Pigion Wood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pigion Wood
• Wild Frangepane
• Wild Frangipani
• West Indian-jasmine
• caterpillar-tree
• milktree
• pagoda-tree
• pigeonwood
• Frangipani

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plumeria alba var. jacquiniana
• Plumeria hypoleuca var. angustifolia
• Plumeria revolutifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Plumeria alba is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody branches, a trait consistent with both its classification as a phanerophyte and its specific growth form. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to support its long-term biological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Plumeria alba is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as an independent organism that does not act as a parasite. This plant typically manifests as a tree or a shrub, reaching an average plant height of approximately 4 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior and maintains a terrestrial life habit, growing in the ground rather than as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Plumeria alba is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its tropical habitats. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into the Calvin cycle, a mechanism that is highly effective in environments where water availability is sufficient to support open stomatal conductance. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Plumeria alba is facilitated through the production of specialized seeds contained within elongated, slender follicles that split open upon maturity to release them. These seeds are characterized by a highly consistent physical profile, specifically regarding their weight. Scientific data indicates that the seed mass of this species is uniform, with a mean seed mass of 0.024 g. This consistency is reflected across the entire observed range, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values are identical at 0.024 g. This precise and stable seed mass is a critical factor in the plant's dispersal and germination success within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.024 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Plumeria alba has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Plumeria alba has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Nutrition and cancer

Conditions

Plumeria alba has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Dengue, Plasmodium falciparum.

Dengue

1. Molecular biotechnology

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Plumeria alba has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts, ethyl acetate extracts, methanolic extract, plant extracts.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ethyl acetate extracts

1. Nutrition and cancer

Methanolic extract

1. Nutrition and cancer

Plant extracts

1. Molecular biotechnology