Botanical name:
Plumeria obtusa - [ (ploo-MEER-ee-uh) referring to a plume or feather; (ob-TOO-suh) blunt ] Family:
Apocynaceae (dogbane, or oleander family) - [ (a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ay) from the Greek apo (away from or away with) and kuon (dog) ] Origin: Central America Common names of Plumeria: Aztec: cacalloxochitl (meaning - crow flower) • Bengali: kathgolop • Canary Islands: flor de cebo (meaning - bait flower) • Chinese: kang nai xin, hong ji dan hua • Chuukese: seur • El Salvador: flor de mayo • English: dead man's fingers (Australia), flower of the cross, frangipani, graveyard tree (Caribbean Islands), Mary's flower, may flower (Nicaragua), pagoda tree (Far East), plumeria, temple tree (India), West Indian jasmine • French: frangipanier • Guatemala: flor de la cruz • Hawaii: melia, pumeli • Hindi: चम्पा champa, गुलाचिन golachin, गुलैन्ची golenchi • Indonesia: kembang kamboja, jepun (Bali) • Italian: pomelia, frangipane • Konkani: चाम्पॅ champe • Kosraen: for • Laos: Champa • Laos: dok champa • Malaysia: kemboja kuning • Manipuri: khageleihao angouba • Marathi: चाफा chafa • Mexico: nahuatl • Nicaragua: flor de leche (meaning - milk flower), nicaragua (country's own name), sacuanjoche (P. alba) • Palauan: chelilai • Philippines: kalachuchi • Pohnpeian: pwohmaria • Portuguese: flor-de-Santo-Antônio, jasmim-de-caiena (Brazil), jasmin-do-pará (Brazil), jasmin-manga (Brazil) • Puerto Rico: alelí • Sinhalese: araliya, pansal mal (meaning - temple flower) • Spanish: alhelí cimarrón, suche • St. Barths: bois couleuvre (meaning - snake tree) • Tahiti: tipanier • Tamil: நெல ஸம்பங்கி nela sampangi • Venezuela: amapola • Yapese: suwur Singapore plumeria (P. obtusa) - evergreen shrub or small tree, up to 15 feet tall (4.5 m), or more; dark, shiny, leathery, blunt ended leaves, 6 to 10 inches long (15-25 cm), needs protection below 40° F (4° C). It has has scented, creamy white flowers with a yellow center, 1.6 to 2 inches in diameter (4-5 cm). This small tree grows to 8m high and is best suited to a tropical climate where, unlike most frangipanis, it is reliably evergreen. It can be grown in frost-free, subtropical climates, but requires a sheltered position and a fairly constant water supply. The broad, blunt-ended leaves are 15cm or more long. The scented, creamy white flowers have a bright yellow center. with its elegant, rounded flowers and soft perfume, 'Singapore White' is one of the loveliest of all plumerias. References:
Flowers of India •
Wikipedia •
TopTropicals •
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