Frangipani

Description:

The plumeria is a white or red flower that usually grows on shrubs and small trees. There are more than 300 named varieties of Plumeria. They are native to Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, and Brazil. However, they are often grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night so they can lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar and deceive their pollinators. The moths accidentally pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in search of nectar. In each species, the leaves vary in shape. They are either narrow or elongated and glossy.

Habitat:

This particular plumeria tree was found on Moekolu St., Wai‘anae. It's natural habitat is in areas with full sunshine and no moisture.

Notes:

The Plumeria has become famous in Southern Aisa and several Pacific islands such as Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii‘i, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. It is often used to make leis, decorations, fragrances, and in landscaping. It's prized for its fragrance, which is often sweet, spicy, or citrusy. Their flowers are also prized for their beauty, strength and endurance. Its sap also possesses an irritant and contact can result in irritation to the skin and eyes. In modern Polynesian culture, women wear the flower on their ear to indicate relationship status-over the right if they are seeking a relationship and over the left if they are taken.