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Vallaris solanacea

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Vallaris solanacea (Roth) Kuntze

Family Name: Apocynaceae
Synonyms: Vallaris heynei Spreng.
Common Name: Bread Flower, 纽子花

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Climber

Biogeography

Native Distribution Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Hainan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and southern Vietnam.  
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a trailing or climbing shrub where branches have lenticels.
Foliage Leaves are elliptic (2 – 15 cm long and 0.8 – 6 cm wide), oppositely arranged with long slender glands in the axils of leaves. Petiole is 0.3 - 2 cm long, apex is acuminate or apiculate and base is cuneate.
Flowers Inflorescence (2.5 – 10.2 cm long) occurs at the axillary. Flowers are cream or pale green coloured, tubular (0.6 – 1 cm long and 0.2 – 0.4 cm wide) and sweet smelling. Stamens are inserted at the center of the flower and filament is 0.12 – 0.26 mm long. Ovary is hairy and about 0.08 – 0.1 cm long.
Fruit Fruit is a follicle (8 - 14 cm long and 1.5 - 3.5 cm wide) which sometimes only formed from one carpel. Seed is elliptical (0.10 cm long and 0.35 - 0.5 cm wide) with a tuft of hairs at one end (3 - 4 cm long) for wind dispersal.
Habitat It is found in scrubland or forest up to 320 m altitude.
Similar Vallaris solanacea is similar to Vallaris glabra. V. glabra leaves are 1.6 - 2.1 times as long as wide with apiculate leaf apex and sepals are mostly spreading or reflexed while V. solanacea leaves are 2 – 4.2 times as long as wide with mostly acuminate leaf apex and sepals are mostly erect.
Ethnobotanical Uses Others: Roots are used as medicine in Thailand and branches are used for making baskets in India.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers)
Landscape Uses Parks & Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola
Thematic Landscaping Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Seed or Spore Dispersal Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method Stem Cutting

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Cream / Off-White, White
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence

References

References Middleton, D.J. 1999. Apocynaceae. Bangkok, Thailand: The Forest Herbarium. Royal Forest Department. Vol 7 (2): 1-153

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Master ID 32550
Species ID 6962
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.
Species record last updated on: 20 August 2021.
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