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Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl.
| Family Name: | Haemodoraceae |
| Common Name: | Cola de Paloma, Angelhands, Palmita, Soskia |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant, Creeper |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Central & Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Caribbean (Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago), Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Northern & West-Central Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, & Bolivia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a rhizomatous herbaceous plant |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Narrow, linear leaves are arranged in a fan shape that gracefully bends to form a fountain-like structure. Glossy, hairless leaf surface has a rippled texture, because of the parallel venation. |
| Flowers | Small, egg-shaped flower buds give rise to white, tubular flowers that hang down and open slightly at the tip. Plants produce a spike-like inflorescence under full sun, but a branched inflorescence under semi-shade. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, [Remarks] (Intolerant of waterlogged conditions.) |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Moist Soils |
| Transplanting Tolerance | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Pest(s) | Sucking Insects |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting (Tip), Stolon / Runner, Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
|---|---|
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1270 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2563 |
| 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. |