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Cestrum diurnum L.
| Family Name: | Solanaceae |
| Common Name: | Day Jessamine, Day Cestrum, China Inkberry |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern America |
|---|---|
| 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. |
|---|---|
| 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) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Bird)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Individual Flower Shape | Funnelform / Funnel-shaped |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Blue |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Moderate (6-10) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 505 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
