Botany 119 - SP Paper

Characterization of Indonesia Puff Ball/ Swan Ball/
Milkweed (Asclepias physocarpa)

SORIANO, D.F., MAYRINA, M., SOLOMON, R., PAGLINGAYEN K.,
RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

Plant Anatomy (Mr. Deemson Mones)
Department of Biology, College of Science,, University of the
Philippines- Baguio, Baguio City, 2600
1st Semester A.Y. 2013-2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Deemson G. Mones for his positive
suggestions and beneficial critiques during the planning and development of this study. We are
also grateful to the staff of the Baguio Heritage Hill and Prayer Mountain, Mr. Wilson Dupais, Mr.
Moises Lup-ac,
ac, Mrs. Alice Ciriaco, Mrs. Rose Marie Agustin and Mr. Jared Tuazon for their help in
offering the resources in running the study. Assistance provided by the technicians, Mrs. Alice
Naniong, Mrs. Romely Fernandez, Mr. Jairus
Jairus Policarpio and Ms. Amor Pasigon of the instruments
room of the University of the Philippines was greatly appreciated.
Our special thanks are extended to Mr. Bryan T. Fabro, Ms. Crystal Joan Medrano, Mr.
Arvin Jeferson Jacala, Mr. Busto Jacala, Ms. Isal
Isaland
and Jacala and Ms. Jianne Jacala, for their aid with
the collection of our resources.
We wish to thank our families and friends, for their support and encouragement
throughout the study.
And to God, who made things possible.
SORIANO, D.F., MAYRINA, M., SOLOMON, R., PAGLINGAYEN K., RAMIREZ, C.

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

I.
Introduction
It
From the quiet world of the old

Diplomat Hotel in Baguio City, lies a species
of milkweed known as Asclepias physocarpa.
physocarpa
It is commonly called in said place as
Indonesian puffball because of the bloated
appearance of its fruit; but, in general it is
often
n called as Swan plant, Balloon plant,
belongs
to
the
family,
Apocynaceae, which are usually trees,

shrubs, herbs, lianas, and vines that are
Laticifers that produces milky sap (Olson,
2013). Asclepias physocarpa was renamed
as Gomphocarpus physocarpus to reveal its
origin in Africa (Asclepi
(Asclepias physocarpa
Milkweed for Monarchs, 2008-2013).
2008
Oscar milkweed, and Family Jewels.
Just like any other milkweeds,

Asclepias species secrete a milky sap, with
poisonous cardiac glycosides that attracts
species
of
insects
such
as
Monarch
butterflies and serves as their source of

food. All of its parts are poisonous when
ingested but some species developed
resistance to its toxins and acquire it in
their system. It makes the affected species
poisonous too for their predators. It usually
grows 36-48 in., 4-6
6 ft., 6-8
6 ft. in height. Its
seeds are spread through breeze.
The
balloon
plant
is
often
categorized as tropicals and perennials

which usually bloom during mid-summer,
mid
late summer or early fall. They are widely
distributed in pantropical, subtropical, and
temperate zones.
Figure 1. Indonesian Puff Ball (Asclepias
(
physocarpa)
There exists various importance of

this plant. As mentioned earlier its sap is
used as primary source of food for some

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

insects. This plant is also used to cure
After sectioning, the sectioned plant
various ailments. They were also cultivated
parts were placed in labeled vials filled with
as
FAA solution to fix plant cells and tiss

tissues.
hypoallergenic
filling
for
pillows
(Evangelista, 2007).
After a few days of soaking in FAA, the
The Balloon plant has leaves, stem,

and roots, as their vegetative structures
which are known to
sectioned parts are now subjected to the

staining procedure.
belong in the
The fixed sections were placed in
Dicotyledonae. Its reproductive structures
40% ethyl alcohol to be dehydrated. The
are flowers, and a unique puffy fruit.
sections were rinsed with 50% ethanol for
Its unique fruit is circular and puffy

with soft bristles around
d it. The plants
unique appearance was the sole reason for
the
groups
characterization
and
the
presence of its sap which was discovered to

be poisonous.
II.
30 to 60 seconds. After rinsing, the

t sections
were now transferred to vials containing
1%
Safranin
in
50%
alcohol
and
haematoxylin. The sections were stained for

about 24 hours to achieve maximum
results.
After the preliminary staining, the
Methodology
sections were transferred to a petri dish
The plant specimen was collected at
with 50%
0% acidified alcohol to remove
Baguio Heritage Hill and Prayer Mountain,
excess stain. The sections were now
Diplomat Hotel
tel Baguio City. The plant
subjected to 95% alcohol for 5 minutes in
specimen was soaked in water in order to
order to halt the decolorizing effect of the
avoid desiccation and dehydration of plant
acidified alcohol. The sections were now
parts and further damage of plant tissues.
placed in a dish of Fast Green for 2-3

