Mussaenda frondosa


Mussaenda frondosa, the wild mussaenda or dhobi tree, is a plant of family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub that grows to about tall. Like all other Mussaenda species, they have a large prominent white petaloid sepal in their flowers.

Appearance

The shrub may also grow as a scandent climber. The flowers are clusters of orange-yellow tubular flowers with one of their five sepals enlarged into a white petal-like form, set among pale green, oval leaves; berries follow the bloom. The erect, branching stem has a shrubby crown.

Range

Mussaenda frondosa is native to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.