About Plumeria obtusa L.
Plumeria obtusa L. is a small tree, typically reaching 3.0–4.6 m (10–15 ft) in height. Rare individual plants can grow up to 7.6 m (25 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers are white with yellow throats, each bearing five petals, and they bloom in clustered groups. The leaves are dark green, glossy, obovate (teardrop-shaped), and can grow up to 20 cm (8 in) long. This species is native to the West Indies (including the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles), southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. It is commonly cultivated in warmer regions across the globe, including Florida, Southeast Asia, and coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula. It has been reported to be naturalized in China and India. Plumeria obtusa is most commonly used as an ornamental plant, grown for its attractive flowers. In Cambodia, its flowers are used to make necklaces and in offerings to deities. In Cambodian traditional medicine, a decoction of the plant's bark is administered in varying doses as a purgative, or as a treatment for oedema.
