Mussaenda philippica

(Bangkok Rose, Queen Sirikit)

Description

This evergreen shrub may reach 2 m in height, the opposite leaves are about 21 x 8 cm, veins obvious, hairs present on both surfaces. Flowers are in terminal clusters, each flower has 5 sepals at least 1 sepal is much enlarged and coloured, usually in the white to apricot range; in some cultivars all sepals may be enlarged. The tubular corolla is yellow. Fruits are black berries. M. erythrophylla from west Africa has a cream corolla and a single red, enlarged sepal.