Home Page > Picture Archives > Flora of Qatar > Apocynaceae > Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Common names

Asclepias procera, ashkhar, Giant Milkweed, mudar, osher, Sodom's Apple, stabragh, ushaar, ushar

My notes

Found only in Doha and in one place in desert west from Al-Ghuwayriyah (north-western Qatar).

Extract from Wikipedia article

Calotropis procera (known by the common names apple of Sodom, Sodom apple, mudar, or osher or stabragh) is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that is native to North Africa, Tropical Africa, Western Asia, South Asia, and Indochina. It is commonly known as apple of Sodom, a name derived from the Hebrew Tapuah Sdom. The green globes are hollow but the flesh contains a toxic milky sap that is extremely bitter and turns into a gluey coating resistant to soap.

Flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) growing near entrance of Dar Al Salam Compound. Doha, Qatar, February 25, 2012

Honey bee on a flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012

Bee on opening flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Dense multiflowered inflorescence (umbellate cyme arising from the nodes and appearing axillary or terminal) of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Dense multiflowered inflorescence of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Blooming branch with fruits (fleshy, inflated, subglobose follicle) of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Pentamerous flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Side lit flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Front lit flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Close up of a flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar), with 5-lobed calyx, taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Inflorescence of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Flowers (without leaves) of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Dehisced seedpod (follicle) releasing seeds (silky white pappus) of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 14, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Seeds of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) with attached coma (tuft of fluff) taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 14, 2012
Al Wakra Main St, Doha, Qatar

Aphids sucking toxic latex of green seed pod of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) taken from a plant growing from a wall of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, April 14, 2012
Al Waab St, Doha, Qatar

Ladybug on a leaf of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 5, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Aphids on flower buds of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 5, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Fly on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 5, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Bee flying from a flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 5, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Cluster of flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 5, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Inflorescence of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 5, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Oleander aphids (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) killed by parasitic wasps Aphidius colemani on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 13, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Oleander aphid (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 13, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Oleander aphid (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) feeding on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 13, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Hoverfly (Syrphidae) on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 13, 2013
Mesaimeer Rd, Doha, Qatar

Ladybug on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 13, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Oleander aphid (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) and its swollen mummy killed by parasitic wasps Aphidius colemani on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Ladybug eating aphids on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Honey bee on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Honey bee on a flower of on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Opening flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Honey bee on a pistil of a flower of on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Close up of flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Close up of honey bee on a pistil of a flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Oleander aphid (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) and its mummies killed by parasitic wasps Aphidius colemani on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) with a hovering bee in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) with a sitting bee in Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Ladybug with half dead aphids on Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) near stone fence of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 26, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Two ladybugs on a leaf of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) near stone fence of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 26, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Honey bee on a flower of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) near stone fence of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 26, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Oleander aphid (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) feeding on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) near stone fence of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 26, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Dehisced seedpod (follicle) releasing seeds (silky white pappus) of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) near stone fence of Dar Al Salam Compound, Abu Hamour area. Doha, Qatar, March 26, 2013
Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

Alleyway near Umm Wishah Street with Sodom Apple tree (Calotropis procera), Musheirib area. Doha, Qatar, May 24, 2013
Umm Wishad Street, Doha, Qatar

Old wooden door with a bush of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) at Hadramout Street, Al Doha Al Jadeeda area. Doha, Qatar, June 1, 2013
Hadramout St, Doha, Qatar

Flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul Street, Doha, Qatar

Close up of flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul Street, Doha, Qatar

Flower buds of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul Street, Doha, Qatar

Milkweed bugs on flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul Street, Doha, Qatar

Flowers and fruits of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul Street, Doha, Qatar

Hovering violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) near flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul St, Doha, Qatar

Blue carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) on flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) between Dar Al Salam Compound and Haloul Street in Abu Hamour. Doha, Qatar, June 27, 2013
11 Haloul Street, Doha, Qatar

Round golden brown swollen mummies of oleander aphid (milkweed aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe) killed by parasitic wasps Aphidius colemani on seed pods of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) collected near Dareen Tower in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, February 1, 2014

Seeds of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) with tuft of fluff taken from Al Sham Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, March 8, 2014

Fluffy seeds of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) taken from Al Sham Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, March 8, 2014

Fluff attached to seeds of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) taken from Al Sham Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, March 8, 2014

Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on Zurara Bin Amir Street in Al Doha Al Jadeeda area. Doha, Qatar, March 21, 2014
Ziyad Bin Eyad, Doha, Qatar

Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on Al Sham Street in area of West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2014
Al Sham Street, Doha, Qatar

Yellow leaf of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on Al Sham Street in area of West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 11, 2014
Al Sham Street, Doha, Qatar

Flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on Al Sham Street in area of West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 17, 2014
Al Sham Street, Doha, Qatar

Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on roadside of Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 22, 2014
Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar

Dry flowers on the ground of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) on Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, May 6, 2014
Al Istiqlal St, Doha, Qatar

Dry flowers of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) littering the ground near Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, May 7, 2014
Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar

Fruits of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) near Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, May 7, 2014
Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar

Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on Al Sham Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, October 20, 2014
Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar

Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) on Al Sham Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, February 19, 2015
Al Sham Street, Doha, Qatar

Dry fruit of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) collected from Al Sham Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 6, 2016

Small plant of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) on roadside of a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

A tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

Small tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

A tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) in desert near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

Solitary tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

Bird's nest on a tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

Corky bark of a tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

Solitary tree of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera, local name ashkhar) in flat desert near a road to Al Dhabiya on north-western coast, Ash Shamal area. Qatar, June 17, 2016
Unnamed Road, Qatar

Links

• Flora of Qatar.
• Unknown plants or plants without names.
• Duplicate and extra pictures of plants.
• Earlier version of collection of plants.
• Other collections of pictures from Qatar: Lizards of Qatar, Cats of Qatar, Camels of Qatar, and Fish of Qatar.
• Picture archives.
• Home page of A. Sergeev.

Outside links

• Calotropis procera, Wikipedia article
• Calotropis procera from www.catalogueoflife.org
• Ekhlas M. M. Abdel Bary, The Flora of Qatar, Volume I: The Dicotyledons. Doha 2012
• Flora of Qatar, Volume II: The Monocotyledons
• Illustrated Checklist of the Flora of Qatar. John Norton et al. 2009
• Qatar eNature. Flora
• Ali Al-Rawi, Flowering plants of Kuwait, 1985
• Plants of Kuwait
• Flora of Saudi Arabia, Al-Qassim Region
• Flora of Eastern Saudi Arabia by Rain and Dust at Flickr
• Plants of South-Western Morocco
• Pictures from Qatar (Flickr/cpmkutty)
• Arabian plants by Gary Brown
• Flora of Israel

How the web page was created

• A list of plants with their common names was written using online sources and books.
• Web pages were written by a program consisting of several scripts.
• Full names, synonyms, and classification of plants were found online from catalogueoflife.org and theplantlist.org using a script.
• Pictures of plants were selected from a database using a script.
• This web page was written using a script.

Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.