1. You should know this already if you read the homepage... but Plumeria rubra is the flower that is used to make Hawaiian leis!

2. Plumeria rubra are not native to Hawaii, yet are often associated with Hawaii because of their use in the lei.

Interested about Hawaiian culture and history? Click here to explore more about the tradition of the Hawaiian lei.



3. The Frangipani is, in fact, poisonous, but only if you eat an entire flower will you begin to feel sick. Frangipani possesses a milky sap which is mildly poisonous. Another organism that is rarely recognized as poisonous is the daffodil, yet it is deadly if ingested. One more example is the fungus Gyromitra esculenta. You will not survive if you ingest this false morel.
                                                                                                                

4. Plumeria rubra
is a medicinal plant species that has been used effectively to treat Diabetes mellitus.
To read more about the experiments performed to test the efficiency of Plumeria rubra as a treatment, visit http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874112001560

5. Plumeria rubra
is believed to serve many beneficial purposes such as treat asthma, ease constipation, and soothe irritation. It is even believed by some tribes in India to be a natural abortifacient. While this is a controversial topic, the fact that tribes have effectively used this method time and time again is captivating in the world of biology. To read more about the tribal beliefs and experimental uses of P. rubra visit http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/14793/1/IJEB%2050%2810%29%20702-707.pdf

6. In tropical locations, Frangipani may grow up to 30 to 40 feet tall, and just about half as wide (exhibiting secondary growth)!



Additional outside links to reference for further interest or curiosity!
http://www.allthingsfrangipani.com/frangipanis.html

http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/pluruba.pdf
http://www.hawaiiactive.com/blog/hawaiian-leis.html
If you plan on going to Hawaii in the near future or just interested in the Hawaiian flora, check out this short list of poisonous plants that you should know about
!
http://great-hikes.com/blog/poisonous-plants-of-paradise/
P. rubra can be successfully grown in North America too! If you live in Southern California or Florida, check out this website for resources about the best conditions to grow this beautiful garden plant.
http://www.southcoastplumeriasociety.com/articles/basic-plumeria-care/


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