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Leea rubra (variegated)
| Family Name: | Vitaceae |
| Common Name: | Variegated Red Leea |
Leea rubra (variegated) is a shrub reaching 3 m tall with attractive variegated foliage. The oval leaflets showcase bold splashes of white and dark green, while young leaves display eye-catching red and white patterns on reddish leaf stalks. Bright scarlet small flowers give way to rusty red fruit that turn black when ripen. This attractive shrub prefers full sun, moderate watering and well-draining soil.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 3 m |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A shrub that grows up to 3 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are 2-4-pinnate with numerous leaflets. Leaf blades are generately ovate, and sometimes elliptic or linear to lanceolate, measuring 3-15 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide. The leaf edges are toothed. The leaf petioles are green with red spots when young and becoming red when mature. |
| Flowers | The inflorescences are 5-10 cm long, with bright scarlet-red flowers, of about 0.3-0.5 cm in diameter, with white stamens. |
| Fruit | The dull rusty red ripen to black. They are 1-1.4 cm in diameter. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are pollinated by insects and butterflies. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet, Leea is a name for tropical small trees or shrubs, named after James Lee (1715-1795) who was a nurseryman. The specific epithet, rubra means red, with reference to the flower colour. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for planting along streetscapes, in parks and gardens for its attractive bright red flowers and variegated leaves with splashes of red and white on young foliage, and dark green and white on mature leaves. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, General, Hedge / Screening, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Suitable for Roadsides |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, White, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red, White |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Crenate, Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Flower Size | 0.5 cm |
| Inflorescence Size | 10 cm |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red, Black |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
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Others
| 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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