Tabernaemontana divaricata commonly called pinwheel flower,crepe jasmine and Nero's crown
Tabernaemontana divaricata commonly called pinwheel flower,crepe jasmine and Nero's crown is an evergreen shrub native to South Asia.
It is grown for its attractive flowers and foliage. The stem exudes a milky latex when broken, hence the name milk flower.
The plant generally grows to a height of 5–6 feet and is extensively branched. The large shiny leaves are deep green and about 15 cm in length and 5 cm wide. The waxy blossoms are found in small clusters on the stem tips. The (single) flowers have a 'pinwheel' shape characteristic to the family Apocynaceae.
White, fragrant 5-petaled flowers are shaped like pinwheels, have petal tips twisted to the left in a counterclockwise direction.
The plant blooms in spring but flowers appear sporadically all year. The flowers of the single form are unscented but the double-flowered form has a pleasing fragrance.
Etymology : Tabernaemontanus meaning "tavern in the mountain". Species divaricata means wide-spreading or divaricate.
Reference
Plants of Singapore
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