White Plumeria - 2

These Plumeria, though known as the white species, also have a beautiful reddish/gold center. The petals are rimmed with pink.Plumeria is related to... more

by Mary Deal

Title

White Plumeria - 2

Artist

Mary Deal

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

These Plumeria, though known as the white species, also have a beautiful reddish/gold center. The petals are rimmed with pink.Plumeria is related to the Oleander, Nerium oleander, and both possess an irritant, rather similar to that of Euphorbia. Contact with the sap may irritate eyes and skin. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped, alternate leaves with distinct form and growth habits. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, whereas leaves of P. pudica have an elongated shape and glossy, dark-green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves. Another species that retains leaves and flowers in winter is P. obtusa; though its common name is "Singapore," it is originally from Colombia.

Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, however, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar.

A photo of a Sphinx moth is included in my Wings gallery.

Uploaded

June 6th, 2013