Handy Pocket Guide to Tropical Flowers. William Warren

      Botanical Family: Apocynaceae

      Thai name: Lan-tom

      Malay names: Cempaka kubur, Cempaka mulia, Kamboja

      Indonesian names: Kemboja, Cempaka, Bunga Jepun

      The Frangipani is among the easiest of tropical trees to propagate from seeds, cuttings, and air-layering, which is perhaps one reason why this native of the New World quickly spread to other warm-weather regions. Another is the beauty of its fragrant, five-petalled flowers, which are used as offerings in both Buddhist and Hindu ceremonies; it is also seen planted in Muslim cemeteries in Malaysia and Indonesia.

      The small to medium-sized tree was named after the French botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1706), who made three voyages to the Caribbean area in the 17th century. It has acquired an unusual range of popular names, among them Dead Man's Fingers (Australia), Jasmin de Cayenne (Brazil), and the Pagoda or Temple Tree (India). Two explanations have been given for Frangipani, the commonest. According to one, it was derived from a perfume created by an Italian family of the same name before the discovery of the Western Hemisphere; another claims that the thick white latex that flows from a cut in the tree reminded French settlers in the Caribbean of "frangipanier," or coagulated milk.

      There are several distinct species, of which the most widely-cultivated is P. rubra, the progenitor of countless varieties. P. rubra forma acutifolia, for example, has very fragrant white flowers with yellow centers, while others come in varying shades of pink, yellow, red, and combinations. P. obtusa has somewhat larger white flowers and blunt-ended leaves. There are also dwarf varieties that are popular with container gardeners.

      Except for P. obtusa and some of its varieties, all Plumerias have an annual dormant period in which they stop growing and flower less profusely; many shed their leaves at this time. They require good sun and well-drained soil to flower best. Cuttings root easily in a mixture of sand and light soil, as do even quite large branches; trees up to 7 meters high with almost no roots can be moved without any serious setback.

      Adenium

      Adenium obesum (A. coetaneum)

      Botanical Family: Apocynaceae

      Thai name: Chuan-chom

      Malay names: Adenium merah

      Indonesian names: Adenium merah

      A member of the same botanical family as the Frangipani—it is, in fact, sometimes called the Japanese Frangipani—Adenium is a small treelet native to arid East Africa and Arabia, reaching a height of about 1 m. It has pale-grey succulent stems that produce a white, poisonous latex when cut, glossy club-shaped leaves at the branch ends, and, unlike most succulents, an almost continuous display of large, trumpet-shaped flowers that range in color from pink to crimson. The leaves often fall during wet weather or when the plant is in flower.

      Intolerant of damp conditions, Adenium is usually seen grown as a pot plant in Southeast Asia, preferring a sunny location on a balcony or terrace and a well-drained potting soil mixture. It may also be used in rock gardens. Propagation is most often by cuttings, though old plants may produce seeds. Frequent applications of liquid manure increases flowering, which in the right location is more or less continuous.

      Madagascar Periwinkle

      Catharanthus roseus (Vinca rosea)

      Botanical Family: Apocynaceae

      Thai name: Pung puay

      Malay names: Kembang sari Cina, Tapak dara

      Indonesian name: Tapak dara

      This shrubby plant, which grows about 60 cm. high on soft stems, is actually a perennial, though it looks like an annual and is often grown as such. The flowers, appearing in clusters at the branch tips, are white with a pink or yellow center or rosy pink with a red center and occur almost continually if the plant is given a sunny location. Despite its popular name, it is believed by some to actually be a native of the Caribbean. It can be seen growing wild in many places, especially along beaches, but is also used in gardens because of its dependable flowers and ability to survive in near-drought conditions.

      Like other members of its botanical family, the Madagascar Periwinkle is poisonous. On the other hand, two of the many alkaloids it contains in minute quantities have medicinal properties and in recent years have been the subject of research into the treatment of certain cancers. It is also used in traditional medicine in some parts of the world to treat various diseases, among them diabetes.

      Allamanda

      Allamanda cathartica

      Botanical Family: Apocynaceae

      Thai name: Ban buree

      Malay name: Alamanda kuning

      Indonesian names: Alamanda kuning; Lame aruey (Sunda)

      Originally from Central and South America and named after the Brazilian naturalist Allamand, the bright yellow-flowering Allamanda has become a garden staple in most parts of the tropics, usually as a woody climber but often, too, as a bushy shrub in a variety called A. schotti. One variety known as A. grandiflora has particularly large funnel-shaped flowers up to 10 cm. in diameter, while another, A. violacea, has pale mauve blooms. There is also a dwarf cultivar increasingly seen in low plantings. Given a sunny location, it flowers continuously and requires little attention; it is often used in seaside gardens. All varieties can be propagated easily by cuttings.

      As with other members of the Apocynaceae family, such as the Frangipani, all parts of the plant, including its milky sap, are poisonous, but the leaves, made into an infusion, are used in traditional medicine in South America as a purgative and vapor produced by boiling the leaves is said to be a remedy for coughs.

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