Scientific Name: Plumeria rubra L.

Synonyms: Plumeria acuminata W.T.Aiton, Plumeria acutifolia Poir.

Unique ID: 192

Systematic Position

Class: Dicotyledonae

Sub Class:Gamopetalae                 

Series: Bicarpellatae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocyanaceae

Common Names

English – Red frangipani

Malayalam – ഏഴച്ചെമ്പകം

Tamil – Nela sampagi

Hindi – Golachin

Description: Trees, up to 20 m tall, the stems corky, the leaf scars pronounced, the younger parts softly pubescent. Leaves obovate to oblong-elliptic, acute, obtuse basally, to 40 cm long and 15 cm wide, mostly glabrous above, pubescent beneath especially near the midrib, the secondary veins anastomosing and forming a lateral vein, firmly membranaceous; petioles stout, sparsely pubescent 3-7 cm long. Inflorescences corymbose, mostly terminal, the peduncles to 12 cm long. Flowers with the pedicels 0.4-2 cm long, pubescent; bracts minute; calyx-lobes ovate-quadrate, weakly mucronate, pubescent, 1 mm long; corolla salverform, white, flushed with pink beneath, sometimes with a yellow throat, the tube ca. 14-18 mm long, pubescent within, the lobes broadly obovate, 30-45 mm long and 15-25 mm wide; anthers ca. 2 mm long. Follicles compressed, 20-30 cm long and 2-3 cm wide; seed proper 2.8-3 cm long, the wing 3-4 cm long.

Habitat: It has been introduced in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, China, India and the Pacific region.Plumeria rubra can be found in dry and coastal forests, especially in rocky areas and rocky ridges. It also grows in deciduous forests, montane forests with a pronounced dry season, sea cliffs, stream banks and limestone outcrops at elevations from sea level to 1500 m

Distribution: lumeria rubra is native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America (Colombia and Venezuela)

Uses:  religious; essential oils; ornamental; medicinal