Saturday, November 1, 2008

The Plumeria rubra - பெருங்கள்ளி






The Common Frangipani, Plumeria rubra, பெருங்கள்ளி or ஈழத்தலரி, seen at an open field near Lavender MRT Station, Singapore.

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What you see is a fruit bearing stalk!
Plants in this family, Apocynaceae, produce such follicles occasionally.
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This plant is extensively planted all over Singapore, even on traffic islands for its profuse, fragrant and brilliant flowers, colours - white, yellow and red with the combinations and shades of the three, including orange and pink.
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The Great Frangipani, P. acuminata and P. alba, also cultivated here, but less often, have the same names in Tamil.

Some plants in this family, like the Nerium Oleander - அலரி are poisonous, with many fatalities reported, but the Plumeria is nowhere near the Oleander on the poison scale. Still I wouldn't chew on it.

In native Tamil medicine its milky sap and various parts are used to treat skin ailments - FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY! So don't worry if you get the sap on your hands.

"ஈழ‌த்த‌ல‌ரிப் பாவேறு புரைப்புண் தொடையின் வாழைப் புற்றும்போக்கும் மால்" ‍‍‍‍‍‍ --- அக‌த்திய‌ர் குண‌வாக‌ட‌ம்

7 comments:

  1. I have seen frangi pani for such long time since young but never seen it fruit bearing stalk. Thanks for this info. God's gift is so beautiful to the eyes as i see the yellow frangi pani so beautiful.
    Thanks saba,
    Nita

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  2. This is also called as " Mara Malli ".
    There are 5 types depending on its colours.

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    Replies
    1. Maramalli is different one.That grows to be big tree, and flowers dangle upside down

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    2. Yes maramalli is a very fragrant flower with small petals and long slender pedicle(stalk)

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    3. Maranalli is millingtonia

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  3. Hi Saba. Wasn't allowed inside ashram since I had my 3 year old son with me. Was researching about the ashram outside it searching for the meaning of frangipani. Very informative !!! Thanks a lot. You can continue to brag ! Well done.

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  4. Also we says in srilanka alari
    (அலரி)

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