Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | They are robust, perennial climbers that will occasionally branch along their main stems. Without any support, they will sprawl along the ground. |
|---|---|
| Roots | The clasping, adventitious roots sprout from the stem nodes and provide support as the plant climbs on vertical surfaces. |
| Foliage | The leaves may vary in length, shape, and colour, but they are arranged in three ranks with spiny margins. Each leaf has a lobed auricle (membranous projection of the leaf sheath) on each side of the leaf base. Flowering shoots may produce coloured bracts in some cultivars. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is a spike (also known as a spadix or a cephalia) on a peduncle, usually in 3-4 on the tip of a leafy shoot. The spike is made of highly reduced flowers with either stamens or pistils. Plants are dioecious (individual plants producing either male or female inflorescences). |
| Cultivation | All plants require a tree trunk or any similar support to climb. Without support, they may sprawl on the ground. |
| Etymology | The generic epithet Freycinetia commemorates Admiral Freycinet (1779–1842), a French circumnavigator. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Leaf |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | The leaf margins are lined with recurved spines. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Green - Bluish Green, Purple |
| Foliar Modification | Flower/Fruit Bract |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Spiny |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Root Type | Aboveground (Aerial Root), Underground (Fibrous Root) |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Ovary Position | Superior / Hypogynous |
| Flowering Period | Rarely |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 21748 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3371 |
| 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. |