2
Different plant parts were subjected

to free-hand
hand sectioning including the stems,
roots, leaf, petiole and midrib. Casting
method was used for the leaves of the plant
specimen to obtain surface sections of the
epidermis of the leaf.
seconds and were washe

washed with 95% alcohol
to remove excess Fast Green stain. The
sections were now transferred to a dish of
50-50
50 mixture of xylene and absolute
alcohol. Afterwards, the sections were now
placed to a dish of xylene and were soaked

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

for about 10 minutes. The sections
sectio were
physocarpa
has
uniseriate
placed in a glass slide and a drop of xylene
epidermis. It has simple trichomes.
was added to every section to avoid
These trichomes are unbranched and
desiccation and was examined if the
can be classified as simple hairs.
sections were suitable for mounting.

The desired sections were mounted
on clean glass slides using Canada balsam
and cover slip was placed above the glass
slide with the mounted specimen. The
specimens were allowed to dry and
properly labeled.
III.
Figure 3. Epidermis of stem
Results/Characterization
exhibiting
ing simple hairs
DERMAL TISSUES
VASCULAR TISSUES
In, Leaves a vascular cambium is
present in between the primary xylem and

and phloem.
Figure 2. epidermis with cuticle

Basing from the figure of the crosscross
section of stem shown above, Asclepias
Figure 4. leaf vascular tissues phloem (ph),

and xylem (xy)

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

In stem, the phloem form circular
bundles and forming a cylinder around the
surface of the plant. The vascular cambium
is in between the primary xylem and
phloem. The phloem is posterior to the
vascular
cambium..
It
has
sclerified
tracheids and is composed of sieve tube

elements.
Figure 6.. Tracheid( tr), sieve tube elements

(sv)
The xylem region has sclerified
tracheids
and
the
phloem
region
is
composed of sieve tube elements.
Figure 5.. stem vascular tissues, phloem

(ph), xylem (xy)
In the roots, the xylem region
dominates most of its bulk. A vascular
cambium is present in between the phloem
and xylem and cork
rk cambium is also
present in between the phellem and
phelloderm which is posterior to the cortex.
Figure 7.. roots vascular tissues, xylem (xy)

and phloem (ph)

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

ROOT
In cross-section,
section, the xylem forms
most of the bulk of the root. A vascular

cambium is present in between the xylem
and phloem. Cortex is also present and is
isodiametric in shape. It has no pith. The
roots form secondary growth; therefore, it
has cork cambium that gives rise to its
phellem and phelloderm.
Asclepias physocarpa,, has a fibrous
Figure 9.. Xylem ray
type of root system. It is woody and

The xylem region dominates most of
undergoes secondary growth.
its bulk. A vascular cambium is present in

between the phloem and xylem and cork
cambium is also present in between the
phellem and phelloderm which is posterior
to the cortex.
STEM
The phloem forms circular bundles
and
forming
cylinder
around
the
cylindrical portion of the plant body. The

vascular cambium is in between the
primary xylem and phloem. The phloem is
posterior to the vascular cambium
Figure 8.. xylem (xy), vascular cambium
(v.c), phloem (ph), xylem ray, phelloderm,
phellogen, phellem
LEAF

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

The leaves are entire, simple and
lanceolate to linear in form. It is deciduous
and petiolate.
hair trichomes in the epidermis was also

evident.
Figure 11.. simple hairs trichomes (tr),

xylem (xy), phloem (ph), vascular cambium
(v.c), isodiametric parenchyma (iso),
uniseriate epidermis (ep)
Figure 10.. Lanceolate to linear in form
leaves
The cross section of the leaf shows
that it truly belongs to the eudicots because
of the presence of an adaxial palisade
mesophyll layer and an abaxial spongy
mesophyll
layer.
It
has
uniseriate
epidermis with trichomes. The palisade

mesophyll
is
composed
of
elongated
parenchyma cells; while the spongy layer is

composed of spongy irregular parenchyma
Figure 12.. elongated palisade mesophyll

(pd), irregular spongy mesophyll
cells. The presence of cuticle and simple

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

FRUIT
The follicles are pale green, and in

shape of an inflated sphere. It is covered
SECONDARY GROWTH
Since there is secondary growth,
periderm is present in stems and roots

roots.
with rough hairs.

