| Mussaenda frondosa | |
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Scientific classification 
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| 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 | |
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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.
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). Justus Carl Hasskarl recorded its presence in recently cleared land in Java.
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
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Mussaenda frondosa |
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