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Mussaenda glabra Vahl
| Family Name: | Rubiaceae |
| Common Name: | Balik Adap, Adap-Adap, Belak Adap, Cha Pedi, Daun Puteri, Segoreh, 光叶玉叶金花 |
Mussaenda glabra is a scrambling shrub growing up to 1 m tall with a climbing habit. Often found at forest edges, it produces clusters of star-shaped flowers with bright orange petals and a yellow throat, and framed by prominent white, enlarged modified sepals that resemble petals. Following the flowers, the plant produces oval-shaped green berries that mature to matt black or very dark brown. This shrub grows well in full sun and requires moderate watering.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Nepal, East Himalaya, Bangladesh, India (Assam), Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Java |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a climbing bush reaching up to 1 m height, and has hairless, lenticellate branches. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its opposite , stalked leaves have leathery blades that are usually oblong to lance-shaped with a pointed tip, bright green above, green below, 6.4–8.9 by 1.3–4 cm, and have 5–6 pairs of veins that are hairless or covered with soft hair. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are orange, covered with soft hair that are yellow at the mouth and throat, and arranged in clusters at the end of flowering branches. |
| Fruit | Its fruit is oval-shaped, green, 1.3 cm long, and has tiny seeds. The fruit ripen to matt black or dark brown. |
| Habitat | It grows in open habitats. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed and stem cutting. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet, Mussaenda is derived from the Singhalese name, mussenda vernacular name for Mussaenda frondosa. The species epithet glabra(/i>), is Latin, glaber which means glabrous or hairless, which is likely referring to the smooth leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable) (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: Traditional Medicinal Uses In Peninsular Malaysia, its leaves can be used to make tea which may be given for cough. The leaves are chewed with betel, consumed to treat bowel complaints, as a poultice for headache, or eaten in salad. A decoction of the roots is given after childbirth. In Java, the sap is used to wash away infected eyes. <1>
It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for parks as a sprawling shrub if grown without a trellis. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola, Flowerbed / Border |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting Plant |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
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, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose, Leathery |
| Foliar Modification | Stipule |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular, Stellate / Star-shaped |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black, Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Wrinkled |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
References
| References | <1> Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (2016). Mussaenda glabra. PROSEA. https://plantuse.plantnet.org/en/Mussaenda_glabra_(PROSEA). (Accessed 30 September 2026). <2> Wong, K.M. et. al. (2019). Mussaenda. Flora of Singapore, vol. 13, pp. 186-191. Singapore: Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30146 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4455 |
| 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. |
