Ixora casei

The red variety is the only one found deep in the forests of Pohnpei and Kosrae and is the most common cultivar.

Ixora casei red Ixora casei red

This yellow variety was growing next to the Kosraen church in Kolonia, Pohnpei in 2007, near the plant in the images above. Unlike the color artifact further below, the flower is actually yellow.

040813_ixora_casei (37K) 040813_ixora_casei_cx (30K)

The following salmon and yellow images are of the same plant, same blossoms, taken at the same time in Awak, U. The color difference is an artifact of the cameras used. The salmon shots were taken with a Kodak DC-265 camera, the yellow shots with an older Sony DSC-F1 camera. Neither color is the exact color of the plant - the blossoms appear rather orangish to the naked eye. These images were taken by Suprina Ladore at her family home in the valley above Awak, U, in 1999.

Ixora casei orange Ixora casei orange Ixora casei orange Ixora casei orange Ixora casei orange Ixora casei orange Ixora casei orange

Photo notes: The pink plant is a different plant at Pahnasang Heights in Sokehs.

Ixora casei pink Cultivar at Pahnasang Heights

Location collected: Awak village
Collected by: Suprina Ladore

  1. Genus species: Ixora casei
  2. Family: Rubiaceae
  3. English name: Giant Ixora & Malay Ixora
  4. Chuukese name: Achiou
  5. Kosraen name: Kalsruh
  6. Pohnpeian name: Ketieu
  7. Pingelapese: Keliseu
  8. Yapese name: Waish
  9. Growth form: Shrub
  10. Growth location: Terrestrial
  11. Growth environment: from forest to cultivated garden
  12. Growth zone: Topical
  13. Average height: 152-165 cm
  14. Stem: woody
  15. Leaf arrangement: Simple, opposite
  16. Stipule: Absent
  17. Petioles: 2.5 cm, smooth surface
  18. Leaf blade: Lanceolate shape, accuminate to acute tip, entire margin, pinnate vennation, green color, smooth surface, 24 cm long.
  19. Inflorescence type: Umbel with a pedicel that is 2.3 cm long
  20. Floral bracts: None
  21. Flower: Rotation, actinomorphic symmetry
  22. Calyx: None
  23. Corolla: Four petals, rotate and about 2 cm long, orange/yellow color with no hair.
  24. Stamens: One stamen upwardly curved, with an anther that is curled
  25. Ovary: Cannot be seen
  26. Style: ?
  27. Fruit: None
  28. Seed: None
  29. Anything else: No strong odor, and the pollinator is the ant.
  30. Cultural usage: The sticks are cut into small pieces and are used for a Pohnpeian local dance called dokia.

Suprina Ladore
Suprina working with the Kodak digital camera.

Plants of Pohnpei • Pohnpei ethnobotanical • Botany • Lee Ling • COM-FSM