Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton

Biduri (Calotropis gigantea) is a shrub up to 4 meters tall of the Apocynaceae family, native to Indonesia and often considered a weed despite being widely distributed as far as India and China. In Thailand, its flowers are instead used as cut flowers in arrangements. Biduri is traditionally believed to relieve ear inflammation in children, gastritis, and boils.

Calotropis gigantea grows wild in places not waterlogged (dry areas), sandy beaches, rocky land up to elevations of 1,400 m above sea level. Requires full sunlight. Grows in various soil types but prefers latosol and sandy soil.

• Root a taproot.
• Stem round, sturdy, pale bark, smooth surface, sympodial branching (main stem not clearly visible), and exudes milky white latex.
• Leaves single, very short-stalked, leaf blade elongated or ovate.
• Flowers compound in umbels, thick flower stalk 3-5 cm long, wheel-shaped corolla.
• Fruit a follicle, standing alone or in pairs, ovate, green in color.
• Seeds oblong, small, brown in color.

• Propagated generatively (seed) and vegetatively (stem cuttings).
• After seeds are sown, they should be transplanted into a pot 20-30 cm in size.

Glucosides (calotropin, fuscharin, calotoxin), resin, floavil, alban, dehydrovomifoliol, resin, pleurone, calotropagenin, flavonoid, terpenoid, tannin.

Treats ear inflammation in children (otitis), gastritis, heart seizures, scabies, measles, damaged teeth, boils, eczema, and used to remove thorns from the body.

• Pick biduri leaves in the morning. Wash with running water to clean off attached dirt.
• Chop the leaves to make them dry easily.
• Dry by air-drying at room temperature 15-30°C until dry then store in a tightly closed container.

Rubek (Aceh), Widuri (Java), Rumbigo (Minang), Maduri (Bali).