Buddha Belly Plant 2

Its botanical name is Jatropha podagrica. It should be noted that the fruit and sap of Jatropha podagrica are very toxic (especially to children). The plant contains the toxic curcin, making it poisonous.

The seed oil is used to reduce swellings, for pain relief and to detoxify snakebites. The stem is swollen into vasculum at the base and filled with thin sap. The plant bears bright red coral-like flowers throughout the year.

Naturally, Jatropha podagrica's fruit appear where the fertilized female flowers were located, usually at the main junctions of the flowerhead. (Remember that it is the fruit that is one of the most poisonous parts of the plant!). Fruit are three-sided, and usually contain three seeds. Mature fruit are yellow, but the immature one is bright green.

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Torch Ginger Singapore Flower. Happy Easter!

Its botanical name is Etlingera elatior. It is known in Indonesian as bunga kecombrang or honje, in Malaysia as bunga kantan. The showy pink flowers are used in decorative arrangements while the flower buds are an important ingredient in the Nonya dish laksa.

Etlingera elatior (Zingiberaceae family) is widely cultivated in tropical countries and used as spices and food flavoring.

Etlingera elatior has also been well known for its medicinal properties among indigenous communities in Malaysia. Decoction prepared from the fruit of Etlingera elatior has been used to treat ear ache and the leaves have been used in wound healing. The young flower shoot of Etlingera elatior was reported to have antimicrobial, cytotoxic and anti-tumor promoting properties. Etlingera elatior inflorescence is known to have high antioxidant properties. Flower extract of Etlingera elatior has powerful antioxidant effect against lead - induced oxidative stress and the extract may be useful therapeutic agent against lead toxicity.

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Butterfly Pea Singapore Flower

Its botanical name is Clitoria ternatea. Native to SE Asia. Traditionally, the flowers are crushed to produce a blue dye used in food preparation. The root extract is used to treat coughs.

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Hibiscus mutabilis flower

Also known as "Cotton rosemallow" from the Malvaceae family, it is native to Southern China.

Traditionally, the leaves and flowers are used to treat swellings and skin infections. Mucilage (a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants) extracted from the leaves and flowers are used to ease childbirth.

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