Genus of plants
Ixora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is the only genus in the tribe "Ixoreae". It consists of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs and holds around 544 species. Though native to the tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world, its centre of diversity is in Tropical Asia. "Ixora" also grows commonly in subtropical climates in the United States, such as Florida where it is commonly known as West Indian jasmine.
Name.
"Ixora" is Latinized from Sanskrit "Ishwara", one of the names of the Hindu god Shiva. The genus was formally created by Linnaeus in 1753, as it was noted by Hendrik van Rheede that the flowers of what he noted as "schetti" (and named by Rheede as "Ixora coccinea") were offered in temples in the Malabar.
Other common names include viruchi, kiskaara, kepale, rangan, kheme, ponna, chann tanea, techi, pan, siantan, jarum-jarum/jejarum, cây trang thái, jungle flame, jungle geranium, and cruz de Malta, among others.
Botany.
The plants possess leathery leaves, ranging from 3 to 6 inches in length, and produce large clusters of tiny flowers in the summer. Members of "Ixora" prefer acidic soil, and are suitable choices for bonsai. It is also a popular choice for hedges in parts of South East Asia. In tropical climates, they flower year round and are commonly used in Hindu worship, as well as in ayurveda and Indian folk medicine.
In Brazil, fungal species "Pseudocercospora ixoricola" was found to be causing leaf spots on "Ixora coccinea". Then in 2018, in Taiwan, during a fungal study, it was found that the species "Pseudopestalotiopsis ixorae" and "Pseudopestalotiopsis taiwanensis" caused leaf spots on species of "Ixora", which is a popular garden plant in Taiwan.
Selected species.
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References.
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