Allamanda

Allamanda is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. They are native to the Americas, where they are distributed from Mexico to Argentina. Some species are familiar as ornamental plants cultivated for their large, colorful flowers. Most species produce yellow flowers; A. blanchetii bears pink flowers.<ref name=calcicola>Template:Cite journal</ref> The genus name Allamanda honors the Swiss botanist and physician Frédéric-Louis Allamand (1736–1809).<ref name=wa>Allamanda. FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium.</ref> It is the official flower of Kuching North City Hall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Description

Plants of the genus are evergreen trees,<ref name=wa/> shrubs, or vines.Template:Citation needed They contain a white latex. The leaves are opposite or arranged in whorls of up to 5. The blades are generally oval and smooth-edged, and some are leathery or lightly hairy. The inflorescence is a compound cyme. The flower has five lobed sepals and a bell- or funnel-shaped corolla of five petals, yellow in most species. The fruit is a schizocarp containing two to four seeds.<ref name=wa/>

Flowers of Allamanda schottii

Allamanda schottii fruit

Chemistry and medicine

In lab analyses Allamanda species have yielded several chemical compounds, including iridoid lactones such as allamandin, plumericin, and plumierides. Plumericin particularly was demonstrated to be a highly potent NF-κB inhibitor with anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, while its structurally related derivatives plumierdin, plumeridoid C, and allamandicin did not have activity.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The lignan pinoresinol and coumarins such as scopoletin and scoparone have been isolated from A. schottii.<ref name=schm>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Allamanda species have been used in systems of traditional medicine for various purposes. A. cathartica has been used to treat liver tumors,<ref name=schm/> jaundice, splenomegaly, and malaria.Template:Citation needed In analyses, some species have shown some activity against carcinoma cells, pathogenic fungi, and HIV.Template:Citation needed

In June 2022 a research team in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia, observed an orangutan chewing the stem and leaves of this plant, locally known as akar kuning, and applying the resulting paste and chewed leaves to a serious wound on its face. This is considered the first time a non-human species was seen deliberately preparing and applying medicine. After five days, the wound had closed, and fully healed three weeks later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Note: this is mistaken. The plant used by the orangutan was Fibraurea tinctoria, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibraurea_tinctoria. The source of confusion is that both species have the same common name, Akar Kuning.

Cultivation

In the wild, allamandas grow along riverbanks and other open, sunny areas with adequate rainfall and perpetually moist substrate. The plants do not tolerate shade or salty or alkaline soils, and they are sensitive to frost. They grow rapidly, sometimes spreading 3 meters per year. They can be propagated from cuttings.

Can be trained as a standard.

Ecology

Allamandas have become naturalized throughout the tropics, growing in roadside ditches, abandoned yards, and dumps. A. cathartica in particular is an invasive species in Queensland.<ref>Allamanda cathartica. Template:Webarchive Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.</ref> Cutting is ineffective as a means of control, because the plants respond to coppicing.

Taxonomy

There are about 12 to 15 valid species in the genus.<ref name=wa/>

Allamanda blanchetii

Species and synonyms include:

Allamanda angustifolia by Johann Pohl

• Allamanda angustifolia Pohl
• Allamanda blanchetii A.DC. – purple allamanda, violet allamanda, violet trumpetvine
• Allamanda calcicola<ref name=calcicola/>
• Allamanda cathartica L. – yellow allamanda, golden-trumpet, common trumpetvine<ref>Template:GRIN</ref> brownbud allamanda<ref>Allamanda cathartica. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. University of South Florida.</ref>
• Allamanda doniana Müll.Arg.
• Allamanda laevis Markgr.
• Allamanda martii Müll.Arg.
• Allamanda nobilis T.Moore
• Allamanda oenotherifolia Pohl
• Allamanda polyantha Müll.Arg.
• Allamanda puberula A.DC.
• Allamanda schottii Pohl – bush allamanda<ref>Template:GRIN</ref>
• Allamanda setulosa Miq.
• Allamanda thevetifolia Müll.Arg.
• Allamanda weberbaueri Markgr.

External links

• Allamanda cathartica. In: Francis, J. K. Wildland Shrubs of the United States and its Territories. USDA Forest Service, IITF, Shrub Sciences Laboratory.
• Template:In lang Allamanda. Flora Brasiliensis.