Native to Greater Antilles, northern Central America and southern– eastern Mexico to Belize, Florida Keys and the Caribbean, Singapore Plumeria is one of the common names of Plumeria obtuse that is large shrub or small tree member of Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family. Other common name of Singapore Plumeria is Frangipani, Pagoda Tree, Red Jasmine, Red Jasmine of Jamaica, Red Paucipan, Singapore Frangipani, Singapore Graveyard Flower, Singapore White Plumeria, Temple Tree and White Kalachuche. The plant is widely cultivated for its ornamental and fragrant flowers around the world where suitably warm climate exists. Genus ‘Plumeria’ is named after a French botanist, Charles Plumier, who explored New World tropics. The species epithet ‘obtusa’ is Latin for blunt, referring to the blunt end of its leaves. The common name, frangipani, is from the name of an Italian nobleman. He produced a perfume with similar fragrance to plumeria flowers.
Singapore Plumeria Facts
Name
Singapore Plumeria
Scientific Name
Plumeria obtusa
Native
Greater Antilles, northern Central America and southern– eastern Mexico to Belize, Florida Keys and the Caribbean
Common Names
Greater Antilles, northern Central America and southern– eastern Mexico to Belize, Florida Keys and the Caribbean
Name in Other Languages
Bengali: Kathgolop Brazil : Jasmim-De-Caiena, Jasmim-Do-Pará, Jasmin-Manga Chinese : Dun ye ji dan hua (钝叶鸡蛋花) Hong Ji Dan Hua, Cuba : Lirio Colorado English: Singapore graveyard flower, frangipani, Krugii Cimarron, Singapore Plumeria French : Frangipanier, Frangipanier rouge German : Rote Frangipani Hindi: Champa (चम्पा), Golachin (गुलाचिन), Golenchi (गुलैन्ची) Kannada: Sampige (ಸಂಪಿಗೆ) Konkani: Chaempae Manipuri: Khageleihao Angouba Malaysia : Frangipani, Kemboja Marathi: Chafa (चाफा) Mexico : Caxtaxanat, Flor De Mayo, Tenech Coahuitl Panama : Caracucho Colorado Philippines : Kalasuting-Puti Peru : Caracucho, Suche Portuguese : Flor-De-Santo-Antônio Sanskrit: Champaka (चंपक), Champeya (चाम्पेय), Hemapushpa (हेमपुष्प) Spanish : Alhelí, Alhelí Cimarrón, Suche SriLanka : Araliya Swedish : Frangipani, Glansfrangipani Tamil: Arali, Nela Sampangi (நெல ஸம்பங்கி) Thai : Dtôn Lân Tom KăAo, Dtôn Lân Tom Lôok Pà-Sŏn, Dtôn-Lee-Laa-Wá-Dee Vietnamese : Ðại Lá Tù, Ðại Lá Tà, SứLá Tù
Plant Growth Habit
Large shrub or small tree
Soil
Best grown in rich, dry to medium moisture, well-drained loams
Plant Size
5-10m high
Branchlets
Pale green, thick, fleshy
Leaf
Alternate, mostly clustered at branch tips, petiolate, obovate to oblong-obovate, to 25 cm long, dark green and shiny
Flower
Large, fragrant, waxy and showy with large deciduous bracts. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes equal or sub equal.
Fruit Shape & Size
Cylindrical seed pods about 3-5 inches long
Seeds
Many, flat proximally, with a membranous wing.
Singapore Plumeria Scientific Classification
Scientific Name: Plumeria obtusa
Rank
Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom
Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom
Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Infrakingdom
Streptophyta (land plants)
Superdivision
Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division
Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass
Asteridae
Order
Gentianales
Family
Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)
Genus
Plumeria L. (plumeria)
Species
Plumeria obtusa L. (Singapore graveyard flower)
Synonyms
Plumeria apiculata Urb
Plumeria bahamensis Urb
Plumeria barahonensis Urb
Plumeria beatensis Urb
Plumeria bicolor Seem
Plumeria cayensis Urb
Plumeria clusioides Griseb
Plumeria clusioides var. parviflora (Griseb.) M.Gómez
Plumeria confusa Britton
Plumeria cubensis Urb
Plumeria cuneifolia Helwig
Plumeria dictyophylla Urb
Plumeria ekmanii Urb
Plumeria emarginata Griseb
Plumeria estrellensis Urb
Plumeria inaguensis Britton
Plumeria jamaicensis Britton
Plumeria krugii Urb
Plumeria marchii Urb
Plumeria montana Britton & P.Wilson
Plumeria nipensis Britton
Plumeria nivea Mill
Plumeria obtusa var. laevis Griseb
Plumeria obtusa var. obtusa
Plumeria obtusa var. parviflora Griseb
Plumeria ostenfeldii Urb
Plumeria parvifolia Donn
Plumeria portoricensis Urb
Plumeria tenorei Gazparr
Plumeria venosa Britton
Plumeria versicolor Dehnh.
Plant Description
Singapore Plumeria is a large shrub or small tree that grows about 5-10m high. The plant is best grown in rich, dry to medium moisture, well-drained loams. Branchlets are pale green, thick and fleshy. Leaves are alternate, mostly clustered at branch tips, petiolate, obovate to oblong-obovate, to 25 cm long, dark green and shiny adaxially, tertiary venation strongly prominent abaxially and apex rounded. Flowers are large, fragrant, waxy and showy with large deciduous bracts. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes equal or sub equal. Corolla salver form or funnel shaped, white, 4 cm across, throat yellow, lobes 5, spreading, slightly recurved. Stamens inserted at or near base of corolla tube. Fruits are cylindrical seed pods about 3-5 inches long which are rarely formed in cultivation. Stem, branches and leaves consists of milky sap. Plumeria are valued as landscape plants and ornamentals and for their flowers.
Traditional uses and benefits of Singapore Plumeria
Plumeria obtusa was used by Bapedi traditional healers to treat diabetes mellitus in South Africa.
Plumeria obtusa and Momordica balsamina were exclusively used to treat diabetes mellitus, and only in the Sekhukhune District.
In traditional medicine, a decoction of the bark is given in varying doses as a purgative or as a remedy against oedemas.
Other Facts
Plumeria species including P. obtusa are suitable for landscape plantings.
The flowers of all Plumeria species are utilized to make leis in Hawaii.
The flowers are also used for making wreaths and garlands.
This plant is commonly used as an ornamental, grown for its flowers.
In Cambodia the flowers are used to make necklaces and in offerings to the deities.
