Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Compact |
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 0.9 m |
Biogeography
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Woody shrub, dwarf selection with compact form, up to 0.9m when grown in ground. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves bright waxy green, heart-shaped, twisted-looking, closely-clustered and overlapping due to much shortened internodes. |
| Flowers | Red, 4 petals, clustered into corymbiform inflorescences, scentless but source of nectar for insects. Freely produced throughout the year. |
| Cultivation | Hybrid relatively slower-growing than other types of Ixora. Prefers acidic soils (pH 5.1 - 6.0) supplemented with iron. Propagate by softwood and semi-hardwood stem cuttings -- use rooting powder to hasten rooting. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Ixora' named after Malabar-Indian deity Iswara, who is assocated with the sacred Ixora coccinea (Jungle Flame) and worshipped with its flowers. Various cultivar epithets and common names allude to the plant's unusual foliar structure, which resembles knotted ropes used in Indian rope tricks performed by magicians. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting, Suitable for Bonsai |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | pH 5.1 - 6.0 |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Softwood & semi-hardwood cuttings |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Deltoid) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Inflorescence Type | Corymb |
| Ovary Position | Inferior / Epipgynous |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Days |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 829 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2124 |
| 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. |
