Indian rubbervine

Cryptostegia grandiflora Roxb. ex R.Br.

Cryptostegia grandiflora, known as Indian rubbervine, is a woody perennial vine native to southwest Madagascar. It is widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions due to its ornamental flowers and latex with commercial rubber value. It is considered a problematic weed in northern Australia and has spread to the Caribbean, East Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Latin America, the southern United States, Fiji, and New Caledonia. It closely resembles the purple rubber vine, also from Madagascar.

Description

Cryptostegia grandiflora is a member of the Apocynaceae family and was first described in 1819. It has been introduced to many regions, including Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Cuba, Brunei, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Aruba, Solomon Islands, Colombia, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Botswana, Eritrea, New Caledonia, Thailand, Burkina Faso, the Federated States of Micronesia, Jamaica, and Mauritius. Its spread is often attributed to horticultural use and the utility of its latex. The plant is particularly invasive in parts of Australia, where it is considered a major weed.