Pentas lanceolata

(Forssk.) Deflers

Family: Rubiaceae

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Rubiaceae > Pentas > P. lanceolata

Common name [English]: Pentas, Egyptian Stars, Star Cluster, Star Flower

Vernacular name [Malayalam]: ഈജിപ്ഷ്യൻ നക്ഷത്രപ്പൂക്കൾ

Nativity: Ethiopia to Mozambique, Comoros, Arabian Peninsula.

Habitat: Plains to Low Altitude, Cultivated.

Description: Trees, stem glabrous, stout. Leaves to 13 x 6 cm, elliptic, acuminate at apex, coriaceous; nerves 3-4 pairs, oblique, domatia glandular; petiole to 1 cm long; stipule broadly ovate, cuspidate, scaly inside. Peduncles 2.5 cm long, solitary. Flowers many; pedicels 1.5-2 cm long. Drupe 3 x 1.7 cm, obovoid, glabrous; seeds rugose.

Flowering and Fruiting : The plant blooms all summer

Uses : Pentas lanceolata is widely used as a garden plant, with many colour variations of flowers, from white to bright red to all shades of pink.

Cultivation : Cultivated , Ornamental

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org