Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera (commonly known as the Apple of Sodom, Sodom Apple, or Giant Milkweed) is a perennial flowering shrub or small tree in the dogbane and milkweed family (Apocynaceae). Highly resilient and drought-tolerant, it thrives across arid scrublands, disturbed roadsides, and coastal dunes throughout the Horn of Africa. The plant features broad, fleshy, waxy green leaves with a distinct pale-green veining pattern and produces clusters of waxy, five-lobed flowers with deep purple-to-crimson tips and pale white centers.
In traditional regional culture and ethnobotany, Calotropis procera has long been utilized for a wide variety of practical and medicinal applications. The strong silky fibers enclosed within its large, inflated seed pods were traditionally gathered to weave fine cords and stuffing, while its milky latex—rich in complex cardenolides and bioactive compounds—was carefully harvested for traditional wound treatments and veterinary medicine. The stamp illustration highlights the thick-lobed foliage, budding clusters, and striking star-shaped blossoms characteristic of the resilient shrub.
In traditional regional culture and ethnobotany, Calotropis procera has long been utilized for a wide variety of practical and medicinal applications. The strong silky fibers enclosed within its large, inflated seed pods were traditionally gathered to weave fine cords and stuffing, while its milky latex—rich in complex cardenolides and bioactive compounds—was carefully harvested for traditional wound treatments and veterinary medicine. The stamp illustration highlights the thick-lobed foliage, budding clusters, and striking star-shaped blossoms characteristic of the resilient shrub.