants of north-east India – developed by the members of ethnobotanyofnortheastindia Google-site … Accessed on 25 July 2026

• எருக்கு erukku functions strictly as a broad, generic baseline name shared by the entire genus in Tamil literature. No unique, independent folk names exist for Calotropis procera in conversational Tamil.
• A major point of confusion across digital botanical databases is the reckless labeling of வெள்ளெருக்கு vellerukku under C. procera. A critical 2019 audit by the Botanical Survey of India settled this trap, clarifying that Vellerukku belongs exclusively to the “white-flowered Calotropis gigantea“. Because Calotropis procera is an arid-desert specialist, it cannot survive the humid monsoonal climate of the South and hasn’t been collected in Tamil Nadu since 1959. Consequently, local folk vocabulary never developed specific modifiers for it, and any modern web index listing specific Tamil terms for this species is a clear example of error propagation. … compiled from the web.
• S., Arumugam & Krishnachandran, Sampath Kumar & Kathiresan, K. & Murugan, C.. (2019). ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA IN TAMIL NADU AND THE APPLICATION OF LOCAL NAME VELLERUKKU. … (accessed: July 26, 2026)

• Flora Andhrika – Plant Wealth of Andhra Pradesh, India … (accessed: July 25, 2026)
• జిల్లేడు jilledu as well as మందారము mandaramu are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
• ఎర్ర erra = red or reddish; నల్ల nalla = dark-coloured; జిల్లేడు jilledu = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptors — “ఎర్ర erra” and “నల్ల nalla” refer to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature deep, dark hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.

• Hassler, Michael (1994 – 2026): World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 26.05; last update May 20th, 2026. Last accessed 23/07/2026 (dd/mm/yyyy).

• compiled from the web