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Helicteres isora L.
| Family Name: | Malvaceae |
| Synonyms: | Helicteres macrophylla, Helicteres grewiifolia |
| Common Name: | Indian Screw Tree, Chabai Tali, Kayu Ulas, Avartani |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | China (Southern Yunnan) to Tropical Asia. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A shrub to a small tree, growing to 4 m tall (sometimes up to 8 m) with screw-shaped fruits, hence the common name. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are simple, round to obovate, petiolate (up to 4 cm long), margin serrate, leaf blade has palmate venation (3 - 5 veins), densely covered with hairs on both sides. |
| Stems | The bark is lenticellate and finely wrinkled. The young stem is covered with long yellowish hairs. |
| Flowers | Fragrant bright red flowers borne in inflorescences called cymes. |
| Fruit | Fruit has 5 twisted follicles (screw-shaped) with each follicle consisting of 20 - 25 dark brown seeds. |
| Habitat | Generally grown in evergreen forest and secondary jungle, including roadsides and forest edges. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers), Ornamental Flowers |
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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 | Stem Cutting, Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Rounded |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Asymmetrical |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | 2 - 3 days |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33933 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8349 |