Ixora coccinea

• Botanical Name : Ixora coccinea L.

• The species name coccinea is a latin derivative which means scarlet coloured.

• Synonyms : Pavetta coccinea (L.) Blume
• Common Name : Ixora
• Plant Family : Rubiaceae
• Plant Form : Shrub
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 1-30
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Infocity, Aranya Van

About Ixora coccinea Plant :

• Habit : A small shrub having branched tap root system.
• Stem : Herbaceous, aerial, erect, branched, cylindrical, differentiating into nodes and internodes, green.
• Leaves : Ramal and cauline, simple, opposite decussate, stipulate, sessile, ovate to elliptical, entire, acute, unicostate reticulate venation, green.
• Inflorescence : Corymbose cyme.
• Flowers :
  • Bracteate, pedicellate, complete, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, tetramerous, epigynous, large, showy, corolla tube very long.
  • Calyx made up of sepals 4, gamosepalous,green, valvate, very short in comparison to corolla.
  • Corolla made up of 4 petals, gamopetalous, twisted, long, slender, corolla tube with abruptly expanded corolla limbs, coloured.
  • Androecium made up of 4 stamens, polyandrous, epipetalous and alternipetalous, anthers sagitate, dithecous, dorsifixed, introrse.
  • Gynoecium composed of bicarpellary, syncarpous, bilocular, two ovules in each locule, axile placentation, style long and passes through the long corolla tube, stigma bilobed and simple.
• Fruit : A berry.
• Seeds : Small, endospermic.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : Througout the year but best during the rains.
• Significance :Cultivated in gardens for its beautiful scarlet flowers.