irs. It reaches three inches in
diameter.
STOMATAL COMPLEX
The plant has bean or kidneykidney
shaped guard cells indicating that it is a

eudicot. The stomatal complex as observed
was paracytic.
Figure 15. Periderm evident in the stem
GENERAL TAXONOMIC
DESCRIPTION
Shrubby perennial, much branched from

the base, up to 1.5(2.5)
2.5) m tall, all parts
with latex, branches erect, densely hairy
when young, woody at base, with taproot.
Leaves opposite, simple
mple and entire; petiole
110
10 mm long; blade linear to narrowly
linear-elliptical, (2.5)4
12 cm (0.2)0.3
Figure 13. Stomatal complex in the leaf and
a simple trichome emerging from it
0.8(1.3)
1.3) cm, base cuneate, apex attenuate,
mucronate, yellowish-green,
green, sparsely to
densely hairy with soft white hairs on veins.
Inflorescences an extra
extra-axillary nodding
umbel, 47(12)-flowered;
flowered; peduncle 1.5
1.5
3(4)
4) cm long; bracts filiform, deciduous.
Flowers bisexual, regular, 5
5-merous; pedicel
12.5
2.5
Figure 14. Stomatal complex with guard

cell and a paracytic subsidiary cell
cm
long;
sepals
lanceolate
or
triangular, 25
5 mm long, attenuate; corolla
reflexed, white, yellowish
yellowis or pink, lobes

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

ovate, 58 mm 35
5 mm, acute, margins
latex, meaning juice in Latin. Although the
ciliate; corona lobes attached 11.5

1
mm
structures bearing latex may be single cells
above base of staminal column, laterally
or series of fused cells, both

bo kinds often
compressed, 24 mm 1.53
3 mm, as tall as
produce complex systems of tube-like

tube
the column, upper margins entire, proximal
growth form in which recognition of the
margins a pair of falcate teeth c. 11.5 mm
limits
long, pointing back along the upper margins
problematical. The term laticifer therefore
of the lobe or curved down into the cavity;
appears most useful if applied to either a
anther wings 1.52

2 mm long; ovary
single cell or a structure resulting fro

from
superior, carpels 2, free, stigma head flat.
fusion of cells (Evert, 2006).
Fruit a pair of upright follicles, each follicle

ovoid, 47 cm 1.52.5
2.5 cm, tapering
ta
gradually or abruptly into a long beak,
strongly or weakly inflated, balloon
balloon-like,
papery, pale green, sometimes tinged
reddish, short-hairy,
hairy, with or without soft
spiny processes, many-seeded.
seeded. Seeds ovate
with one convex and one concave face, 3.5
3.5
5 mm c. 2 mm, warted, brownish grey,
coma 2.53 cm long.
of
individual
The
laticifers
cells
branched
of
Asclepiadaceae,
the
is
highly
nonarticulated
Euphorbiaceae,
Apocynaceae,
and
Moraceae arise during the development of

the embryo in the form of relatively few
primordia,
or
initials,
then
grow
concomitantly with the plant into branched

systems permeating the whole plant body
(Mahlberg,
1961,
1963;
Cass,
1985;
Murugan and Inamdar, 1987; Rudall, 1987,
NONARTICULATED BRANCHED
1994; van Veenendaal and den Outer, 1990;
LATICIFERS IN Asclepias
Roy and De, 1992; Da Cunha et al., 1998).
physocarpa
In the Asclepiadaceae, th
the laticifer
Laticifers are cells or series of
initials appear in the embryo as the
connected
ected cells containing a fluid called
cotyledons are being initiated, and are
latex (plural, latices) and forming systems
located in the plane of the embryo that later
that permeate various tissues of the plant
represents the cotyledonary node. In some
body. The word laticifer and its adjectival
species, the initials arise in the outer region
form laticiferous are derived from the word
of the future vascular cylinder (i.e., from the

