Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.5 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Others - Plant Morphology | Herbaceous shrub, 15-30cm height. Leaves uniformly glossy greenish-grey on top, purple below, sometimes with green margin, broadly ovate. Leaf stalks purple. No apparent stem above ground. Flowers small, inconspicuous, white, surrounded by multiple showy pale pink bracts. Flower stalks purple, arising from plant base.Good as contrasting groundcover on borders. Ensure plants are well-watered, as leaves are prone to rolling up when water-stressed. Propagate by division of plant or rhizomes. |
|---|
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Flowerbed / Border, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Silver Garden, Moonlight Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Occasional Misting |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Potential Problems | Leaves tend to roll up in hot weather or when water-stressed, especially just after transplanting. |
| Propagation Method | Division |
| Planting Distance | 0 to 0 |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Silver / Grey, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Obovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Acaulescent |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Size - Remarks | Small, inconspicuous, white. |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Inflorescence Size Remarks | Note: Bracts are pale pink-white. Flowers small & white. |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 467 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1763 |
| 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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