Haplophyton

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Haplophyton
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae
Tribe: Aspidospermateae
Genus: Haplophyton
A.DC

Haplophyton is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described in 1844. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Cuba, and Guatemala. [1] [2] It is a suffrutescent herb with alternative leaves and showy colorful flowers. [3]

Contents

The common name cockroach plant (or hierba de la cucaracha) is in reference to its insecticidal properties. It has been used to kill cockroaches, fleas, flies, lice, and mosquitoes. [4] Leaf extracts and sap contain many insecticidal compounds — such as the indole alkaloid aspidophytine.

Species

Some authors accept three species in the genus, others recognize two, considering H. cinereum synonymous with H. cimicidum. The World Checklist recognizes:

References

  1. ↑ "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Apps.kew.org. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  2. ↑ "Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Haplophyton crooksii" . Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  3. ↑ Williams, J. K. 1995. Miscellaneous notes on Haplophyton (Apocynaceae: Plumerieae: Haplophytinae). Sida 16(3): 469–475
  4. ↑ McLaughlin, S.P. 1993. Apocynaceae A.L. Juss., Dogbane Family. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 27:164-168.


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