Wild Florida Photo
Nature Photography by Paul Rebmann
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Plumbago zeylanica
DOCTORBUSH
CEYLON LEADWORT
CHITRAK
Synonym: Plumbago scandens
Florida native
An occasional perennial in coastal hammocks of the central and south peninsula of Florida. The range includes Texas, Arizona, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and extends throughout the tropical portions of the Americas, Africa and Asia (pantropical).
Doctorbush is a sprawling woody shrub with vinelike branches 1 m (39 in.) or more in length. Leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptical-lanceolate and entire. Petioles do not have basal auricles. The white flowers are salverform and appear in terminal spikes 10-13cm (4-5 in.) long. The calyx is five lobed with stalked glands the entire length,
In Florida, Plumbago zeylanica is a larval host plnat for the Cassius Blue butterfly.
Plumbago zeylanica is a member of the Plumbaginaceae - Leadwort family.
Other species of the Plumbago genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
View Plumbago auriculata - CAPE LEADWORT
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified:
Aug 07, 2016