Plumeria alba
Plumeria alba, commonly known as white frangipani, is a stunning tropical shrub celebrated for its fragrant, waxy white blossoms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this plant holds significant medicinal value in traditional practices, utilized for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties to treat various skin ailments and systemic conditions.
- Scientific name: Plumeria alba
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Plumeria alba, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Plumeria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Plumeria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Plumeria alba, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In German, it is referred to as Westindische Frangipani, while in Polish, it is called Plumeria biała. In Rwanda, the plant is known as Umudwedwe, and in Russian, it is identified as Плюмерия белáя. Additionally, in Swedish, it is known as Smalbladig frangipani.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Westindische Frangipani | Wikidata |
| pl | Plumeria biała | Wikidata |
| rw | Umudwedwe | Wikidata |
| ru | Плюмерия белая | Wikidata |
| sv | Smalbladig frangipani | Wikidata |
| ar | ياسمين هندي أبيض | Wikidata |
| bg | бяла плумерия | Wikidata |
| ml | പ്ലമേറിയ ആൽബ | Wikidata |
| eo | Blanka franĉipano | Wikidata |
| arz | ياسمين هندى ابيض | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across both Asia and the Caribbean. Within the Indian Subcontinent, Plumeria alba can be found growing in the region of Assam and throughout Bangladesh. Its presence extends into the Caribbean islands, specifically inhabiting the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico. Additionally, the species is documented in the archipelago of Trinidad and Tobago. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in different tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Leeward Is. | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Puerto Rico | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Trinidad-Tobago | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Windward Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Plumeria alba, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicine, with particular emphasis placed on its stem barks. The stem barks are often harvested for their bioactive compounds, which are believed to hold significant therapeutic potential in treating various ailments. Beyond the bark, other parts of the plant such as the flowers and latex are also recognized for their medicinal properties, but the stem barks remain a primary focus for those seeking its specific healing benefits.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem barks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Plumeria alba has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Plumeria alba has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Dengue, Plasmodium falciparum.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dengue | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |