Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Rounded |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A dwarf bushy shrub with produces milky sap when injured. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves green, glossy, simple, lanceolate shaped, apex acuminate, base attenuate. |
| Flowers | White, 5 petals arranged like pinwheels in counterclockwise direction, has white corolla tube. |
| Etymology | Genus Tabernaemontana is named after a German herbalist, Jakob Theodor van Bergzaben (1520 - 1590). Specific epithet divaricata means wide-spreading, divaricate. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: This plant is believed to have antimicrobial action against infectious diseases like syphilis and leprosy as well as anti-parasitic action against worms, diarrhoea and malaria. Its root is reportedly being used in folk medicine for analgesic properties. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Flowerbed / Border, Hedge / Screening, Parks & Gardens, Container Planting |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth)) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Attenuate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth, Waxy |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30464 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4773 |
| 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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