Warning

Seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Description

A scrambling shrub to 1m with ridged stems.

The flowers are stalkless (sessile) or on very short stalks, white with five petals and a slender corolla tube 1.5-2cm long. The calyx tube is 5-ribbed, about 1cm long and covered with sticky glandular hairs.

The leaves are ovate, with a rounded to blunt apex and a long tapered base; 1.5-9cm long and 1-4cm wide.

Toxicity

  • Irritant to skin or eyes

Symptoms

Contact with the leaves and roots can cause severe skin irritation, redness and blistering.

Images

Photo by Garry Sankowski
Photo by Garry Sankowski
Photo by Garry Sankowski

Details

Common name: Plumbago

Botanical namePlumbago zeylanica.

Other common names: Ceylon leadwort

Family: Plumbaginaceae

General description: A scrambling shrub to 1m with ridged stems.

Flowers: The flowers are stalkless (sessile) or on very short stalks, white with five petals and a slender corolla tube 1.5-2cm long. The calyx tube is 5-ribbed, about 1cm long and covered with sticky glandular hairs.

Leaves: The leaves are ovate, with a rounded to blunt apex and a long tapered base; 1.5-9cm long and 1-4cm wide.

Fruit/Berries: The fruit is a capsule 3-6mm long, covered with sticky glandular hairs.

Last updated: July 2023