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Scientific Name
Ixora coccinea
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Ixora
Status in Hawaii
Introduced
Native Region
Southern India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia
Cultural Significance
Ixora coccinea is a flowering shrub indigenous to Asia with notable scientific, medicinal, and cultural significance. In modern scientific research, the plant has gained attention for its fermentable sugars, which make it a potential resource for bioethanol production, as well as for its role in the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles when used alongside frangipani, producing materials with demonstrated antibacterial properties. Culturally and traditionally, I. coccinea holds importance in Hinduism, where it is known as Rati Nevari in Gujarati and Bandhuka in Sanskrit, and is recognized for the medicinal uses of its stems in treating various ailments. The plant is referenced within the broader context of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine dating back to at least the first millennium BC, which encompasses herbalism, anatomy, surgery, and related sciences and is documented primarily in Sanskrit texts. Together, these scientific and traditional perspectives highlight Ixora coccinea as a plant of significance in renewable energy research, biomedical applications, and long-standing cultural and medicinal practices.
Sources
Ixora coccinea. (2025). Plantsofhawaii.org. https://www.plantsofhawaii.org/detail/%7B4850C5F1-C099-4F81-9E64-080FB967C1FE%7D
www.wisdomlib.org. (1970). Ixora coccinea: Significance and symbolism. Wisdomlib.org. https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/ixora-coccinea
Collection Date
Fall 10-4-2025
Collection Number
BYUH_25_17
Recommended Citation
Gamba, Clariza Mae Anoc, "Jungle Flame" (2025). Herbarium Collection. 11.
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/herbarium/11