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
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks saba,
Nita