pagoda-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• pagoda-tree
• red-jasmine
• Chelilairangebard
• Mexican Plumeria

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plumeria rubra f. acuminata
• Plumeria loranthifolia
• Plumeria carinata
• Plumeria gouanii
• Plumeria macrophylla
• Plumeria purpurea
• Plumeria rubra var. acutifolia
• Plumeria conspicua
• Plumeria incarnata var. milleri
• Plumeria acutifolia var. gasparrinii
• Plumeria aurantia
• Plumeria aurantiaca
• Plumeria incarnata
• Plumeria blandfordiana
• Plumeria jamesonii
• Plumeria kerrii
• Plumeria kunthiana
• Plumeria lambertiana
• Plumeria megaphylla
• Plumeria mexicana
• Plumeria lutea
• Plumeria rubra var. acuminata
• Plumeria rubra f. acutifolia
• Plumeria rubra f. lutea
• Plumeria rubra f. tricolor
• Plumeria tenuifolia
• Plumeria tricolor
• Plumeria northiana
• Plumeria milleri
• Plumeria mollis
• Plumeria acuminata
• Plumeria acutifolia
• Plumeria arborescens
• Plumeria angustifolia
• Plumeria mariaelenae

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Finally, its specific biological identity is defined by the genus Plumeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents and tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically in Senegal. Its range extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it can be found around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Within the Western Indian Ocean, the species is located in the Comoros. Finally, in Asia, the plant is distributed across South-Central China as well as the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Plumeria rubra is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit a variety of tropical and subtropical landscapes. It is predominantly found in lowland environments, with a mean elevation of 320 m AMSL, though its ecological range extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This wide vertical gradient enables the species to adapt to diverse microclimates, ranging from coastal lowlands to more temperate montane regions, provided that the necessary light and moisture requirements are met within these altitudinal bounds.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

320 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Plumeria rubra is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its tropical and subtropical habitats. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems, a structural strategy that allows it to thrive in various light conditions. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its leaves typically in response to seasonal changes or periods of water stress, which serves as a survival mechanism to conserve moisture. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, phanerophyte life form, and deciduous habit defines its rhythmic growth patterns and environmental adaptability.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Plumeria rubra is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. This species is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and thrives in terrestrial environments rather than aquatic or epiphytic habitats. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with an average height of approximately 7 m, although it has the capacity to reach a maximum height of up to 25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Plumeria rubra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. Although it exhibits some degree of drought tolerance through specialized tissue, the plant does not possess true succulence, meaning it lacks the specialized, highly enlarged water-storage parenchyma characteristic of succulent taxa. Additionally, Plumeria rubra is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thus relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Plumeria rubra is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving insects such as moths, which play a crucial role in the fertilization process. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry fruits that contain seeds characterized by a highly consistent morphology; the seeds exhibit a mean and uniform length of 5.33 mm, a constant volume of 38 mm³, and a consistent mass of 0.03673 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though they are also subject to anthropochorous dispersal, meaning they are frequently moved or spread by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

moth

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

5.33 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.03673 g

Seed volume max:

38 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Plumeria rubra has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Plumeria rubra has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Fulvoplumierin, Plumericin, Plumieride, RUTIN, kaempferol.

Fulvoplumierin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Plumericin

1. Protoplasma
2. Journal of natural products

Plumieride

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

15-Demethylplumieride

1. Journal of natural products

2,5-Dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone

1. Journal of natural products

Allamandin

1. Journal of natural products

Allamcin

1. Journal of natural products

Anthraquinones

1. Protoplasma

Activities

Plumeria rubra has 295 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of natural products

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticoagulant

1. Protoplasma
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antifertility

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Plumeria rubra has 23 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include acne, anti-oxidant, asthma, breast cancer, cancer.

Acne

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anti-oxidant

1. Biomolecules

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Breast cancer

1. Journal of natural products

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural products

Constipation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diabetes mellitus

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Earache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fibrosarcoma

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Plumeria rubra has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude leaf extract, latex, methanol extract, methanol extract of leaves, methanolic extract.

Crude leaf extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Latex

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Methanol extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanol extract of leaves

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanolic extract

1. Planta medica

Milky juice

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Petroleum-ether- and chcl3-soluble extracts

1. Journal of natural products