Larval Host Plant
Nectar Plant
Pachliopta aristolochiae – Common Rose
Pachliopta hector – Crimson Rose
Papilio polytes – Common Mormon
Papilio polymnestor – Blue Mormon
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Other notes
Natural History: This is a large, evergreen West African shrub, growing approx. 2-4 m in height, but may become a straggler, growing up to 10 m, on large trees. The flower bracts may be red, white or pale pink. It is a popular garden plant, introduced to India.
References:
Naik, D. and M. S. Mustak. 2015. Additions to Larval Host Plants of Indian Butterflies (Lepidoptera). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS), 112(3): 181-182. DOI: 10.17087/jbnhs/2015/v112i3/114436.
WFO (2023): World Flora Online. Accessed on 24 Jan 2023. URL: http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000246551.
Flowers of India (2023). Accessed on 24 Jan 2023. URL: https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Ashanti%20Blood.html.
Page citation
Kawthankar, N. and K. Kunte. 2024. Mussaenda erythrophylla Schumach. & Thonn. (1827) – Ashanti Blood, Red Flag Bush. In Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, and P. Roy (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 4.12. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/mussaenda-erythrophylla, accessed 2024/04/25.