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Strobilanthes hamiltoniana (Steud.) Bosser & Heine

Family Name:	Acanthaceae
Common Name:	Chinese Rain Bell, 板蓝

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Herbaceous Plant

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition

Autotrophic

Native Distribution	From Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, to southern China, Taiwan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Growth Form	An erect, branched herb, up to 1.5 m tall.
Foliage	Its stalked, leathery leaves are opposite, elliptic to ovate, dark green on top and pale green below, 4-20 cm long by 2-9 cm wide.
Stems	Hairless to slightly hairy.

Flowers	Its flowers are pink, tubular, with oblong shaped petals. Whole flower about 3.5-5 cm long.
Fruit	Four seeded capsule, 1.5-2.2 cm long, glabrous. Seeds are ovate in shape, covered with appressed trichomes and measuring about 3.5 mm long.
Habitat	In moist forests.
Similar
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are pollinated by insects such as butterflies.
Etymology	Genus Strobilanthes is derived from two Greek words - "strobilos"which means cone and "anthos" which means flower, and refers to the plant's inflorescence.

Landscaping	It is suitable for parks and gardens for its attractive flowers.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Flowerbed / Border

Thematic Landscaping

Wildflower Garden, Butterfly Garden

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Butterfly-Attracting (Flower Nectar)

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils

Propagation Method

Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Attenuate
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)

Images

Master ID	1187
Species ID	2480
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.