CLASSIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial
Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	0.3 m to 0.5 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	0.3 m to 0.5 m

BIOGEOGRAPHY

Native Distribution	Madagascar
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Desert / Arid
Local Conservation Status	Exotic (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

DESCRIPTION AND ETHNOBOTANY

Growth Form	Succulent herb up to 0.45 m tall.
Foliage	Thick, fleshy leaves (up to 0.3-0.5 m long) are greyish-green with brown to reddish brown spots. Young leaves are more whitish to greyish, while mature leaves are more green. They are egg- to lance-shaped (ovate to lanceolate) with a toothed leaf margin. Small plantlets often grow along the leaf margin.
Flowers	Tubular, drooping flowers are reddish to pinkish-orange near the base with yellow, flared tips. Flowers are arranged in a branched cluster (known as a terminal inflorescence) and borne on a stalk up to 0.6-0.9 m tall.
Fruits	Dry, dehiscent fruits are known as follicles.
Cultivation	This fast-growing species begins to flower at about 2-3 years old. It is prone to attack by aphids and susceptible to fungal diseases.

LANDSCAPING FEATURES

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Plant & Rootzone Preference – Tolerance	Dry Soils / Drought, Well-Drained Soils
Landscape Uses	Hanging Basket
Thematic Landscaping	Rockery / Desert Garden

PLANT CARE AND PROPAGATION

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Little Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast
Propagation Method	Seed, Sucker

FOLIAR

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Silver / Grey
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Powdery / Waxy Bloom, Thick
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed
Foliar Apex – Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Cuneate
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 – 182.25 cm2 )

FLORAL (ANGIOSPERM)

Flower & Plant Sexuality 1	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Red, Yellow / Golden
Flower Texture(s)	Waxy
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Tubular
Flower Lifespan on Plant	[Remarks] (Flowering occurs over about 2 months. The mother plant dies after flowering once.)
Flower Lifespan on Plant – Remarks	Flowering occurs over about 2 months. The mother plant dies after flowering once.
Flowering Habit	Monocarpic
Flower Colour(s) Remarks	Salmon

FRUIT, SEED AND SPORE

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type 1	Dehiscent Dry Fruit
Fruit Type 2	Follicle

OTHERS

Master ID	30731
Species ID	5051
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.