of visiting plant collectors, Thais often dye the flowers, producing unusual colors never seen in nature.
Spider Lily
Crinurn asiaticum
Botanical Family: Amaryllidaceae
Thai name: Plub-plueng
Malay names: Krinum bakung
Indonesian name: Krinum bakung
This handsome Crinum is native to Southeast Asia and is seen not only growing wild in swamps but also in many garden plantings, thanks to its willingness to tolerate a wide range of conditions; including strong sea winds. It has a massive, fleshy stem that grows to a height of about a meter and long, succulent, bright-green leaves. The flowers, which appear frequently on stalks in a sunburst arrangement, are white and fragrant. Another variety, C. amabile, is much larger and has pink flowers trimmed in wine-red; unlike C. asiaticum, this requires full sun to bloom well. The root is used as a poultice for treating wounds, while the poisonous juice acts as a purgative.
Another plant also often called a Spider Lily is Hymenocallis littoralis, which has somewhat similar flowers that are also different in that the star-shaped flowers have a membranous tissue connecting the petals at their base. Hymenocallis also has strap-shaped leaves that emerge straight from the underground tubers.
Frangipani
Plumeria sp.
Botanical Family: Apocynaceae
Thai name: Lan-tom
Malay names: Cempaka kubur, Cempaka mulia, Kamboja
Indonesian names: Kemboja, Cempaka, Bunga Jepun
The Frangipani is among the easiest of tropical trees to propagate from seeds, cuttings, and air-layering, which is perhaps one reason why this native of the New World quickly spread to other warm-weather regions. Another is the beauty of its fragrant, five-petalled flowers, which are used as offerings in both Buddhist and Hindu ceremonies; it is also seen planted in Muslim cemeteries in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The small to medium-sized tree was named after the French botanist Charles Plumier (1646-1706), who made three voyages to the Caribbean area in the 17th century. It has acquired an unusual range of popular names, among them Dead Man's Fingers (Australia), Jasmin de Cayenne (Brazil), and the Pagoda or Temple Tree (India). Two explanations have been given for Frangipani, the commonest. According to one, it was derived from a perfume created by an Italian family of the same name before the discovery of the Western Hemisphere; another claims that the thick white latex that flows from a cut in the tree reminded French settlers in the Caribbean of "frangipanier," or coagulated milk.
There are several distinct species, of which the most widely-cultivated is P. rubra, the progenitor of countless varieties. P. rubra forma acutifolia, for example, has very fragrant white flowers with yellow centers, while others come in varying shades of pink, yellow, red, and combinations. P. obtusa has somewhat larger white flowers and blunt-ended leaves. There are also dwarf varieties that are popular with container gardeners.
Except for P. obtusa and some of its varieties, all Plumerias have an annual dormant period in which they stop growing and flower less profusely; many shed their leaves at this time. They require good sun and well-drained soil to flower best. Cuttings root easily in a mixture of sand and light soil, as do even quite large branches; trees up to 7 meters high with almost no roots can be moved without any serious setback.
Adenium
Adenium obesum (A. coetaneum)
Botanical Family: Apocynaceae
Thai name: Chuan-chom
Malay names: Adenium merah
Indonesian names: Adenium merah
A member of the same botanical family as the Frangipani—it is, in fact, sometimes called the Japanese Frangipani—Adenium is a small treelet native to arid East Africa and Arabia, reaching a height of about 1 m. It has pale-grey succulent stems that produce a white, poisonous latex when cut, glossy club-shaped leaves at the branch ends, and, unlike most succulents, an almost continuous display of large, trumpet-shaped flowers that range in color from pink to crimson. The leaves often fall during wet weather or when the plant is in flower.
Intolerant of damp conditions, Adenium is usually seen grown as a pot plant in Southeast Asia, preferring a sunny location on a balcony or terrace and a well-drained potting soil mixture. It may also be used in rock gardens. Propagation is most often by cuttings, though old plants may produce seeds. Frequent applications of liquid manure increases flowering, which in the right location is more or less continuous.
Madagascar Periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus (Vinca rosea)
Botanical Family: Apocynaceae
Thai name: Pung puay
Malay names: Kembang sari Cina, Tapak dara
Indonesian name: Tapak dara
This shrubby plant, which grows about 60 cm. high on soft stems, is actually a perennial, though it looks like an annual and is often grown as such. The flowers, appearing in clusters at the branch tips, are white with a pink or yellow center or rosy pink with a red center and occur almost continually if the plant is given a sunny location. Despite its popular name, it is believed by some to actually be a native of the Caribbean. It can be seen growing wild in many places, especially along beaches, but is also used in gardens because of its dependable flowers and ability to survive in near-drought conditions.
Like other members of its botanical family, the Madagascar Periwinkle is poisonous. On the other hand, two of the many alkaloids it contains in minute quantities have medicinal properties and in recent years have been the subject of research into the treatment of certain cancers. It is also used in traditional
