2016 April 07

Calotropis procera or Apple of Sodom, Rubber Bush. Rubber Bush (Calotropis procera), apple of sodom • Hindi: आक Aak, मुदर Mudar in Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon first seen and reported on 04.03.16, and now the fruit seen on 7.04.16.The green globes are hollow but the flesh contains a toxic milky sap that is extremely bitter and turns into a gluey coating resistant to soap. The fruit is described by the Roman Jewish historian Josephus, who saw it growing near Sodom: "...as well as the ashes growing in their fruits; which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten, but if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes." John Milton alludes to this plant in his epic poem, "Paradise Lost", while describing the fruit that Satan and his cohorts eat after having tempted Adam and Eve to eat an apple from the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil:

The Frutage fair to sight, like that which grew

Neer that bituminous Lake where Sodom flam'd;

This more delusive, not the touch, but taste

Deceav'd; they fondly thinking to allay

Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit

Chewd bitter Ashes, which th' offended taste

With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayd

Hunger and thirst constraining...

(bk. 10, ll. 520–528)

Done