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. The genus name Allamanda honors the Swiss botanist and physician Frédéric-Louis Allamand (1736–1809). It is the official flower of Kuching North City Hall.

Description

Plants of the genus are evergreen trees, The lignan pinoresinol and coumarins such as scopoletin and scoparone have been isolated from A. schottii.

Allamanda species have been used in systems of traditional medicine for various purposes. A. cathartica has been used to treat liver tumors,

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. 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. brownbud allamanda

  • Allamanda doniana <small>Müll.Arg.</small>
  • Allamanda laevis <small>Markgr.</small>
  • Allamanda martii <small>Müll.Arg.</small>
  • Allamanda nobilis <small>T.Moore</small>
  • Allamanda oenotherifolia <small>Pohl</small>
  • Allamanda polyantha <small>Müll.Arg.</small>
  • Allamanda puberula <small>A.DC.</small>
  • Allamanda schottii <small>Pohl</small> &ndash; bush allamanda
  • Allamanda setulosa <small>Miq.</small>
  • Allamanda thevetifolia <small>Müll.Arg.</small>
  • Allamanda weberbaueri <small>Markgr.</small>

References

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