Periploca esculenta Linnaeus f., Suppl. Pl. 168. 1781; Asclepias rosea Roxburgh; Oxystelma wallichii Wight; Sarcostemma esculentum (Linnaeus f.) R. W. Holm.

Lianas to at least 4 m, glabrous except for flowers. Petiole 1-1.5 cm; leaf blade linear or linear-lanceolate, 6-11 × 0.7-2 cm, membranous, base rounded; lateral veins 9-12 pairs, marginal vein present. Inflorescences longer than leaves, (1- or) 2-4-flowered. Flower buds 8-9 mm. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3.5 × 1 mm. Corolla white with purple veins or blotches, 2-3 cm in diam., limb 1.5-2 cm; lobes triangular, 1-1.5 cm, densely ciliate. Outer corona densely pubescent. Pollinia ca. 1.5 mm. Ovaries glabrous. Follicles lanceolate in outline, ca. 5 × 1.5 cm, apex subacute. Seeds ovate, ca. 2 × 1.5 mm; coma 1.5-2 cm. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Oct-Dec.

Decoctions of all parts are used against cancer, menoxenia, and traumatic injury.

Some authorities have suggested that the correct name for this species is Oxystelma secamone (Linnaeus) Karsten, 1883, based on Periploca secamone Linnaeus, 1771, but Goyder & Singh (Taxon 40: 629-630, 1991) showed that P. secamone is a synonym of Secamone alpinii Schultes from Africa.

Moist bushland, stream banks. Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; NE Africa, SW Asia]