Plant
Singapore Graveyard Flower
Plumeria obtusaAlso known as White Frangipani, Great White Frangipani, Singapore Frangipani, Blunt-leaved Frangipani
Thick, succulent branches bear clusters of glossy, dark green leaves with blunt, rounded tips that remain evergreen in tropical climates. The waxy white blossoms release an intense citrus perfume that peaks at night to entice pollinating sphinx moths, although the flowers offer no nectar reward. A copious milky latex exudes readily from broken stems and foliage, protecting the plant against browsing herbivores and insect pests.
FragrantOrnamentalTropical
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic
Predators
- Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar
- Longhorn Beetle Larvae
- Scale Insects
ThreatsFrangipani rust fungus, stem borers, and habitat clearance
HabitatsDry limestone coastal forests, rocky scrublands, and tropical gardens
Life span50–100 years
Classification
- FamilyApocynaceae
- SpeciesPlumeria obtusa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Milky sap can cause skin irritation and is toxic if ingested; avoid touching broken stems.
- Why it is dangerous
- Milky sap contains irritating alkaloids and cardiac glycosides that provoke dermatitis and induce vomiting if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for blunt, leathery leaves clustered at the ends of swollen, fleshy branches with abundant milky sap.
- What to do
- Wear gloves when pruning or handling damaged stems, and keep pets away from fallen plant parts.
Responsible observation
- Scent Observation: Lean close to open blossoms during the evening to catch the strongest citrus fragrance.
- Sap Caution: Wash skin immediately if exposed to the white milky sap while inspecting foliage.
- Foliage Inspection: Look beneath older leaves to spot orange pustules of frangipani rust.
Herbivore Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Cabanillas Lopez Jesus Miguel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Cabanillas Lopez Jesus Miguel · cc-by-sa
Same Family Alvesgaspar / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Same Family This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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