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Tabernaemontana pauciflora Blume

Family Name:	Apocynaceae
Synonyms:	Ervatamia blumeana Markgr., Ervatamia blumeana var. macropetala Bakh.fil., Ervatamia calycina (Wall.) Lace, Tabernaemontana calycina Wall., Tabernaemontana dinhensis Pit., Tabernaemontana harmandiana Pierre ex Pit.
Common Name:	Lada-lada

Tabernaemontana pauciflora is a shrub or a tree that grows up to 6 m tall. It has white fragrant tubular flowers that attracts moths for pollination. Its fruit are ellipsoid or oblong-shaped, bearing 2-16 seeds covered in red flesh. This species grows well under full sun on well-drained soil with moderate watering.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Shrub

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub, Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	6 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaya, Borneo, Sumatra, Java.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	A shrub to a small tree that grows up to 6 m tall.
Foliage	The leaves are elliptic, measuring 3-26 cm long and 0.6-10 cm wide, papery texture, and oppositely arranged along the stem. The leaf blad has acuminate or caudate tip and cuneate base.
Stems	The stem can be up to 10 cm in diameter. The twigs are smooth, with few lenticels. It has pale yellow sapwood (the outer layer of wood).

Flowers	The white flowers are fragrant, arranged in a cluster of 3-15 flowers, with each flower measuring 2 - 16.5 cm long, and has smooth surface.
Fruit	The fruit is orange, ellipsoidal or oblong-shaped, and has vertical ridges. The fruit contains 2-16 ellipsoidal seeds of up to 10 mm long, covered in red flesh.
Habitat	It is found growing as understorey plant in primary and secondary forests.
Etymology	The genus epithet Tabernaemontana is named after Jakob Theodor von Bergzaben (1520 - 1590) (Latinised surname, Tabernaemontanus meaning "tavern in the mountain"), who was a German herbalist. The species epithet pauciflora means few-flowered.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits, Fragrant (Flowers)
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Moth Food Plant (Flower Pollen)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Papery

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Green
Young Flush Texture(s)	Papery
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Caudate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Bark Colour(s)	Pale grey to grey brown, smooth surface. The inner bark is pale yellow. It has pale yellow sapwood.

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White
Flower Texture(s)	Smooth

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Tubular
Flower Size - Remarks	Flower tube is 11-23 mm long, petals are 7-14 x 3-9 mm long.
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic
Inflorescence Size	16.5 cm

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Orange
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Several (11-20)

References

References	<1> Middleton, D.J. & Rodda, M. (2019). Apocynaceae. Flora of Singapore, Vol.13:421-630.

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Master ID	34140
Species ID	8553
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.