UCONN UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

  • Collections
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Visiting
  • Staff
  • IPM Info
  • Support the Greenhouse

Accession Data:

Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold

  • Common Name: Lucky Nut
  • Family: Apocynaceae Juss.
  • Synonym(s): Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Raf.

  • Country of Origin: tropical America

  • Description: Campanero is an erect, branched, smooth shrub or small tree growing to a height of 2 to 5 meters, with a copious milky sap. Leaves are linear, glossy and green, 10 to 15 centimeters long, 7 to 10 centimeters wide, stalkless and shining. Calyx teeth are pointed, 7 to 9 millimeters long and green. Corolla is funnel- or bell-shaped, about 7 centimeters long, about 5 centimeters wide, and yellow. The fruit is a drupe, smooth, green, shining, somewhat hard, rounded and angled, 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter.3
  • Uses: Used in traditional medicine by trained professionals to treat a variety of maladies though the line between therapeutic and toxic is very narrow. Contains Thevetin, which is classified with the Digitalins, a compound that causes effects on heart muscle, heartbeat irregularities, and blood pressure elevation. It also pupil constiction, increased salivation and intestinal peristalsis. In some countries people consume the nut, which is highly toxic to commit suicide. It has shown antimicrobial effects in vitro studies. Traditional folkloric uses include to induce abortions, an emetic and the oil is used externally for skin maladies.3

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • USDA Zone: 9-10

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198500456
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1985
  • Bench: 1311 - NEOA: Ground Bed 1 SE
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 02-17-2023
  • Restrictions:
    • Poisonous Plant Parts - Not for Human Consumption

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: euasterid I
  • Order: Gentianales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Apocynaceae
  • SubFamily: Rauvolfioideae
  • Tribe: Plumerieae
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Mexico Central / Mexico Northeast / Mexico Northwest / Mexico Southwest / Mexico Southeast / Belize / Costa Rica / El Salvador / Guatemala / Honduras / Nicaragua / Panama / French Guiana / Guyana / Suriname / Venezuela / Bolivia / Colombia / Ecuador / Peru / Brazil West-Central / Brazil Southeast / Brazil North / Argentina Northeast / Paraguay

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed 10 April 2018
  2. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 17 February 2015
  3. Campanero at Philippine Alternative Medicine. Last accessed Tuesday, 18 December, 2018.
  4. Images #00 (cropped) & #01 (original) by Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0]. Last accessed Tuesday, 18 December, 2018.

data regenerated on Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:39:14 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Cascabela thevetia

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Apocynaceae

Subfamily Apocynoideae
Tribe Apocyneae

  • Beaumontia grandiflora
  • Trachelospermum jasminoides

Subfamily Apocynoideae
Tribe Malouetieae

  • Pachypodium horombense
  • Pachypodium lamerei
  • Pachypodium namaquanum
  • Pachypodium rosulatum

Subfamily Apocynoideae
Tribe Mesechiteae

  • Mandevilla sp.

Subfamily Apocynoideae
Tribe Nerieae

  • Adenium obesum
  • Adenium obesum
  • Nerium oleander
  • Strophanthus gratus
  • Strophanthus preussii

Subfamily Apocynoideae
Tribe Wrightieae

  • Wrightia sp.

Subfamily Asclepiadoideae
Tribe Asclepiadeae

  • Asclepiadinae: Asclepias curassavica
  • Asclepiadinae: Asclepias tuberosa
  • Cynanchinae: Cynanchum grandidieri W/C
  • Cynanchinae: Cynanchum marnierianum
  • Cynanchinae: Cynanchum pachycladon
  • Cynanchinae: Cynanchum sp.
  • Cynanchinae: Cynanchum verrucosum

Subfamily Asclepiadoideae
Tribe Ceropegieae

  • Stapelieae: Caralluma hesperidum
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia albisepta W/C
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia ampliata
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia ampliata
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia aristolochioides
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia cimiciodora
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia x rothii
  • Stapeliinae: Ceropegia stapeliiformis
  • Stapeliinae: Edithcolea grandis
  • Stapeliinae: Hoodia gordonii
  • Stapeliinae: Huernia piersii
  • Stapeliinae: Huernia plowesii
  • Stapeliinae: Huernia thureti var. thureti
  • Stapeliinae: Huernia zebrina
  • Stapeliinae: Larryleachia cactiformis
  • Stapeliinae: Stapelia flavopurpurea
  • Stapeliinae: Stapelia gigantea
  • Stapeliinae: Stapelia grandiflora
  • Stapeliinae: Stapelianthus madagascariensis

Subfamily Asclepiadoideae
Tribe Fockeeae

  • Fockea edulis

Subfamily Asclepiadoideae
Tribe Marsdenieae

  • Dischidia albiflora
  • Dischidia bengalensis
  • Dischidia litoralis
  • Dischidia major
  • Dischidia ovata
  • Dischidia platyphylla
  • Dischidia ruscifolia
  • Hoya australis ssp. australis
  • Hoya carnosa
  • Hoya carnosa x serpens
  • Hoya curtisii
  • Hoya imbricata
  • Hoya imbricata
  • Hoya macgillivrayi
  • Hoya macrophylla
  • Hoya obovata
  • Hoya retusa
  • Marsdenia floribunda

Subfamily Periplocoideae
Tribe Cryptolepideae

  • Cryptostegia grandiflora

Subfamily Periplocoideae
Tribe Periploceae

  • Periploca laevigata W/C

Subfamily Rauvolfioideae
Tribe Alyxieae

  • Alyxia ruscifolia

Subfamily Rauvolfioideae
Tribe Carisseae

  • Acokanthera oppositifolia
  • Carissa macrocarpa

Subfamily Rauvolfioideae
Tribe Plumerieae

  • Allamanda cathartica
  • Allamanda schottii
  • Cascabela thevetia
  • Plumeria rubra

Subfamily Rauvolfioideae
Tribe Tabernaemontaneae

  • Tabernaemontaninae: Tabernaemontana divaricata
  • Tabernaemontaninae: Tabernaemontana elegans

Subfamily Rauvolfioideae
Tribe Vinceae

  • Catharanthus roseus
  • Rauvolfia serpentina
  • Ochrosiinae: Ochrosia elliptica
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
  • © University of Connecticut
  • Disclaimers, Privacy & Copyright