Plumeria obtusa

Plumeria obtusa

Singapore Graveyard Flower (Plumeria obtusa L.) is a shrubby or arboreal species belonging to the Apocynaceae family.

Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Suborder Tracheobionta,
Superdivision Spermatophyta,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Subclass Asteridae,
Order Gentianales,
Family Apocynaceae,
Subfamily Rauvolfioideae,
Tribe Plumerieae,
Subtribe Plumeriinae,
Genus Plumeria,
Species P. obtusa.
The terms are synonymous:
– Plumeria apiculata Urb.;
– Plumeria bahamensis Urb.;
– Plumeria barahonensis Urb.;
– Plumeria beatensis Urb.;
– Plumeria bicolor Seem.;
– Plumeria cayensis Urb.;
– Plumeria confusa Britton;
– Plumeria cubensis Urb.;
– Plumeria cuneifolia Helwig;
– Plumeria estrellensis Urb.;
– Plumeria inaguensis Britton;
– Plumeria jamaicensis Britton;
– Plumeria marchii Urb.;
– Plumeria nipensis Britton;
– Plumeria nivea Mill.;
– Plumeria obtusa var. laevis Griseb.;
– Plumeria obtusa var. obtusa L.;
– Plumeria obtusa var. parviflora Griseb.;
– Plumeria obtusa var. typica Woodson;
– Plumeria ostenfeldii Urb.;
– Plumeria parvifolia Donn;
– Plumeria parvifolia Donn. Sm.;
– Plumeria portoricensis Urb.;
– Plumeria tenorei Gazparr.;
– Plumeria trinitensis Britton
– Plumeria tuberculata Lodd.
– Plumeria venosa Britton
– Plumeria versicolor Denham.

Etymology –
The term Plumeria was dedicated in honor of the French botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1704), a monk, explorer and illustrator, scholar of American flora who collected plants from the Caribbean area at the end of the 17th century.
The specific epithet obtusa means “blunt”, in reference to its leaves with a blunt tip.

Geographical Distribution and Habitat –
Plumeria obtusa is a plant native to the Neotropics and in particular to the West Indies (including the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles), southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Florida in the United States, where it grows in its natural habitats.
This plant is widely cultivated for its ornamental and scented flowers throughout the world, where there is a suitably warm climate, including Southeast Asia and the coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula. It seems to be naturalized in China.

Description –
Plumeria obtusa is a small tree, growing from 3.0 to 4.6 m tall. Rarely, individuals can grow up to 7.6 m.
The leaves are dark green, glossy and up to 20 cm long; they are obovate or teardrop-shaped.
Its flowers are white with yellow throats and each has five petals. The fragrant flowers bloom in clusters.

Cultivation –
Plumeria obtusa is a plant commonly used as an ornamental, grown for its flowers; it is ideal for growing outdoors in sunny places; indoors, it requires a position in areas that receive abundant sunlight, such as south-facing windows. The ability of the plant to thrive in ideal light conditions is evidence of its adaptability and resilience.
Propagation usually occurs asexually through cuttings.

Uses and Traditions –
Plumeria obtusa is a plant known by various common names; These include: châmpéi slük tiel (Khmer), gulcampā (Dhivehi), Jidanhua, 鸡蛋花, Singapore Graveyard Flower (English), frangipani blanco (Spanish), Плюмерия тупая (Russian), and Frangipanier (French).
This plant was described as a new species in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus.
It 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.
In traditional Cambodian medicine, a decoction of the bark is given in varying doses as a purgative or as a remedy for edema.

Preparation Method –
Plumeria obtusa is a plant grown mainly as an ornamental plant, although it is also used by some people, such as Cambodia, to make necklaces.
Other uses are medicinal ones where a decoction is obtained from the bark of the plant for various remedies.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora delle Regioni italiane.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. La Salute dalla Farmacia del Signore, Consigli ed esperienza con le erbe medicinali, Ennsthaler Editore.

Warning: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgic uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; We therefore decline any responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or nutritional purposes.