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Cestrum diurnum Linn.
Family Name: | Solanaceae |
Common Name: | Day Jessamine, Day Cestrum, China Inkberry |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
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Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Maximum Height | 2 m |
Biogeography
Native Distribution | Southern America |
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Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | Small-sized woody shrub, able to grow up to 1 - 2 m tall. |
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Foliage | Dark green and glossy leaves, alternate arrangement, measuring about 10 - 12 cm long. |
Flowers | Small white flowers in an inflorescence, corolla tube measuring about 1.8 cm long, tiny petals are recurved. |
Fruit | Fruits are small berry-liked which ripen from violet to blue black. Each fruit contains 4-10 seeds which are dispersed by birds. |
Etymology | Species diurnum means flowering lasting for one day. |
Landscaping Features
Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day) |
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Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Parks & Gardens, Coastal, Hedge / Screening |
Usage Hazard - Cons | Weak Branches, Toxic Upon Ingestion, Invasive / Potentially Invasive |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
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Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Bird)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Full Sun |
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Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
Rootzone Tolerance | Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
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Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
Foliar Margin | Entire |
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
Flower Colour(s) | White |
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Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Individual Flower Shape | Funnelform / Funnel-shaped |
Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Blue |
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Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Moderate (6-10) |
Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 505 |
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Species ID | 1801 |
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. |