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Pachystachys lutea
| Family Name: | Acanthaceae |
| Common Name: | Lollypops, Golden Candles, Golden Shrimp Plant, Lollipop Plant, Yellow Shrimp Plant |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peru |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A perennial and evergreen shrub, growing up 1 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Dark green, lance-shaped, simple leaves, measuring up to 15 cm long, and are oppositely arranged along the stems. |
| Flowers | The true white flowers are narrow and tubular in shape. Each flower is partly covered by showy and overlapping yellow bracts which make up the 4-sided inflorescence. The yellow bracts resemble the overlapping scales on a shrimp, hence the common name. |
| Etymology | The genus Pachystachys means thick spick in Greek, which refers to the flowering spike inflorescence. The specific epithet lutea means yellow, which refers to the inflorescence colour. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1001 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2295 |
| 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. |
