Ixora casei - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Taxonomy:

Ixora casei (Rubiaceae)

Alternative Botanical Name:
Ixora duffii

Common Names:

Giant Ixora, Everblooming Ixora
Malay Ixora
Pohnpeian Name: Ketieu

Classification:

Ixora L.
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida-Dicotyledons
Subclass:P Asteridae
Order: Rubiales
Family: Rubiaceae-Madder family
Genus: Ixora L. - Ixora
(National Plant Database. 2004.)

Description:

Ixora casei is a shrub or small tree 2-3 m tall with strong, woody stems. The leaves are simple, opposite,

acuminate, smooth and bright green color smooth, reaching 24 cm long. The inflorescence is a rounded, umbel-like cyme with a pedicel that is 2-3 cm long. The bright red corolla has four petals and a long, slender tube. Fruits are round and dark purple to blackish. This species blooms all year long, hence the common name everblooming Ixora.

Geographic Distribution:

Related to the gardenia and coffee plants, everblooming Ixora is native to the Caroline Islands of Micronesia.

It is cultivated as an ornamental in some tropical regions including Hawaii. There are over 500 Ixora species. The genus ranges from tropical America to Africa, India, and Southern Asia.

Native Legends and Names:

The name "Ixora" derives from an Indian deity.

Indigenous Practices:

The sticks of Ixora are cut into small pieces and are used for a Pohnpeian local dance called "dokia".

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