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The allure of Frangipanis

Commonly known as the temple flower because these flowers are generaly taken to the temple for worshipping. Frangipanis are relatively small trees growing only to about 5-6m in height, but what they lack in height they make up in width often becoming as wide as they are tall. They have a well-behaved root system which makes them great for the home garden and for growing in pots. Frangipanis are also great survivors coping with drought, heat, neglect and insect and pest attack. They are also deciduous allowing maximum winter sun while providing shade in summer.

With its gnarled branches, long leaves and distinctive flowers, the frangipani is easily one of the most common and identifiable trees. The bark is grey/green and scaly in appearance. The scaling is formed when leaves drop in winter leaving small semi-circular marks on the bark.

The branches have a swollen appearance and the leaves, dark green on the top and a lighter shade of green underneath, cluster at the tips of branches.

A cut made on any part of the tree will exude a milky, sticky sap that is poisonous to both humans and animals.

Frangipani flowers appear in clusters, also at the end of the branches, and are distinctively scented. The petals are waxy with the centre of the flower a different colour to the rest. For example the most common frangipani has white flowers with a yellow centre.

There are many varieties ranging from deep crimson to orange, yellow and white (and every shade in between). Unlike some flowering trees which bloom for a few days or weeks, frangipanis go on flowering. Flowers appear from December to April in Australia, and even longer in warmer climates.

Varieties

Plumeria (common name Frangipani) is a small genus of 7-8 species native to tropical and subtropical Americas.

The genus consists of mainly deciduous shrubs and trees. From Mexico and Central America, Plumeria has spread to all tropical areas of the world, especially Hawaii, where it grows so abundantly that many people think that it is indigenous there.Plumeria is related to the Oleander (Nerium oleander) and both possess poisonous, milky sap, rather similar to that of Euphorbia.

Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped leaves and their form and growth habits are also distinct.

[History]

It is generally thought that Frangipanis (plumerias) are native to South Central America although some reports claim they are native to the Caribbean and were taken to the Americas by Spanish priests.

According to Steven Prowse, of Sacred Garden Plumeria's, frangipanis arrived in Australia from South America via the Polynesian peoples who inter bred with the Melanesian peoples and established villages in the Melanesian region in what is now New Guinea. From there, Frangipanis came to Australia via 2 routes.

The first was via the Torres Strait Islands which are between Australia and New Guinea and are less than a day's paddle in a dugout canoe from either.

The Torres Strait Islanders traded and interbred with both the New Guinea and Australian aboriginal peoples and brought the frangipani to both the Torres Straits and Australia. The islanders consider the frangipani a sacred plant.

The second and most important wave of frangipani introduction into Australia happened in the late 1800s through to the 1920s through Polynesian missionaries and, later, slaves. The missions were established in remote northern tropical regions of Australia by the Polynesian-based church missions who brought with them Polynesian and Melanesian Christians, coconuts and frangipanis. Most missions failed to survive long-term in these disease, snake and crocodile-infested and cyclone-prone areas, and were abandoned.

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