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Published 14 March 2021
Calotropis procera belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. It is a shrub or a small tree with glaucous leaves. The flowers are green with blue or violet markings. Follicles are bladder-like used by children as handballs in local communities. The seeds have a mass of silky fibers that surround them and are used especially as a filling for mattresses, pillows, life preservers, sleeping bags and as insulation. It is common in semi- arid locations.
I have always known this plant as a milk coagulant as far back as the 80s. It was a tradition that we spend our school holidays in my hometown then, so on one of such periods, I sighted the plant and because I never saw such in the town we were living. I asked questions about it. It is Tumfafiya in Hausa, the Yoruba call it Ewe Bomubomu.