Flora Fauna Web - Plant Detail - Excoecaria cochinchinensis

Record Info

Life Stage & Characteristics

Plant Division :
Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)

Plant Growth Form :
Shrub

Lifespan (in Singapore) :
Perennial

Mode of Nutrition :
Autotrophic

Maximum Height :
1 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution :
Southern Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia

Native Habitat :
Terrestrial

Preferred Climate Zone :
Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Description & Ethnobotany

Plant Morphology :
Growth Form: Evergreen shrub, able to grow to 1 - 2 m tall.
Foliage: Leaves lanceolate in shaped, opposite arrangement, measuring about 7 - 10 cm long, green on the top and maroon underneath.
Flowers: Small green flowers in axillary or terminal racemes.
Fruits: Fruit is a globose capsule, measuring about 8 mm wide.

Etymology :
Genus Excoecaria is from the Latin word excaeco, which means "to blind" and refers to the sap of the plant that can cause temporary blindness. Species cochinchinensis means from Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia.

Ethnobotanical Uses :
None

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features :
Ornamental Foliage

Plant & Rootzone Preference/Tolerance :
Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils

Landscape Uses :
General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Hedge / Screening, Groundcover, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting

Usage Hazards / Cons :
Toxic Upon Ingestion, Irritant - Sap

Plant Care & Propagation

Light Preference :
Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference :
Moderate Water
Propagation Method :
Stem Cutting (Softwood; Semi-Hardwood), Air-Layering

Foliar

Foliage Retention :
Evergreen

Mature Foliage Colour(s) :
Green, Purple

Mature Foliage Texture(s) :
Glossy / Shiny, Papery, Rough

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) :
Red

Young Flush Texture(s) :
Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Thin

Foliar Type :
Simple / Unifoliate

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem :
Opposite

Foliar Attachment to Stem :
Petiolate

Foliar Shape(s) :
Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong)

Foliar Venation :
Pinnate / Net

Foliar Margin :
Serrate / Toothed

Foliar Apex / Tip :
Acuminate

Foliar Base :
Rounded / Obtuse

Leaf Area Index (LAI) * for Green Plot Ratio :
4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) :
Green
Flower Grouping :
Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location :
Axillary