SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ARAUJIA SERICIFERA

Family:- APOCYNACEAE

Common Names:- Moth Plant, White Bladderflower, Common Moth Vine and
Cruel Vine.

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Araujia (L) Derived from Antonio de Araujo e Azevedo, 1st Count of
Barca (1754-1817), a Portuguese amateur botanist.
                  Sericifera (L) Silk-bearing.

General description:- A creeping vine that can climb up to 5-7 metres. If broken
this plant releases a milky smelly exudate.

Leaves:-
   a) about 10-12 mm.
   b) opposite.
   c) almost triangular, with entire margins.
   d) dark green, glossy and quite fleshy.
.
Flowers:-
   a) about 2 cm diam.
   b) bell-shaped (campanulate).
   c) with five white, creamish, violet or pale pink petals.
   d) fragrant, bisexual.

Fruit:-
1) Pods:
   a) large about 8-10 cm.
   b) pear-shaped (pyriform).
2) Seeds:
   a) numerous, surrounded by silky hairs which enable them to be dispersed by
       the wind.
   b) black.

Habitat:- Wastelands with trees and hedges, in forests and in rocky places or
cliffs. They prefer sunny or partially shady places, at an altitude of 0-1,800 m.

Distribution:- This plant native to South America, introduced in Europe.
Limited distribution on Crete, mainly in the west.

Flowering time:- July-Sept.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis