Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Araujia sericifera Brot.

An unidentified Physianthus or Arauja species, twining or climbing perennials.  Physianthus is now generally included with Araujia and Physianthus tricolor may be another Araujia species.  Possibly Arauja  sericifera Brot.    which is described and illustrated here, although it is difficult to see how the specific epithet tricolor applies to this plant.

Horticultural & Botanical History

The only Physianthus species listed in Paxton’s and Johnston’s Dictionary is Physianthus albens G.Don, with white flowers.  This is recorded in the Flora Australiensis as an introduced species naturalised at Moreton Bay.  ‘Araujia albens, G. Don; Dcne. in DC. Prod. viii. 534 (Physianthus albens, Mart. Not. Gen. et Sp. t.32, Bot. Mag. t.3201, Bot. Reg. t.1759).  A twiner, with ovate or lanceolate leaves, truncate or cordate at the base, white underneath as well as the young shoots.  Flowers large for the Order.  Calyx-segments broad, leafy.  Corolla with a broad tube and a campanulate 5-lobed limb.  Corona of 5 fleshy segments attached to the corolla-tube at the base, the upper portion hood-shaped or convex with revolute margins.  Pollen-masses pendulous.  A native of S. Brazil, said to have spread from gardens into the neighbourhood of Moreton Bay.’  [FA vol.4, p.326/1869].  Figured in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine t.3201/1832.

History at Camden Park

Physianthus tricolor was a desideratum to Loddiges’ Nursery, 6th January 1845 [MP A2933-2, p.28]. Physianthus albus (not albens) is listed in the 1836 Catalogue of Plants from Loddiges’ Nursery, a copy of which is held at Camden Park [CPA].  Araujia  sericifera   is a very common weed in many parts of Australia, including the Camden district.

Notes

Published Feb 24, 2010 - 09:17 AM | Last updated Jul 14, 2010 - 02:46 PM

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Figured is a climber with lance-shaped leaves and white cup-shaped flowers. Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.3201, 1832.

Araujia sericifera Brot. | BM t.3201/1832 | BHL

Family Asclepiadaceae
Category
Region of origin

South America
Synonyms
  • Araujia albens (Mart.) D.Don
  • Araujia hortorum E.Fourn.
  • Physianthus albens Mart.
Common Name

Moth plant, Cruel plant, White blader flower
Name in the Camden Park Record

Physianthus tricolor 
Confidence level low