In Southern California, I often see plumeria trees, and I’ve grown very fond of them. When I visited Little Liuqiu in Taiwan, I noticed plumerias everywhere—lining the roads and planted around hotels. I even came across a few varieties I had never seen before. Plumeria, also known as frangipani, belongs to the Apocynaceae family. When its trunk is cut, it releases a milky latex that is toxic. The flowers bloom in a variety of colors and are known for their strong, sweet fragrance, especially at night. This is because they are primarily pollinated by night-flying sphinx moths. The name “frangipani” comes from a 16th-century Italian nobleman who created a perfume that resembled the flower’s scent. In some cultures, particularly in Asia, the yellow-and-white plumeria is affectionately called the “Egg Flower” because its colors resemble egg yolk and egg white.
在南加州，我經常看到緬梔(雞蛋花樹)，而且我非常喜歡這種花。當我到台灣的小琉球玩的時候，我注意到路旁和旅館到處都有雞蛋花。我甚至看到了一些從未見過的品種。緬梔屬，別稱雞蛋花、印度素馨、鹿角樹、番仔花、番花、大季花、蛋黄花、島嶼花，屬於夾竹桃科。當它的樹幹被砍斷時，它會釋放出一種有毒的乳膠。這種花有許多不同種顏色，以其濃鬱甜美的香味而聞名，尤其是在夜間。這是因為它們主要由夜間飛行的天蛾授粉。「緬梔花」這個名字來自16世紀的一位義大利貴族，他創造了一種氣味相似的香水。在某些文化中，特別是在亞洲，黃白色的雞蛋花被親切地稱為“雞蛋花”，因為它的顏色類似於蛋黃和蛋白。
Notes 筆記
- Plumeria, known as frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae. The name frangipani comes from the name of a 16th century Italian nobleman who created a perfume with a similar scent. The yellow and white petals may associate with egg white and yolk and so Frangipani is also named “Egg Flower”.
- The species variously are endemic to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It presently has spread all over the world in subtropical and tropical places.
- Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers yield no nectar, though, and simply trick their pollinators. Plumeria trees from cross-pollinated seeds might just have a totally new look. The various species differ in their leaf shape and arrangement. Flower colors include pink, red, white, and yellow, or pastel bicolor. The flowers are very fragrant, with a scent including hints of jasmine, citrus, and gardenia.
- Plumeria species have a milky latex that, like many other Apocynaceae, contains poisonous compounds that irritate the eyes and skin.
- Chinese medicine believes that the Plumeria has medicinal value. Plumeria can also be used to extract essence to make cosmetics, soaps and food additives. The flowers are also used for making leis on many Pacific Islands.
- 緬梔屬，別稱雞蛋花、印度素馨、鹿角樹、番仔花、番花、大季花、蛋黄花、島嶼花，是夾竹桃科的一個屬。雞蛋花這個名字來源於一位 16 世紀的意大利貴族的名字，他創造了一種氣味相似的香水。黃色和白色的花瓣可能與蛋清和蛋黃有關，因此也被稱為“雞蛋花”。
- 它是墨西哥、中美洲和加勒比地區的特有物種。目前則已經遍布全世界亞熱帶及熱帶地方。
- 雞蛋花在晚上最香，可以引誘天蛾為它們授粉。 但這些花並不會生花蜜，只會欺騙它們的傳粉者。來自異花授粉種子的雞蛋花樹可能長得不同。各種物種的葉子形狀和排列方式不同。花的顏色包括粉紅色、紅色、白色和黃色，或柔和的雙色。 花很香，帶有一絲茉莉、柑橘和梔子花的香味。
- 當割切雞蛋花樹幹時會有白色乳液滲出，與許多其他夾竹桃科植物一樣，含有刺激眼睛和皮膚的有毒化合物。
- 中醫認為緬梔花有藥用價值。緬梔花也可提取香精供製造高級化妝品、香皂和食品添加劑之用。這些花在許多太平洋島嶼上還用來製作花環。
References 參考資料
Plants Posts 植物的帖子
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