2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Plumeria (lat. Plumeria) - a small genus of tropical plants, ranked in the Kutrovy family (lat. Apocynaceae). Plants of the genus are trees, the size of which depends on the environment. Plumeria has tough leaves and delicate, usually fragrant and showy flowers. But the scent of flowers is deceptive to insects that fly to smell, but do not find nutritious nectar in the flowers. So pollination takes place without rewarding the pollinators. The plant in different nations symbolizes different aspects of human life. For some it is a symbol of immortality, for others - lust.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Plumeria" immortalizes the memory of a French explorer who studied the flora of our planet more than three centuries ago, leaving his numerous valuable works to descendants, including the first description of a plant of this genus. His name is Charles Plumier (1646 - 1704).
In addition to the official name, the genus has many "folk" names assigned to plants by peoples of different countries. The most common name is Frangipani. For its pleasant night scent, Plumeria is called "Jasmine" or "Yasmine". The natives of French Polynesia call the plant "Tiare Tree", and in Hawaii it is "Melia".
Description
Plants of the genus can be a spreading shrub, or a low tree with a spreading crown. Depending on the conditions of life, the leaves are evergreen, or falling off during an unfavorable period. The shape of the hard leaves ranges from lanceolate, like Plumeria alba (White Plumeria), to oval, like Plumeria pudica (Shy Plumeria). Veins clearly visible on the leaf plate (main and lateral) draw an intricate or simple geometric pattern on the leaf surface. The leaves are spectacular and very decorative. But behind the beauty of the leaves lies their insidious nature, since the juice flowing through them is toxic, and therefore, in contact with human skin, it can cause irritation. Especially it is necessary to be careful not to get the juice in the eyes.
Against the background of rough leaves, inflorescences formed by flowers of a peculiar shape look especially touching. The five petals of the flower corolla can be flat, simple oval, or masterfully twisted and graceful. The color of the petals involved white, yellow, cream, red, which can be either monochromatic or combine several colors and shades.
The flowers of most species of the genus exude a delicate aroma, in which several aromas of other plants are intertwined at once. Therefore, it is difficult to describe in words. The pollinator of Plumeria is the moth with the mysterious name "Sphinx of the moth". Therefore, Plumeria does not waste its strength, starting to exude aroma in the evening. True, Plumeria flowers do not create nectar, so the butterfly has to be satisfied with only the pollen of the flowers.
The culmination of the growing season are fruits in the form of pointed pods. Their germination capacity decreases over time, so it is more profitable to propagate Plumeria with cuttings, which easily take root even after long storage.
Growing Plumeria at home
Lovers of the Plumeria aroma living in temperate regions successfully grow the plant indoors. They bring seeds or cuttings from tourist trips and arrange real tropics in their own apartment.
Cuttings with dried tips are planted in soil with good drainage, since stagnant moisture can lead to rotting of the cuttings. In the future, the amount of watering should be correlated with the amount of sun available to the plant. The more sun there is, the more moisture the plant needs. It is important that the soil is always slightly wetter than completely dry soil.
For Plumeria, soil looseness is much more important than its components, although soil fertility is not an obstacle.
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The National Pride Of The Pacific Islands - Plumeria
Not every plant deserves the honor of being called a national flower. But plumeria can boast of this. Even among the ancient Mayans, it was identified with lust and passion, and in Buddhist countries it still remains a symbol of immortality and is often found in temples and ancient courtyards of Laos and Bali. In indoor conditions, this beautiful and eminent flower is quite rare, but it is quite possible to tame it
Plumeria - A Symbol Of Immortality
Shrubs and small trees, deciduous and evergreen, with various leaf shapes and surprisingly virtuoso flowers that exude aroma at night, are all plants of the Plumeria genus
Plumeria Red
Plumeria red (Latin Plumeria rubra) - deciduous, beautifully flowering shrub or tree of the genus Plumeria (Latin Plumeria), belonging to the Kutrovye family (Latin Apocynaceae). Differs in very fragrant flowers of different shades of red, forming loose, corymbose, showy inflorescences.
Plumeria Blunt
Plumeria obtus (lat.Plumeria obtusa) - deciduous, beautifully flowering shrub or tree of the genus Plumeria (Latin Plumeria), ranked in the Kutrovy family (Latin Apocynaceae). In addition to the fact that the plant is very decorative and effective, its flowers are used for food, enrich perfume with a floral aroma, and also use the plant for medicinal purposes.
