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Flagellaria indica L.

Family Name:	Flagellariaceae
Synonyms:	Flagellaria indica (Blume) Hook.f. var. minor
Common Name:	Common Flagellaria, Rotan Dini, False Rattan, 须叶藤

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly Host Plant

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Climber

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Climber
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	15 m

Native Distribution	From Tropical Africa to Sri Lanka, through tropical Southeast Asia, Melanesia, to north Australia, and the Pacific Islands
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Growth Form	It is a perennial climber up to 15 m long.
Foliage	Its stalkless leaves are arranged in two rows on either side of the main stem. Its leaf blades are usually lance-shaped to linear, with tips tapering into slender tendrils, and 3–50 by 1.5–6.5 cm. The leaves include basal tubular sheaths overlapping and covering the stem.
Flowers	Its erect, much-branched flowering shoot is 3–30 cm long. The flowers are stalkless, small, white, and are found in very dense spikes at the ends of the branchlets.

Fruit	Its smooth fruits are usually 1-seeded, pink, round, and about 6.4 mm wide.
Habitat	It grows in open places by the sea. It is also found inland in edges of thickets and secondary growths, from sea level to 1500 m altitude. It occurs locally in Senoko area, Khatib Bongsu, Pulau Ubin, and Pulau Tekong, among others.
Associated Fauna	It is the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the large dart butterfly (Potanthus serina), the adult of which lays its eggs singly either on the basal part or on the coiled tendril of the leaf blade.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Latin flagellum, tendrilled, referring to the leaf tips ending in coiled tendrils; Latin indica, of India but also applies to plants originating throughout the East Indies, referring to one locality in natural distribution of this species
Ethnobotanical Uses	Others: The tough stems are used as a substitute for rattan in making basket. The young shoots and leaves are used in making hair-wash. The plant is also used in various medicinal applications.

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird-Attracting, Butterfly Host Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Sessile
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Linear)
Foliar Margin	Entire

Flower Location

Terminal

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Pink
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Images

Master ID	109
Species ID	1405
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.

Species record last updated on: 23 February 2022.