Frangipani

Description:

Common uses/hazards/importance: The plumeria can be used as healing tea, an anti-inflammatory, and even hair decoration Distinguishing features: The flowers of the plumeria are about 2 inches in size and their color might be pink, yellow, white or red with golden centers. The flowers grow in six to ten inch clusters, and each flower has five petals. When mature, a Frangipani bush can get up to. 15 feet in height. The leaves of the bush are about 6 to 12 inches in length and tend to cluster at the end of each branch. The thick branches of the bush resemble fat sausages. Date and method of arrival in Hawaii: 1959 and the first jet service to Honolulu. Indigenous? Yes/no. Yes Endemic? Yes/no No Invasive? Yes/no. No

Habitat:

Geographic area of origin: In Central America, the Caribbean, and Southern Mexico.

Notes:

Species Identification Sheet Common name: Frangipani Scientific name: Plumeria Geographic area of origin: In Central America, the Caribbean, and Southern Mexico. Common uses/hazards/importance: The plumeria can be used as healing tea, an anti-inflammatory, and even hair decoration Distinguishing features: The flowers of the plumeria are about 2 inches in size and their color might be pink, yellow, white or red with golden centers. The flowers grow in six to ten inch clusters, and each flower has five petals. When mature, a Frangipani bush can get up to. 15 feet in height. The leaves of the bush are about 6 to 12 inches in length and tend to cluster at the end of each branch. The thick branches of the bush resemble fat sausages. Date and method of arrival in Hawaii: 1959 and the first jet service to Honolulu. Indigenous? Yes/no. Yes Endemic? Yes/no No Invasive? Yes/no. No Other interesting historical, cultural, or ecological information: -The frangipani is the national tree of Laos, where it is called dok jampa. It is regarded as a sacred tree in Laos and every Buddhist temple in that country has them planted in their courtyards. Many of the trees are hundreds of years old and are spectacular, huge, gnarled giants. -The frangipani is the flower of the curt of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. Frangipanis won't burn except in extreme ( over 500 degrees) temperatures. -In modern Polynesian culture, the frangipani can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status- over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left it taken.