Allamanda Schottii

''Allamanda schottii'', commonly known as bush allamanda, is a shrub of genus ''Allamanda'' in the family Apocynaceae, which is native to Brazil. Reaching in height, it bears large yellow flowers for much of the year. Grown as an ornamental plant, it has become a weed in several countries.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Johann Baptist Emanuel Pohl, who reported it grew on the banks of the Paraíba river.
in 1827. William Hooker described a plant that he concluded had smaller deeper-yellow flowers than ''A. schottii'' in cultivation in Exeter as ''Allamanda neriifolia''. This has since been considered a synonym of ''A. schottii''. It is listed in ''Flora Brasiliensis'' by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.

As well as bush allamanda, common names include Schott's common allamanda and oleander allamanda.

Description

Unlike many members of the genus, ''A. schottii'' is a shrub rather than a vine, growing to 1.5 to 3 m (5–10 ft) tall and around 2 m (6–8 ft) wide. The elliptic to obovate leaves are arranged in whorls of 3–5 or are subopposite along the stem, and measure 2–14 cm long and 1.1–4 cm wide. The large yellow flowers are terminal (i.e. appearing at the ends of branches), and can appear year-round but predominantly in spring.

The spiny fruits appear mostly in summer.

Distribution and habitat

''Allamanda schottii'' is found in the south and southeast of Brazil, in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná and Santa Catarina. Previously considered endemic to that country, it was reported from northeastern Argentina in 2013. In Brazil, it grows near or alongside bodies of water, often in wet areas, in open or closed forests.

''Allamanda schottii'' has become naturalised in Puerto Rico, the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica. It is reported to have escaped from cultivation in Australia.

Ecology

The flowers are pollinated by butterflies of the genus '' Phoebis'', while bees and wasps also visit the flowers.

The stems and leaves of ''Allamanda schottii'' contain a milky sap that is an irritant. The plant contains plumericin, which causes gastrointestinal irritation.

Cultivation

It is hardy to zones 10–11 and tolerant of dry spells. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil and benefits from regular pruning, becoming spindly otherwise.

The cultivar ''Allamanda'' "Silver dwarf discovery" is less vigorous with silvery leaves.

References

External links

''Allamanda schottii''
photo

USDA Plants Profile: ''Allamanda schottii''
*
Flora Brasiliensis: ''Allamanda schottii''

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2837671

schottii
Flora of Brazil