Thevetia- the Yellow Oleander

Scientific Name: Thevetia nerrifolia or Thevetia peruviana or Cascabela thevetia ICUN Status: Not Evaluated

It is also called Exile Tree or the Lucky Nut or Be-Still.

The Genus Thevetia in the honor of M Andre Thevet a French Monk of 16^th CE who explored and collected the plant from Brazil and Guiana. The Species nerrifolia means hanging leaves like Nerium or Oleander.

Thevetia nerrifolia- the yellow oleander

It is a member of Periwinkle family, there is no relation between these Thevetia and Oleander. It originates from South America and West Indes while Oleander is from Mediterranean.

Thevetia on Left and Pink Nerium on Right

On left White Oleander: On right Yellow Oleander

It is also called Cascabela thevetia- Cascabel is Spanish term for Rattle Snake. It indicates that the plant’s toxicity is comparable to the venom of a rattle snake.

Thevetia is a largely expanding shrub of 8-10 feet high, easily recognised by its narrow, pointed leaves pointing in every direction and scattered yellow flowers.

These fine, narrow leaves never seem to hold still, always shimmering in the wind. Therefore- Be Still.

Be Still please!

Its waxy, bell shaped yellow flowers are made up of five overlapping petals

5 Waxy overlapping petals

Bell shaped flower

These are slightly fragrant and short lived. They droop and fall off the next day covering the ground with their bright, golden yellow blossoms.

Yellow flower, Crab Apple shaped fruit and Narrow pointed leaves

A pathway smeared with withered flowers

Its fruit is of crab apple appearance. Inside is a woody nut containing two seeds. These are called lucky seeds or lucky beans. These are made into pendants and charms or kept in pocket for luck.

Stages of reproduction- bud, flower, fruit and seed

All parts of the plants are poisonous including the milky sap which exudes from stems and shoots when cut. They contain Cardiac Glycosides called Cardenolides- Thevetin A, Thevetin B, Nerrifolin, Thevetoxin, Ruvoside etc.

Poisonous milky sap containing Cardenolides

In Indian subcontinent, swallowing its seeds is one of the preferred methods of suicide in the villages.

Goats and Cattle don’t feed on this plant; therefore it is commonly placed along highways and boundary walls.

These plants toxins are used as biological pest control.

Oil from its seeds is used to make a paint with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-termite properties.

Finally Mom adds an another point, remembering her childhood, they used to play with these lucky seeds a game called kachakayalu.