Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Leggy |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India (Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, Assam), Bangladesh, South-Central China, Southeastern China, Hainan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Shrub, able to grow up to 5 - 6 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Green leaves, opposite arrangement, elliptic-oblong to elliptic or obovate in shape, surface glabrous, measuring about 10 - 17 cm long and 3 - 6 cm wide, stipules persistent, interpetiolar or united around the stem, petiole measuring about 0.5 - 1 cm long. |
| Stems | Bark is smooth. |
| Flowers | White fragrant flowers in a terminal corymbiform inflorescence about 8 cm wide, peduncle up to 4.5 cm long, flowers sessile or subsessile and each flower measuring about 1.5 - 1.8 cm wide, calyx glabrous, lobes elliptic and acute. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a subglobose drupe measuring about 0.8 cm wide, turning from green to reddish black when ripen. |
| Etymology | Genus Ixora is derived from the name of a Malabar deity, Iswara. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers) (Day), Ornamental Flowers |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Mature Bark Texture | Fissured |
|---|---|
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 838 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2133 |
| 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. |
