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Excoecaria cochinchinensis
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Excoecaria bicolor |
| Common Name: | Chinese Croton, 红背桂 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Evergreen shrub, able to grow to 1 - 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves lanceolate in shaped, opposite arrangement, measuring about 7 - 10 cm long, green on the top and maroon underneath. |
| Flowers | Small green flowers in axillary or terminal racemes. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a globose capsule, measuring about 8 mm wide. |
| Etymology | Genus Excoecaria is from the Latin word excaeco, which means "to blind" and refers to the sap of the plant that can cause temporary blindness. Species cochinchinensis means from Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Hedge / Screening, Groundcover, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion, Irritant - Sap |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting (Softwood, Semi-Hardwood), Air-Layering |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Papery, Rough |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Thin |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 715 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2010 |
| 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. |
