Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A herbaceous shrub which can grow up to 1.5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are oppositely arranged along the stem, ovate shaped, green in colour and has toothed margin. Leaf blade measuring 3 - 10 cm long and 2 - 6 cm wide, has acute apex and rounded to caudate base, hairy on both surfaces. |
| Stems | Stems are densely branched, with younger stems green and roughly hairy. |
| Flowers | Flowers are borne on clusters (inflorescence), deep purple in colour with pale yellow to white centre, tubular shaped and has 5 lobes, two lobes above are larger. |
| Fruit | Dry, linear-shaped, measuring about 0.5 cm long. |
| Habitat | Found in wet to seasonally dry regions, disturbed areas and roadsides with sea level to 1300 m. |
| Cultivation | Plant in a well-drained, fertile soil, enriched with compost. Remove spent flowers before they set seed to prevent excessive establishment of new seedlings. |
| Etymology | The genus Stachytarpheta means thick-spike, which refers to the densely flowered spike. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting (Flower Nectar) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Cordate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse, Cordate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Blue, Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | 1 Day |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32349 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6760 |
| 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. |
