Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A herbaceous perennial shrub, which grows up to 1 m tall and spreads up to 0.6 m wide. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Foliage are dark green in colour, oppositely arranged along the stems, leaf blade narrowly ovate to lanceolate, with entire leaf margin. |
| Flowers | Light purple to lavender in colour, star-shaped, 5-petalled, borne on inflorescence called as corymb, terminally located. Each corymb consists of 20 - 40 flowers and is free-flowering throughout the year. |
| Fruit | Fruits are dry and dehiscent. |
| Cultivation | This plant is a fast-growing plant and easy to grow. Plant on fertile and well-drained soil, and can be enriched with compost or organic matter. Allow the soil to dry slightly before re-watering. It can be planted via seed. |
| Etymology | The genus Pentas means five-fold, which refers to the 5-petalled flower. The specific epithet lanceolata means lanceolate, which refers to the lanceolate shaped leaves. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Small Gardens, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|
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 | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Corymb |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1025 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2319 |
| 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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