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

procambium
that
will
develop
into
Danaus
plexippus))
and
have
devised
protophloem); in others, they arise just
strategies to subvert the plant's defenses.
outside the future vascular cylinder. In
(Angrawal, A. and M.. Fishbein., 2006)
either case, the laticifer initials are closely

associated spatially with the phloem. The
IV.
SUMMARY
number of initials varies both between

be
and
From the family Apocynaceae, the
within species. The initials form protrusions
tropical perennial milkweed Indonesian
in various directions, and the apices of these
puffball (Asclepias
Asclepias physocarpa
physocarpa) was chosen
protrusions push their way intercellularly
by the group to characterize because of the
among the surrounding cells by intrusive
unique puffy appearance of its fruit. It has a
growth, in a manner resembling the growth
uniseriate epidermis, simple hair trichomes,
of a fungal hypha. Typically

y the laticifer
kidney-shaped
shaped guard cells and paracytic
initials penetrate downward into the root
stomatal complex. Since there is secondary
and upward into the cotyledons and toward
growth, periderm and vascular cambium
the shoot apex. Additional branches rapidly
are present in stems and roots. The xylem
penetrate the cortex, extending as far as the
region has sclerified tracheids and the
sub-epidermal
epidermal layer; others penetrate the
phloem region is composed of sieve tube
pith (Evert, 2013).
elements in stems and roots. The leaves are
FUNCTION
TION OF LATICIFERS
entire, simple and lanceolate to linear in

form. There is the presence of an adaxial
The majority, if not all, of the
elongated parenchyma palisade mesophyll
milkweedsin
in particular, the members of
layer and an abaxial irregular parenchyma
the
spongy
Genus
Asclepias,
including A.
mesophyll
layer.
Asclepias
physocarpacontain
contain the sticky white latex
physocarpa has a fibrous type of root
sap that you see when you cut or break the
system. Its cortex is isodiametric in shape.
leaves or stems. The latex, plus other
The flower is umbels

mbels of white stellate
chemical
al components such as cardenolides,
flowers and the fruit is a pod. Abundance of
are the plants defense against herbivores.
laticifers was also present in the plant body.
There are insects that do thrive on the

milkweeds (e.g, the monarch butterfly,
V.
REFERENCES

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

Asclepias physocarpa. Retrieved

from
http://en.hortipedia.com/wik/Ascle
ttp://en.hortipedia.com/wik/Ascle
pias_physocarpa.
Accessed
on
September 14, 2013
Common milkweed. Retrieved from
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes
/ecology common_milkweed.htm.
Accessed on September 14
14, 2013.
PlantFiles: Swan
wan Plant, Balloon
Plant, cotton-bush,
bush, Oscar,Hairy
Balls,
Giant
Swan
Milkweed
Gomphocarpus physocarpus. (2000(2000
2013).
Retrieved
from
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf
/go/61453/#ixzz2ev CY014C.
Accessed on September 14, 2013.
Asclepias physocarpa Milkweed for
Monarchs. (2008-2013).
2013). Retrieved
from
http://www.joyfulbutterfly.com/art
http://www.joyfulbutterf
icles/asclepias-physocarpa.html.
physocarpa.html.
Accessed on September 14
14, 2013.
Apocynaceae: The Milkweed and
Oleander Family. (2013). Retrieved
from
http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/classe
s/bio366/families/Apocynaceae.pdf
. Accessed on September 15,
15 2013.
Balloon plant. Retrieved from
http://www.flowersofindia.net/cata
http://www.flowersofindia.net/cat
log/slides/ Balloon%20Plant.html
Balloon%20Plant.html.
Accessed on September 15,2013.
Asclepias.(2013). Retrieved
Retri
from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascle
pias. Accessed on September 15,
15
2013.
Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R.
(2007). Weeds in South Texas and
Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas

