Mussaenda frondosa

Mussaenda frondosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Mussaenda
Species:	M. frondosa
Binomial name
	Mussaenda frondosa; L.
Synonyms
	Gardenia frondosa (L.) Lam.; Mussaenda belilla Buch.-Ham.; Mussaenda dovinia Buch.-Ham.; Mussaenda flavescens Buch.-Ham.; Mussaenda formosa L. nom. illeg.; Mussaenda fruticosa L.; Mussaenda ingrata Wall. ex Hook.f.; Mussaenda macrophylla Kurz nom. illeg.; Mussaenda sumatrensis B.Heyne ex Roth; Mussaenda tomentosa Wight ex Hook.f. nom. inval.; Mussaenda villosa Schltdl. ex Hook.f. nom. illeg.;

Mussaenda frondosa, commonly known as the wild mussaenda or dhobi tree, is a plant of family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub that grows to about 1.5–2 m (4 ft 11 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall. Like most other Mussaenda species, they have a bract beneath their flowers, which in this species is white in colour.^[2]

Description

The shrub may also grow as a scandent climber. The flowers are clusters of orange-yellow tubular flowers with one of their five sepals enlarged into a white petal-like form, set among pale green, oval leaves; berries follow the bloom. The erect, branching stem has a shrubby crown.

Distribution

Mussaenda frondosa is native to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is found on Nilgiri slopes to elevations of 6,000 ft (1,800 m).^[3] Justus Carl Hasskarl recorded its presence in recently cleared land in Java.^[4]

Fruit

References

^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^ Jayaweera, Don M. A. (1963). "The Rubiaceous Genus Mussaenda: The Morphology of the Asiatic Species". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 44 (1): 111–126. ISSN 0004-2625. JSTOR 43781456.
^ Fyson, P.F. (1920). The flora of the Nilgiri and Pulney Hill-tops. Vol. 3. Madras (Chennai): Government Press. p. 64.
^ Filet, G.J. (1855). De Planten in den Botanischen Tuin bij het Groot Militair Hospitaal te Weltevreden (in Dutch). Batavia (Jakarta): Lange & Co. p. 60.

External links

http://thetropicalfloweringzone.com/2014/01/23/mussaenda-frondosa/

[1] "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 23 January 2015.

[2] Jayaweera, Don M. A. (1963). "The Rubiaceous Genus Mussaenda: The Morphology of the Asiatic Species". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 44 (1): 111–126. ISSN 0004-2625. JSTOR 43781456.

[floranilgiri-3] Fyson, P.F. (1920). The flora of the Nilgiri and Pulney Hill-tops. Vol. 3. Madras (Chennai): Government Press. p. 64.

[filet-4] Filet, G.J. (1855). De Planten in den Botanischen Tuin bij het Groot Militair Hospitaal te Weltevreden (in Dutch). Batavia (Jakarta): Lange & Co. p. 60.

[2]