About Plumeria alba L.
Plumeria alba L. is a small, rounded deciduous tree that can grow up to 7.6 metres (25 feet) tall. Its fragrant flowers have five white petals with yellow centers, and bloom in clusters at the ends of branches. Its leaves are simple, green, oblong to lanceolate in shape, with entire margins and an alternate arrangement. Leaves can reach up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) long, and grow in a spiral arrangement near the tips of stems. Its branches are gray to green, upright, and grow close to the trunk; with age, they form a vase shape. When bruised or punctured, branches release a milky sap. P. alba is often cultivated as an ornamental plant. In Cambodia, it is specifically grown at pagodas, where its flowers are used in ritual offerings to deities. The flowers are also sometimes used to make necklaces that decorate coffins. Additionally, the flowers are edible and eaten as fritters. The heart of the plant's wood is included in a traditional medical preparation used as a vermifuge or a laxative.
