Quisqualis indica

Move your mouse over image to enlarge

Botanical Description: Quisqualis indica is a vigorous, woody vine that can grow up to 2.5 to 8 meters (8 to 26 feet) in length. It often climbs over other vegetation or structures with the help of its twining stems. The vine's stems are robust and woody, supporting dense foliage and prolific flowering. The leaves are simple, opposite, and elliptic to oblong in shape, measuring about 7 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) in length. Texture and Color: Leaves are smooth, glossy, and deep green, providing a lush background for the flowers. Flowers appear in drooping racemes, which are clusters that can reach up to 30 cm (12 inches) in length. The flowers are initially white and gradually change to pink and then deep red as they mature. Each flower is tubular, opening out into five distinct lobes. Flowering occurs in waves from early summer to late fall, often in cycles that coincide with bursts of growth. The plant produces fruit that is initially green and turns to a brownish color upon ripening. The fruits are elongate, resembling plump capsules approximately 2.5 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3 inches) long. Each fruit contains seeds that are dispersed by animals, particularly birds, which are attracted to the vine for its fruit.
Flowering/Fruiting: Flowers from May to September.
Plant Uses: Ornamental Use, Medicinal Use and Perfumery.
Origin: Introduced
Locality: Abuja Campus University of Port Harcourt
Habit: Climber
Mode: Wild