Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Annual herb up to 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Simple leaves are deeply divided into 3 elongated to lanceolate lobes. The leaf margin is lined with minute teeth. |
| Flowers | Cream to pale yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers (6-7 cm wide) have a dark red centre. |
| Fruit | Dry, dehiscent fruits are known as capsules. They are 1.5 cm wide and ovoid-globose (intermediate between egg-shaped and round). The capsules are surrounded by a bright red, fleshy calyx which resembles a rosebud. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The fleshy calyx (outermost layer of the flower) can be eaten raw as a vegetable. The calyces can also be dried and used to make herbal tea. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Margin | Serrulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Trumpet-shaped |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32001 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6403 |
| 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. |
