Property of Diana Donnellan Plumeria compilation – how and why Disclaimer – this document is a compilation from many internet sources, plus friend's personal opinions, websites such as the PSA, vendor sites (hyperbole removed), forums (hyperbole retained), Facebook, and personal observations. These notes are intended for my personal use and are distributed for free to the plumeria community. Whenever possible, I included links to other information to prevent direct copies of publications, although I do sometimes paraphrase the content for easier reading or for easier translation to other languages. Planned additions: The cultivar section will get blooming factors such as determinate/indeterminate, bud and petiole color, and bloom season. I particularly like the Australian plant descriptions, as they include more details. Temperatures, growing conditions, nutrients, age, soil types, etc. affect the color, size and fragrance. I do not attempt to vet information for accuracy, and sometimes you will see repetitive comments - these are deliberately included. On occasion this information conflicts, and may be due to multiple varieties using the same name. Otherwise, it's simply because results may vary. Additions and corrections are ALWAYS welcome … please send to [email protected] Enjoy! Diana INTRO Frangipani is the most common name for Plumeria in Australia. In most other English language speaking parts of the world, frangipanis are called Plumeria. The name frangipani is an English derivative of the French name Frangipanier. The common old English name was "nosegay". And what a delight to the nose in hot weather when the multitude of fragrant blooms fill the air with heady perfume. The botanical name is Plumeria, named in honor of French botanist and explorer Charles Plumier, 1646 – 1706, who studied the frangipani and introduced it into cultivation in Europe. All frangipani, the many cultivated varieties and the wild species belong to the genus Plumeria. Plumeria (common name Frangipani; syn. Himatanthus Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) is a small genus of 7-8 species (more are known…dd) native to tropical and subtropical Americas. The genus consists of mainly deciduous shrubs and trees. P. rubra (Common Frangipani, Red Frangipani), native to Mexico, Central America, Southern India and Venezuela produces flowers ranging from yellow to pink depending on form or cultivar. 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 to that island system. 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. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, while leaves of P. pudica have an elongated oak 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 Columbia. Frangipani can also be found in Eastern Africa, where they are sometimes referred to in Swahili love poems. Some species: Alba, Bahamaenis, Bogar, Caracassana, Cerissafolia, Cluseoides, Costa Rica, Cubense, Isabella, Kukulcan, Stenepetala, Stenophylla, Stenophylum, Tuberculta, yacatan, Azcatecas and some more without names. According to a whimsical story entitled "The Tree of Riches", the French botanist Charles Plumier decided that he would like to travel the world and get rich (Pellowski, 1990). In order for this to happen, a fortune teller told him, he had to find a tree with blossoms of the colour of the new moon that grows near churches and graveyards. Hence Plumier traveled to the West Indies where he was told by an old wise woman that such a tree indeed existed and that shaking its branches would bring him riches beyond imagining. As Plumier did so, the story goes, his soul was overpowered by the lovely smell and sight of the cascade of flowers, glistening like golden coins, and he realized that the real wealth in this life was beauty, not riches. Instead of searching for material Compiled from public sources by Diana Donnellan [email protected] Property of Diana Donnellan riches he then went on to look for wealth in nature and discovered many plants. The genus of the tree he found came to be named Plumeria. Originally spelled Plumiera, is named in honor of the seventeenth-century French botanist Charles Plumier, who traveled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. The common name "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family, a sixteenth-century marquess of which invented a plumeria- scented perfume. Many English speakers also simply use the generic name "plumeria". Mark Terrill: A short comment is that the author over states Plumier's role with the universal taxonomic system. Carl Linnaeus is the father of modern taxonomy. It was Plumier's duty to utilize the taxonomic system. Carl Linneas aka Carl Von Linne was distraught over the habit of the Catholic monks of naming plants in honor of each other. I give the article credit for NOT stating