Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Java |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A large fast growing herb, reaching a height of 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Foliage is reddish on the undersides. Leaves are spirally arranged along the stem, shortly-stalked and are elliptic-shaped. |
| Stems | Stems are red. |
| Flowers | Bracts and calyces are red. The flowers have an average diameter of bout 5 cm, and are creamy white. Flowers buds are pink, and sometimes has purplish hues. |
| Habitat | It grows in damp open places, and found in lowland forest margins. |
| Similar | Similar to Cheilocostus speciosus , but is easily distinguished by its densely imbricate (overlapping, layered) bracts that form a rotund inflorescence and delacerate (tearing) into fibers at the tips. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated via seeds or stem cuttings. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Stems |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Hedge / Screening, Flowerbed / Border |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Trumpet-shaped |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 575 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1870 |
| 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. |
