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Citharexylum spinosum

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Citharexylum spinosum L.

Family Name: Verbenaceae
Synonyms: Citharexylum quadrangulare
Common Name: Fiddlewood, 提琴木

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic
Maximum Height 10 m to 12 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width 6 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution West Indies
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology Small and dioecious evergreen tree, deciduous in countries with cooler climate. Leaves up to 20 cm by 10 cm, attached to orange-yellow petioles, green but turns orange when aged and drop off. Branches generally tetragonal, giving rise to synonym species epithet ‘quadrangulare’. Flowers unisexual, up to 30cm long in racemes, usually terminal and drooping. Fruits globose - shaped, red or orange when immature, turns black when ripe. Often grown for aesthetic purposes due to orangey appearance when leaves age. Fragrant flowers and fast growing also make it popular as a roadside tree. Genus name ‘Citharexylum’ originated from Greek kithara and xylon, meaning lyre or fiddle and wood respectively. Common name fiddlewood derived from the use of the wood for musical instruments.
Ethnobotanical Uses Others: Fiddlewood used to make sounding boards for musical instruments and cabinets.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Fragrant (Flowers) (Day)
Landscape Uses Suitable for Roadsides, General, Coastal
Thematic Landscaping Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden
Usage Hazard - Cons Toxic Upon Ingestion, Invasive / Potentially Invasive
Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks Prefers soil enriched in organic matter.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna Bird-Attracting, Bee-Attracting
Seed or Spore Dispersal Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Fast to Moderate
Rootzone Tolerance Well-Drained Soils
Maintenance Requirements Low
Propagation Method Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green, Orange
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical)
Foliar Venation Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin Entire
Typical Foliar Area Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm) Woody
Mature Bark Texture Fissured
Stem Type & Modification Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s) White
Inflorescence Type Raceme
Flowering Habit Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Black

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 1515
Species ID 2808
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 06 March 2023.
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