Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1 m to 2 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Shrub up to 1-2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Lanceolate to elliptical, leathery, 6-10 cm long leaves are reddish purple with bright pink streaks and patches that are mainly located on the leaf margin. |
| Stems | Young stem is 4-sided and smooth (hairless). |
| Flowers | Tubular, 4-lobed flowers are mottled bright pink on a white background. The flowers are arranged in an terminal inflorescence. |
| Fruit | The club-shaped, dry fruit is known as a capsule. Each capsule contains 4 seeds. |
| Similar | The bright pink-red foliage of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (reddish leaves) resembles Alternanthera brasiliana 'Brazilian Red Hots' (a cultivar formerly known erroneously as Pseuderanthemum 'Jessica'). The leaves of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (reddish leaves) are bigger and more leathery than 'Brazilian Red Hots' (6-10 cm long compared to 4-6 cm long). |
| Etymology | The genus Pseuderanthemum means false Eranthemum in Latin, referring to the genus Eranthemum in the family Acanthaceae. The specific epithet carruthersii honors the Scottish botanist William Carruthers (1830-1922). |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Hedge / Screening |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Pink, Purple, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Crinkled / Twisted |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Pink, Red |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, Patterned |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32146 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6552 |
| 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. |
