Kleinhovia hospita L.

Species Overview

Kleinhovia hospita L. is an evergreen, bushy tree that grows up to 20 m (66 ft) tall, with a dense rounded crown and upright pink sprays of flowers and fruits.

Leaf Arrangement

Its leaves are simple and alternate.

Stipule Characteristics

Stipules range from ensiform to linear, and are approximately 8 mm (0.31 in) long.

Petiole Size

Petioles can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) long.

Leaf Blade Shape

The leaf blade is ovate to heart-shaped, glabrous on both sides, with a pointed apex.

Leaf Venation

It has 6 to 8 pairs of secondary veins, and is palmately nerved.

Flower Inflorescence

The flowers of K. hospita are terminal, arranged in loose panicles that protrude from the crown.

Flower Size and Color

Flowers are about 5 mm (0.20 in) wide, and are pale pink in color.

Pedicel Length

Pedicels grow up to 10 mm (0.39 in) long.

Bracteole Characteristics

Bracteoles are lanceolate, growing up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long, and are pubescent.

Gynandrophore Features

Gynandrophores are approximately 6 mm (0.24 in) long and pubescent.

Sepal Characteristics

There are 5 sepals, which are linear lanceolate, about 7 mm (0.28 in) long, pink, and tomentose.

Petal Characteristics

There are 5 inconspicuous petals, with the upper petal being yellow.

Stamen Count

There are 15 monadelphous stamens, growing up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long.

Staminal Tube Structure

The staminal tube is broadly campanulate, adnate to the gynandrophore, and 5-lobed; each lobe holds 3 anthers and alternates with staminodes.

Anther Features

The anthers are sessile and extrorse.

Pistil Structure

The pistil has a 5-celled, pilose ovary, one style, and a capitate, 5-lobed stigma.

Flowering Period

K. hospita flowers year-round, and begins producing fruit early, often in the third year after planting.

Fruit Structure

The fruit of K. hospita are rounded, 5-lobed, thin-walled, membranous capsules 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter, that dehisce loculicidally.

Seed Count per Locule

Each locule contains 1 to 2 seeds.

Seed Characteristics

The seeds are globose, whitish, warty, and exalbuminous.

Fruit Noticeability

Fruits are more noticeable than flowers due to their large size and abundance.

Native Range

The native range of Kleinhovia hospita includes Bangladesh, Christmas Island, Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam, Hainan, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, Caroline Islands, Lesser Sunda Islands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoan Islands, and the Society Islands.

Introduced Range

It has been introduced to the Comoro Islands, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Windward Islands.

Traditional Medicinal Use

In parts of Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea, Kleinhovia hospita is used as a traditional medicine to treat scabies.

Topical Uses

Its bark and leaves are used as a hair wash to remove lice, while leaf juice can be used as an eyewash.

Edible Uses

Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Fiber Uses

Bast fibers from the plant are used to make ropes for tying or tethering livestock.

Wood Characteristics

The wood of K. hospita is pinkish buff, moderately fine in texture, soft, light, and easy to season, work, and finish.

Wood Energy Value

Its energy value is approximately 19000 kJ/kg.

Active Compounds for Parasites

Leaves and bark contain cyanogenic compounds thought to help kill ectoparasites such as lice.

Anti-Tumour Activity

Leaf extracts have shown anti-tumour activity against sarcoma in mice.

Isolated Leaf Compounds

Several fatty acids with a cyclopropenylic ring, along with scopoletin, kaempferol, and quercetin, have been isolated from the leaves.

Ornamental Use

K. hospita is grown as an ornamental plant; the attractive pink panicles have led to its wide spread as an ornamental.

Composite Reinforcement Potential

The tree bark of K. hospita has good potential as a reinforcement for fiber-reinforced composites due to its high mechanical strength.