that plumeria is a misspelled word for plumieria. Some English translations have incorrectly published the name as plumieria for over 180-years. Some Curtis Botanical Magazines from the nineteenth century have incorrectly stated that 'plumeria' is incorrect and a misspelling of 'plumieria'. EVERY book on plumeria will tell you that 'plumeria' came about as a misspelling of 'plumieria'. Never before published is this explanation. The name given in honor of Charles Plumier, aka Carolus Plumerius in Latin, is plumeria as in plumeria flore roseo or plumeria rubra. Tournefort derived 'plumeria' from Plumerius. “An Antillean plant of beauty, a French botanist, and a German name: naming plants in the Early Modern Atlantic world ” http://www.kirj.ee/public/Ecology/2012/issue_1/ecol-2012-1-37-50.pdf There are about 45 wild species (or less….dd). They're native to Mexico, Venezuela and other countries of Central America and are semi-evergreen, drought tolerant shrubs, or small trees. Frangipani was the name given to an Italian fragrance created in the 16th century by the Marquis Frangipani. When the Italians started cultivating these plants, the fragrance of the flowers reminded them so strongly of the perfume that the name stuck. Known as the "Temple Tree" in India and, slightly less charmingly, "Dead Man's Fingers" in Australia, frangipani is the national floral emblem of Lao. A beautiful old fashioned specimen of a red flowered frangipani is growing in Brisbane's Toowong Cemetery. But it has a cultural significance because early Christian missionaries spread frangipani far and wide, and started the tradition of planting them in graveyards. Today the frangipani has been adopted by Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, and in South East Asia it's so popular it's known as the "Graveyard Tree". In Thailand, Plumeria was initially called Lun Tom which means to abandon all sadness and was planted in only temples; however, there was misunderstanding to have another meaning which are sadness and bad luck. Therefore, Lun Tom was renamed to be Lilavadee instead and it becomes more popular to plant anywhere in Thailand since then. Known from early Spanish records of Aztec plants, Plumeria rubra has spread across the tropical and subtropical worlds as a landscape tree. Early use in cemeteries led to its being called a graveyard flower, and the fragrant, colorful, waxy blooms were offered to the gods and the departed. In Hawaii, the flowers are strung to make a floral necklace or lei, and the tree has become an important crop with over 14 million blooms sold for lei making in 2005. Although records are unavailable for the value of exported cuttings, tens of thousands are exported each year from Hawaii to support the demand, but Thailand is a recent source for new varieties from their thriving nursery industry. From Sicily to Australia, plumeria collectors have become a market for enterprising nurseries as new varieties are developed each year. • Hawaiian culture, plumeria flowers symbolize "aloha" which is used as a form of greeting. Plumeria also represents perfection and the bond between everything good. In addition, the Plumeria is the symbol springtime, re-creation of nature and the beginning of new life. • Chinese culture, Plumeria flowers are given to someone as a token of love. In Mexico, the Nahuatl (Aztec language) name for this plant is “cacalloxochitl” which means “crow flower.” It was used for many medicinal purposes such as salves and ointments. Depending on location, many other common names exist: “Kembang Kamboja” in Indonesia, “Temple Tree” or “Champa” in India, Compiled from public sources by Diana Donnellan [email protected] Property of Diana Donnellan “Calachuchi or Kalacuchi” in the Philippines http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kalachuchi.html, “Araliya” or “Pansal Mal” in Sri Lanka, “Champey” in Cambodia, “Champa” in Laos, “Hoa Su” in Vietnamese, “Lantom” or “Leelaawadee” in Thai. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webblog/view_blog.php?uid=82&bid=2136, kemboja in Thai. 'Jazmin Magno” in Spanish. Plumeria is the national flower of Nicaragua and they dot the landscape. It's called "sacuanjoche." Plumeria in Palermo (locally: POMELIA). "Pomelia Felicissima. Storia, botanica e coltivazione della plumeria a Palermo" (ISBN 9788889224205). The authors (especially Pietro Puccio) wrote about this beautiful plant since 1800 in Palermo in Orto Botanico but he wrote also about the family Apocynaceae and its subfamilies. They call them Kalachoochee or kalachuchi in the Philippines. In Brazil it is called Dama da Noite (“Lady of the Night”). Called Aleli in Puerto Rico, Dead Man's Finger in Australia, Jasmine de Cayenne in Brazil, Pagoda Tree or Temple Tree in India, Egg Flower in southern China, Amapola in Venezuela.