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Murraya paniculata
| Family Name: | Rutaceae |
| Synonyms: | Chalcas exotica, Murraya exotica |
| Common Name: | Mock Lime, China Box, Kemuning, Mock Orange, Burmese Boxwood, Chinese Box, Orange Jasmine, Kemuning Lada, Orange Jessamine, 九里香, 千里香 |
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 2.5 m to 3.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern & Southeast Asia, Northern Australia and New Caledonia. |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A fine textured, medium-sized shrub of about 2.5- 3.5 m tall. |
| Foliage | Leaves are evergreen, alternate, compound (with 3 - 7 leaflets), pinnate. Leaflet is about 2 - 3 cm long. |
| Stems | Multi-stemmed, but can be trained to also grow with a short, single stem. |
| Flowers | Flowers are white, year-round flowering and have a pleasant fragrance. |
| Fruits | Fruits are red, oval, fleshy and measure about 1- 3 cm long. |
| Etymology | Genus Murraya is named in honor of Johan Andreas Murray (1740 - 1791), Professor of Botany at Gottingen. Species paniculata means with a branched-racemose or cymose inflorescence. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal ( In Chinese medicine, a decoction of the leaves is taken to treat bruises, chronic dysentery, stomach ache, swellings and skin irritations. It is also used to relieve pain. Leaves are also used in other countries as a tonic, to cure toothache and herpes and to expel tapeworms in Malaysia; as a stimulant in Indonesia; to increase the menstrual flow and to treat diarrhoea and dysentery in the Philippines; and for fever and dysentery in Indochina. The fruits and barks are sometimes also used medicinally.) Cultural / Religious ( Heritage Tree: There are 2 individuals of Murraya paniculata listed as Heritage Trees in Singapore. Both trees can be found in Changi, Andover Road. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register.) |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers) (Day), Ornamental Flowers |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Hedge / Screening, Topiary, Parks & Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Formal Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird Attracting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Planting Distance From | 90 |
| Planting Distance To | 150 |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Air-Layering |
| Maintenance Requirements Remarks | High maintenance is required if used for topiary landscapes or formal gardens. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Red |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 945 |
| Species ID | 2239 |
| 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. |