Tech University Press. ISBN 089672-614-2
"Taxon: Asclepias L.". Germplasm
Resources Information Network.
Network
United States Department of
Agriculture. 2003-03-13.
2003
Retrieved
2013-02-05.
Ramanujan, Krishna (Winter 2008).
Discoveries: Milkweed evolves to
shrug
rug
off
predation". Northern
Woodlands (Center for Northern
Woodlands Education) 15 (4): 56.
Evangelista, R.L. (2007). "Milkweed
seed wing removal to improve oil
extraction". Industrial Crops and
Products 25 (2):210
(2):210217.doi:10.101
6/j.indcrop.2006.10.002
McCullough, Elizabeth A. (April
1991). "Evaluation of Milkweed
Floss as an Insulative Fill
Material". Textile
Research
Journal 61 (4): 203-210.
203
Asclepias
subverticillata
(A.
Gray)Vail, USDA
SDA PLANTS
"GRIN
Species
Records
of Asclepias". Germplasm Resources
Information Network. United States
Department
of
Agriculture.
Retrieved 2011-02
02-22.
Asclepias
physocarpa.
(2013).
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from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascl
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Accessed
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September 15,, 2013.
Llamas,
Kirsten
Albrecht
(2003). Tropical Flowering Plants: A
Guide
to
Identification
and

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

Cultivation. Timber Press. p.

73. ISBN 0-88192-585--3.
Iremonger, Susan (2002). A Guide to
the Plants of the Blue Mountains of
Jamaica. The University of West
Indies Press. p. 47. ISBN 976-640976
031-8.
http://database.prota.org/PROTAht
ml/Gomphocarpus%20fruticosus_E
n.htm Gurib-Fakim,
Fakim, A., 2011.
Gomphocarpus
fruticosus
(L.)
W.T.Aiton. In: Schmelzer, G.H. &
Gurib-Fakim,
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APPENDIX:
Asclepias physocarpa (Milkweed) fruit

RAMIREZ, C.
Bot 119 Plant

Asclepias
Ascle
physocarpa (Milkweed) flowers

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Characterization of Indonesia Puff Ball/ Swan Ball/

Milkweed (Asclepias physocarpa)

Bot 119 Plant

SORIANO, D.F., MAYRINA, M., SOLOMON, R., PAGLINGAYEN K., RAMIREZ, C.

Characterization of Indonesia Puff Ball/ Swan Ball/

Bot 119 Plant

From the quiet world of the old

Apocynaceae, which are usually trees,

Oscar milkweed, and Family Jewels.

Just like any other milkweeds,

butterflies and serves as their source of

categorized as tropicals and perennials

There exists various importance of

SORIANO, D.F., MAYRINA, M., SOLOMON, R., PAGLINGAYEN K., RAMIREZ, C.

Characterization of Indonesia Puff Ball/ Swan Ball/

Bot 119 Plant

After sectioning, the sectioned plant

various ailments. They were also cultivated

parts were placed in labeled vials filled with

FAA solution to fix plant cells and tiss

After a few days of soaking in FAA, the

The Balloon plant has leaves, stem,

sectioned parts are now subjected to the

The fixed sections were placed in

Dicotyledonae. Its reproductive structures

40% ethyl alcohol to be dehydrated. The

are flowers, and a unique puffy fruit.

sections were rinsed with 50% ethanol for

Its unique fruit is circular and puffy

presence of its sap which was discovered to

30 to 60 seconds. After rinsing, the

haematoxylin. The sections were stained for

sections were transferred to a petri dish

The plant specimen was collected at

Baguio Heritage Hill and Prayer Mountain,

excess stain. The sections were now

subjected to 95% alcohol for 5 minutes in

specimen was soaked in water in order to

order to halt the decolorizing effect of the

avoid desiccation and dehydration of plant

acidified alcohol. The sections were now

parts and further damage of plant tissues.

placed in a dish of Fast Green for 2-3

Different plant parts were subjected

seconds and were washe

SORIANO, D.F., MAYRINA, M., SOLOMON, R., PAGLINGAYEN K., RAMIREZ, C.

Characterization of Indonesia Puff Ball/ Swan Ball/

Bot 119 Plant

placed in a glass slide and a drop of xylene

epidermis. It has simple trichomes.

was added to every section to avoid

These trichomes are unbranched and

desiccation and was examined if the

can be classified as simple hairs.

sections were suitable for mounting.

Figure 3. Epidermis of stem

present in between the primary xylem and

Figure 2. epidermis with cuticle

Figure 4. leaf vascular tissues phloem (ph),

SORIANO, D.F., MAYRINA, M., SOLOMON, R., PAGLINGAYEN K., RAMIREZ, C.

Characterization of Indonesia Puff Ball/ Swan Ball/

Bot 119 Plant

tracheids and is composed of sieve tube