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 Allamanda cathartica L. allamanda

APOCYNACEAE

Synonyms:  Echites verticillata Sessé & Moç.

Orelia grandiflora Aublet

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

Illustration source: Missouri Botanical Garden

General Description.— Allamanda, also known asangel’s trumpet, golden trumpet, yellow bell,

canario, cautiva, dabel-da-dama, orelia, and liane à

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 climbsa 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 andfurrowed. Twigs are green or yellow green. Stems

and twigs exude a milky sap when cut. The

leathery, yellow-green to dark green leaves growin 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. Inflorescencesare 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

varieties are often larger and may be coloredwhite, cream, pink, or orange. Capsules, which

rarely occur in cultivated varieties, are subglobose,

4 to 6 cm in diameter, and densely prickled. Theycontain 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 probablyFrench Guiana (Liogier 1995, Pacific Island

Ecosystems at Risk 2002, Tropilab Inc. 2002). The

species has been planted and has becomenaturalized throughout the tropics (Howard 1989).

Ecology.— Wild and naturalized allamanda growson 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 dumpsin Puerto Rico (author’s 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 makesits greatest growth in full sun. Allamanda grows

 best in well drained, moist, sandy soils rich in

organic matter (Barcellos 2002). It does nottolerate 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 inPuerto Rico in areas that receive between about

1000 and 2800 mm of mean annual precipitation.

Reproduction.— Allamanda blooms all year inmost habitats. Because capsules and seed are

rarely produced by cultivated varieties,

naturalization is usually by vegetative means. InPuerto 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 startnew colonies. Plants coppice vigorously when cut.

The species is invasive in Queensland, Australia

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(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 tokeep 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, beautifulflowers 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 isused 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. Althoughincidence is much less common, plant parts are

also toxic if ingested. All parts contain the toxic

iridoid lactone, allamandin (Ecology andEvolutionary Biology Conservatory 2002). In

herbal medicine, teas prepared from leaves and

roots are used as a strong purgative that must beused with caution (Liogier 1990).

References

Barcellos, D.C. 2002. Plantas ornamentais tóxicas: 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 ofTropical 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, Jardín

Botánico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, San Juan PR

00926-1119, in cooperation with the University ofPuerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR 00936-4984