Allamanda cathartica L. APOCYNACEAE Synonyms: Echites verticillata Sess & Mo.

Orelia grandiflora Aublet Allamanda grandiflora (Aublet) Poiret in Lam. Allamanda hendersonii W. Bull ex Dombrain

allamanda

varieties are often larger and may be colored white, cream, pink, or orange. Capsules, which rarely occur in cultivated varieties, are subglobose, 4 to 6 cm in diameter, and densely prickled. They contain many tan, flattened, winged seeds. There are 2n = 18 chromosomes (Howard 1989, Liogier 1995, Long and Lakela 1976). Range.Allamanda is apparently native to northern Brazil, Guyana, Surinam, and probably French Guiana (Liogier 1995, Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk 2002, Tropilab Inc. 2002). The species has been planted and has become naturalized throughout the tropics (Howard 1989). Ecology.Wild and naturalized allamanda grows on riverbanks in Suriname (Tropilab Inc. 2002), on disturbed sites in Florida (Long and Lakela 1976), along roads (Liogier 1995), and on abandoned farms, house places, and around clandestine dumps in Puerto Rico (authors observation). The species is intolerant to intermediate in tolerance to shade. It can grow below brush and a thin forest canopy, usually without blooming, but blooms and makes its greatest growth in full sun. Allamanda grows best in well drained, moist, sandy soils rich in organic matter (Barcellos 2002). It does not tolerate salty soils, highly alkaline conditions, and is killed by temperatures of -1 C (Floridata 2002, Tropilab Inc. 2002). In Nicaragua, the species occurs between 0 and 700 m in elevation (Stevens and others 2001). Allamanda has naturalized in Puerto Rico in areas that receive between about 1000 and 2800 mm of mean annual precipitation. Reproduction.Allamanda blooms all year in most habitats. Because capsules and seed are rarely produced by cultivated varieties, naturalization is usually by vegetative means. In Puerto Rico, the species has been planted widely, persists tenaciously, and spreads by layering as the vines extend. In addition, trimmings dumped in vacant lots and wildlands root readily and start new colonies. Plants coppice vigorously when cut. The species is invasive in Queensland, Australia

Illustration source: Missouri Botanical Garden

General Description.Allamanda, also known as angels trumpet, golden trumpet, yellow bell, canario, cautiva, dabel-da-dama, orelia, and liane lait, is an evergreen, vine-like woody shrub. It may reach a free-standing height of 2 m and an extension of 5 m or more. The species also climbs a few meters into the crowns of tall brush and low trees. Older plants often have multiple stems from the root crown and long stems with relatively few branches. Bark of lower stems is brown and furrowed. Twigs are green or yellow green. Stems and twigs exude a milky sap when cut. The leathery, yellow-green to dark green leaves grow in whorls of three or four, or are sometimes opposite. Leaves are 6 to 16 cm long, obovate to oblong-lanceolate, pointed at both ends and have entire margins and short petioles. Inflorescences are few-flowered, axillary cymes that grow near the ends of branches. The bright yellow flowers are 5 to 7.5 cm across. Flowers of cultivated

(Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk 2002). Growth and Management.Established allamanda grows rapidly, adding 1 to 3 m to extended length per year. Pruning is necessary to keep it under control in most landscaping applications. There appears to be no reason to establish it in wildlands, but the shrub could easily be planted with cuttings placed directly in the soil. Getting rid of spot infestations can be difficult. Cutting is ineffective. For grubbing to work, removal of the plant stems and roots from the site must be complete. Control with herbicides may overcome some of these difficulties but is untested. Benefits and Detriments.In wild stands, allamanda protects the soil and furnishes cover for wildlife. Year-long production of large, beautiful flowers endears allamanda to gardeners and landscapers throughout the tropics and subtropics. The species is particularly useful because it will grow in most areas with relatively little care. It is used as ground cover, for hedges and screens, and as upright shrubs. Because of its rapid growth, pruning is often necessary, which can expose gardeners to the toxic sap that causes dermatitis symptoms of rash, blisters, and itch. Although incidence is much less common, plant parts are also toxic if ingested. All parts contain the toxic iridoid lactone, allamandin (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Conservatory 2002). In herbal medicine, teas prepared from leaves and roots are used as a strong purgative that must be used with caution (Liogier 1990). References Barcellos, D.C. 2002. Plantas ornamentais txicas: Allamanda cathartica. http://www. plantastoxicas.hpg.ig.com.br/toxicas/allcat.htm. 2 p. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Conservatory. 2002. Allamanda cathartica L. University of Connecticut. http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/ acc_num/198500393.html. 3 p. Floridata. 2002. Allamanda cathartica. http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/alla_cat.cfm. 3 p. Howard, R.A. 1989. Flora of the Lesser Antilles, Leeward and Windward Islands. Dicotyledoneae. Part 3. Vol. 6. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, MA. 658 p. Liogier, H.A. 1990. Plantas medicinales de Puerto Rico y del Caribe. Iberoamericana de Ediciones, Inc. San Juan, PR. 566 p. Liogier, H.A. 1995. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands. Vol. 4. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR. 617 p. Long, R.W. and O. Lakela. 1976. A Flora of Tropical Florida. Banyan Books, Miami, FL. 962 p. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk. 2002. Allamanda cathartica L., Apocynaceae. http://hear.org/pier_v3.3/alcat.htm. 2p. Stevens, W.D., C. Ulloa-U., A. Pool, and O.M. Montiel, eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monographs in Systematic Botany Vol. 85, No. 1. Missouri Botanic Garden Press, St. Louis, MO. 943 p. Tropilab Inc. 2002. Allamanda cathartica L. http://www.tropilab.com/allamanda.thml. 2 p. _________________________________________ John K. Francis, Research Forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Jardn Botnico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, San Juan PR 00926-1119, in cooperation with the University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras, PR 00936-4984