Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Brazil, Venezuela and Peru. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A herbaceous shrub with a clumping growth form. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are long, narrow and erect. The length of the leaf blade is approximately 3 feet long and are spineless. The upper leaf surface is green, turning bronze-red under full sun while the lower leaf surface is grey-green. |
| Flowers | The bisexual flowers are borne on a spike which is borne on floral scape which is covered with a thin white tomentum. The flowers are surrounded by pink bracts and have purplish white petals. |
| Fruit | The fibrous fruit is a syncarp (an aggregate fruit), is red in colour and is not edible. |
| Habitat | It is found in hot, humis forests at altitudes of approximately 180 to 490m. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Fruits, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Bumpy / Tuberculate |
| Fruit Classification | Aggregate Fruit (Syncarp) |
| Fruit Type |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31594 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5993 |
| 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. |
