Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Tall tree with grey fibrous bark, able to grow up to 20 - 30 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Oblong-lanceolate to ovate leaves, measuring about 8 - 18 cm long and 4 - 6.5 cm wide, petiole measuring about 4 - 8 mm long, underneath of leaf surface tomentose. |
| Flowers | White flowers, sometimes pale pink, with crinkled petals and borne in panicles measuring about 8 - 20 m long, sepals measuring about 3 - 4 mm long, numerous stamens clustered in the centre, ovary densely tomentose. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a capsule, globose to ovoid-oblong in shape, measuring about 1 - 1.5 cm by 0.8 - 1.1 cm. Seeds (including wings) measure about 6 - 7 mm long. |
| Etymology | Genus Lagerstroemia is named after Magnus von Lagerstrom of Goteborg (1696 - 1759), friend of Linnaeus. Species tomentosa is derived from the word "tomentose", which refers to some parts of the tree (leaves, stem, floral tubes and ovaries) which are finely felted with fine hairs. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Mature Bark Texture | Fibrous |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1700 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2993 |
| 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. |
