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Gardenia thailandica Tirveng.
| Family Name: | Rubiaceae |
Gardenia thailandica is a tree endemic to Thailand that grows up to 12 m tall. It occurs in rainforests and produces large, tubular flowers that are cream to yellow in colour, along with ellipsoid fruits that lacks a persistent calyx tube at the tip.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 12 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree, up to 12 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are obovate and have a papery texture (chartaceous). They are oppositely arranged and each leaf has 16 pairs of lateral veins. The midrib is prominent on the underside of the leaf. The leaf tip is distinctly acuminate or sometimes 2-lobed while the leaf base is attenuate to narrowly cuneate, and slightly decurrent on the leaf stalk. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 0.5 – 1 cm long. Domatia are present. |
| Flowers | The flowers are large, tubular, and cream to yellow in colour. Each flower has a long tube (measuring 4–6 cm long) that opens into five lobes measuring 2–3 cm long and bears five stamens that extend slightly beyond the flower opening. |
| Fruit | The fruit is ellipsoid, measuring about 34 cm long and 2–2.5 cm wide. When mature, it has five ribs with several faint ridges between them, and lacks a persistent calyx tube at the tip. |
| Habitat | It is found in rainforests. |
| Associated Fauna | Flowers are pollinated by insects. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | The genus Gardenia commemorates Alexander Garden (1730 – 1791), a Scottish naturalist who contributed significantly to the flora in America. The specific epithet refers to Thailand. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Attenuate, Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
References
| References | Tirvengadum, D.D. (1983) New taxa and name changes in tropical Asiatic Rubiaceae. Nordic Journal of Botany 3: 455-469. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33294 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7708 |
| 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. |
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