Telosma cordata
COMMON NAME | Pakalana, Chinese
violet, cowslip creeper, Tonkin jasmine and Tonkinese creeper. |
TYPE | Vine |
FAMILY | Asclepiadaceae |
NOTES | Although many people
think of it as a Hawaiian plant, it is neither Hawaiian nor a Polynesian
introduced plant. Chinese immigrants probably introduced it to Hawaii.
Pakalana is a favored lei flower because of
its sweet fragrance mostly at night. It
is a vine with slender, downy branches. The leaves are arranged opposite each
other along the stem. They are broadly heart-shaped and pointed, with a
slight ruffle to them. The flowers are borne on short-stemmed clusters along
the stems where the leaves are attached. The flowers are yellowish green and
are about ½ inch long. The vine only
lives for a few years. |
GEOGRAPHIC REGION | Native to India and China |
NATIVE HABITAT | Open woods and bushland |
WEB SOURCES |
