Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m)), Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 2 m to 4 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small tree or big shrub, up to 4m height. Crown spreading, with branches held stiffly at an angle. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Mature leaves light green and glabrous, abaxial midvein very slightly rusty-tomentose, abaxial lateral veins inconspicuous; leaf buds and young leaves furry rusty-brown. |
| Flowers | Fragrant, 2.5-3.0cm across, 3 outer petals: yellow, recurved towards flower centre, slightly tomentose outside, shiny glabrous on the inside, 3 inner petals: paler yellow with blushes of red, fused into a dome over the reproductive organs (numerous yellow stamens) below. Held on short pedicels (flower stalks), produced in small extra-axillary clusters, but open singly at any one time. Pistil simple, consisting of apocarpous (unjoined) carpels. Flowers protogynous, transitioning from from female to male phase, upon which stigma (central part of flower) changes from yellow to orange. Relatively free-flowering under local conditions. |
| Fruit | Produced in clusters of 8-10 apocarpous fruits, individual fruits relatively small (1.0-1.5cm long), shaped like cow's udder or nippled peanut. Peel tomentose, ripening from light-cream to scarlet-orange, containing scarlet-orange juicy pulp surrounding 1-2 globose, dark brown seeds. Popularly sought after by birds. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Conservation Status: Considered relatively rare in native range in Thailand, categorized as "vulnerable" in 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.Twigs: Slightly rusty-tomentose and warty when young, maturing to warty glabrous grey. |
| Cultivation | Slow-growing but otherwise fuss-free. Propagate by cuttings and air-layering of stems. Propagation by seeds is more difficult, due to morphophysiological dormancy. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Mitrephora' derived from Greek terms 'mitros' (cap) and 'phorus' (bearing), a reference to the distinctive cap-like inner flower petals bore by members of this genus. Species epithet 'keithii' named after British forester and plant collector Henry (Harry) George Keith (1899-1982), who initiated the first large-scale conservation of Sabah's forests under the policy of "sustained yield". |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day, Time Independent), Ornamental Fruits |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Air-Layering |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Remarks | Rusty Brown |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Mature Bark Texture | Scaly |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29170 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3479 |
| 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. |
