Plumeria

Plumeria (/pluːˈmiəriə/; common name plumeria) is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It contains primarily deciduous shrubs and small trees. They are native to Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America as far south as Brazil but can be grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Description

Plumeria is related to the Oleander, Nerium oleander, and both possess an irritant, rather similar to that of Euphorbia. Contact with the sap may irritate eyes and skin. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped, alternate leaves with distinct form and growth habits. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, whereas leaves of P. pudica have an elongated shape and glossy, dark-green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves. Another species that retains leaves and flowers in winter is P. obtusa; though its common name is "Singapore," it is originally from Colombia.

Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, however, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar.

Plumeria (Lao Royal Residence)

Plumeria was a former royal residence of Princess Khampieng and Prince Khamtan, a grandson of the 19th Century, King Zakarine, in the city of Luang Prabang, Laos. It was Khampieng’s mother, Princess Vanthatmaly who built the 33-room boutique property, which is anchored by the 1938-built residence. In this house, the royal couple raised their four children while Khamtan served as prefect of the provinces of Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Sainyabuli. He died in a plane crash; his wife lived in the house until her death.

In 2001, the house was converted into a hotel.

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