अर्कपुष्पी (Holostemma ada-kodien)

This is the name of a flowering climber which is perennial and is of medium size. It has thick and long roots. Leaves are slightly woolly on underside. Flowers resemble flowers of Calotropis (आक, अर्क, रुई). Inside of petals has a pinkish-maroon vertical band. Flowers are pleasantly scented. Central crown-like part is edible. The plant climbs by twining around a support. It has twin pods which have numerous seeds. The seeds have silky tufts. With help of the silky tufts the seeds are dispersed far and wide.

The climber is said to have many medicinal uses. Extensive collection of these plants for medicinal uses and due to lack of habitat this climber is becoming rare. As such, it is now considered as an endangered species. It is native to India. It belongs to Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) family. This climber can be propagated from seeds or by root cuttings also.

Holostemma ada-kodien . Shidodi, Chirvel (शिदोडी, चिरवेल)

Holostemma ada-kodien is a climbing plant has become quite rare due to excessive collection for its medicinal uses from its natural growing habitats. Now it is declared as an endangered species.

It is a climber which grows on surrounding shrubs or any other support by twining. Very attractive flowers are borne in clusters. The flowers resemble flowers of Calotropis but are more colouful. The central crown of the flower is edible. Flowers are pleasantly scented. The fruit contains many seeds having floss at one end. The seed dispersal is by wind. It is a host plant for Common Tiger butterfly caterpillars.

This climber can be propagated with stem cuttings, root cuttings and also with seeds. Its scientific name is Holostemma ada-kodien (Syn: Holostemma annulare) and it belongs to Asclepiadaceae family.

Seed pod

Dudhani (Oxystelma esculentum)

Certain wild plants, native to India, need to be introduced in gardens. One such climber is Oxystelma esculentum (Family Asclepiadaceae). The common name in English is Rosy milkweed vine. It is called as Dudhani and Dugdhika in Marathi  because of the milky sap. 

It is a medium size climber with very dense foliage. Flowering occurs mainly in Summer & Monsoon. The common variety is with flowers having pink center. However, I also found a pure white variety in CME Pune.

Purple variety of "Oxystelma esculentum" creeper, also called as "Dudhaani" (Marathi).

White variety of Dudhaani

Dense foliage of the creeper

Twin pod of Oxystelma, characteristic of the Asclepiadaceae family.

It is easily propagated from stem cuttings. It is a host plant for caterpillars of Common Tiger butterfly.

The Striped Tiger (Danais genutia) [Image credit : JM Garg]

The caterpillar of the Striped Tiger
[Image credit : School of Ecology and Conservation, UAS Bangalore]