Wild Ipecac

My mystery plant bloomed today and what a colourful flower it has.

My mystery plant bloomed today and what a colourful flower it has.

It’s been a few weeks now that I’ve been watching and waiting for this plant to bloom. I had thought it was a purple ruellia but when the red balls opened and flowers started to appear, I realized it was something else. Well, today there were five flowers that opened and what a treat. Bright red petals around a central yellow flower. I looked it up and it is called a Butterfly Weed or Wild Ipecac and is much loved as a food by the Monarch butterfly. It grows throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and has been used for medicinal purposes.  You can make a poultice from the crushed leaves that emit a white milky latex and apparently the plant has antifungal, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties.  Poultices have been applied to warts, ringworm and tumours and a powder made from the crushed roots of the Wild Ipecac is said to induce vomiting.

Closeup of the vibrant red-orange and yellow flowers of the Wild Ipecac

Closeup of the vibrant red-orange and yellow flowers of the Wild Ipecac

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands have some 1400 different plant species and approximately 120 of them are unique to the region.
Enjoy the flowers of the Turks and Caicos when you come for your vacation.
Marta
www.harbourclubvillas.com

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