Thevetia peruviana

• Botanical Name : Thevetia peruviana (Pers) Merrill
• Synonyms : Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold, Thevetia neriifolia Juss. ex A. DC.
• Common Name : Mexican Oleander, Yellow Oleander, Lucky Nut, Pili karen
• Plant Family : Apocynaceae
• Plant Form : Tree
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 4, 10, 17, 22, 26-30
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park, Van Chetana Kendra, Aranya Van

About Thevetia peruviana Plant :

• Habit : A small tree with milky juice.
• Leaves : Numerous, alternate, close together, linear, acute.
• Inflorescence : Axillary or terminal cymes
• Flowers :
  • Yellow, fragrant.
  • Calyx lobes 5, acute, imbricate.
  • Corolla campanulate, segments 5, twisted imbricate.
  • Stamens 5, in the throat of the corolla-tube, filaments hairy at base, anthers ovate.
  • Disk angular, annular, thick.
  • Carpels 2, connate, superior, style filiform, stigma big, capitate.
• Fruit : A fleshy drupe, 4 angled, compressed with 2 ridges, seeds 2 to 4.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : Throughout the year.
• Significance :
  • Common, wild and cultivated in the gardens.
  • The whole plant is poisonous.
  • Commonly planted near the temples, the flowers being offered to God Shiva.
  • Seeds kept in the pocket for luck.