Akondo, Crown flower, Calotropis gigantea
Akondo or Crown flower ( Calotropis gigantea , family: Apocynaceae) is a perennial shrub with branches and milky latex, attaining a height of 5 m. Bark is grey. The stem is slightly wooody and much branched at the base. Some plants have been found whose trunks are quite hard and woody and those look like small-sized trees. Common names: Akkan, Madar. Young shoots and lower part of leaves are tomentose. The plant is an iconic one in the rural areas in Bangladesh. It is found in several countries in South and Southeast Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Branches and leaves emit milk when snapped. Leaves are whitish green, leathery, short-petioled or sessile, broadly ovate, 10-20 cm long and 6-12 cm wide, tip slightly pointed. For video please visit : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH5nOu16vYw&t=37s Flowers are light violet with white shade. Sepals 5, petals 5. Flowers are seen round the ye...