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Nerium oleander

Nerium oleander

(Oleander)

FAMILY

Apocynaceae

Species

Nerium oleander

Common name

Oleander

Flower colour; life form

Pink, Red; shrub

Campus

Townsville

Description

All parts of this hardy, evergreen shrub are poisonous, the main toxins are cardiac glycosides. The leathery, lanceolate leaves are up to 20 cm long and 2 cm wide, arranged in groups of 2-3 along the stem. The tubular flowers with spreading lobes to about 6 cm across, come in a variety of colours ranging from white to red. The fruit is a long narrow pod to about 25 cm long and is filled with seeds covered with silky hairs. Latex present.