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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