Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
|---|---|
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Highland / Montane |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous herb with erect stems to 60cm tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves clustered at the top of the stem, giving the plant a rosette like apperance. Leaf blade to 50 (68)cm long by 16cm wide, bullate. Upper surface of mature leaves mid green, under surface rich magenta-purple. Juvenile leaves dull reddish brown - olive green on upper surface. Both surfaces glabrous or in rare instances, with sparse hairs to about 0.1cm long. Leaf sheaths to 0.3cm in diameter, reddish green - brownish red, with dense line of orange/ orange brown - red hairs of up to 4mm long, mouth of the leaf sheaths glabrous or with ciliate hairs. |
| Flowers | Petals of flowers white, to 9.5cm long by 0.3cm wide. |
| Fruit | Capsules magenta red or purple, tip to upper half with sparse/ dense orange - red brown hairs. Seeds with an orange aril. |
| Habitat | In primary forests or forest margins, recorded from 30m - 1,500m asl, on stream or river banks and also limestone. In Peninsular it is usually found in low altitudes, in contrast to its distribution in Borneo where it is recorded from 1,000m asl upwards. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Small Gardens, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water, Occasional Misting |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Pest(s) | Chewing Insects, Sucking Insects |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Purple, Red |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Brown, Purple, Red |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Purple, Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31583 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5982 |
| 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. |
