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Tabernaemontana aurantiaca Gaudich.
| Family Name: | Apocynaceae |
| Synonyms: | Rejoua aurantiaca (Gaudich.) Gaudich., Tabernaemontana anguinea Hemsl., Tabernaemontana aurantiaca f. anguinea (Hemsl.) Leeuwenb., Tabernaemontana longipedunculata K.Schum., Tabernaemontana novoguineensis Scheff., Tabernaemontana pentasticta Scheff. |
| Common Name: | Orange Milkwood |
Tabernaemontana aurantiaca (Orange Milkwood) is a tree that can grow up to 15 m tall and is sometimes grown as a shrub. Its night-flowering, white, star-shaped flowers release a sweet fragrance and the plant is free flowering throughout the year. The long, ornamental orange-red fruit look like chillies, but are not edible. Native from the Moluccas (E. Indonesia) to West Pacific, it thrives in Singapore’s tropical climate.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m), Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Asia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small tree up to 3-15 m tall, but sometimes forming a large shrub. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | The trunk grows up to 5-30 cm wide. |
| Foliage | Leaves may be obovate (egg-shaped with the pointed end next to the stem) or elliptical (5-33 cm long, 3-15.5 cm wide). They may have a long tapering tip (acuminate) or a short, needle-like tip (apiculate). |
| Flowers | White, night-blooming flowers emit a sweet fragrance. |
| Fruit | Orange or red fruit is thin and elongated, tapering to a narrow tip and resembling a chilli. Each fruit contains 10-20 seeds that have a white covering known as an aril. |
| Etymology | The genus 'Tabernaemontana' is Latin for taverns in the mountains, referring to the hometown of Jakob Theodor von Bergzabern, an important German botanist. The common name 'Orange Milkwood' originates from the orange fruit and milky sap that drips from broken branches. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth, Waxy |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32873 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7287 |
| 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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