Description

• Red Frangipani grows as a spreading shrub or small tree up to a height of 2-8 m and similar width. It has a thick fleshy trunk and sausage-like blunt branches covered with a thin grey bark.
• The branches are somewhat brittle and when broken, ooze a white latex that can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.
• The large green leaves can reach 30-50 cm long and are arranged alternately and clustered at the end of the branches. They are deciduous, falling in the cooler months of the year.
• The flowers are at branch-ends, appearing at the ends of branches over the summer. Often profuse and very prominent, they are strongly fragrant, and have five petals.
• The colours range from the common pink to white with shades of yellow in the centre of the flower. Initially tubular before opening out, the flowers are 5-7.5 cm in diameter, and only rarely go on to produce seed – 20-60 winged seeds are contained in a 17.5 cm pod.

Uses

• It is used as an ornamental tree.
• Bark is used as a stimulant, in decoction used as a
• Latex rubefacient and purgative; useful in treatments for itch, rheumatism, and gum troubles.
• Wood used for making drums and other musical instruments supposed to be free from termites.