Plumeria rubra L.

Trees, to 2 5 m, the stems corky, the leaf scars pronounced, the younger parts softly pubescent. Leaves obovate to ? oblong-elliptic, acute, obtuse basally, to 40 cm long and 15 cm wide, mostly glabrous above, ? pubescent beneath especially near the midrib, the secondary veins anastomosing and forming a lateral vein, firmly membranaceous; petioles stout, sparsely pubescent, ca. 3-7 cm long. Inflorescences corymbose, mostly terminal, the peduncles to 12 cm long. Flowers with the pedicels 0.4-2 cm long, pubescent; bracts minute; calyx-lobes ovate-quadrate, weakly mucronate, pubescent, ca. 1 mm long; corolla salverform, white, flushed with pink beneath, sometimes with a yellow throat, the tube ca. 14-18 mm long, pubescent within, the lobes broadly obovate, 30-45 mm long and 15-25 mm wide; anthers ca. 2 mm long. Follicles compressed, 20-30 cm long and 2-3 cm wide; seed proper 2.8-3 cm long, the wing 3-4 cm long.

Dry, hot areas. Dry, rocky lowland. Rather dry, often rocky forest and mountain slopes, occasionally on plains or in brushy savannahs, usually at elevations from 500-1,000 metres, but can be found up to 1,500 metres.

The flowers are eaten in fritters. They are also used for tea. The fruit are eaten. CAUTION: The fruit can produce abortions. They should not be eaten by pregnant women.

Plants can be grown from seeds. Plants can also be grown from cuttings or layers. The cuttings are allowed to wilt before planting.