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Gomphrena globosa L.
| Family Name: | Amaranthaceae |
| Synonyms: | Gomphrena rubra Moq. |
| Common Name: | Globe Amaranth, Bachelor's Button, Thousand Day Red, 千日红 |
The Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena) has brightly coloured bracts which can be dried without losing its vibrancy. These cheery, long-lasting flowers symbolise unfading love and respect.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Compact |
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 0.6 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous annuals that grows to 20–60 cm tall and 0.15–0.3 cm wide. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are opposite, oblong to oblong-obovate (2–13 cm long, 0.5–5 cm wide). Young leaves are woolly-white and turn green with sparsely white hairs when matured. |
| Stems | Stem is erect, stout and branched with grey strigose hairs. |
| Flowers | Terminal clover-like globose inflorescence about 20–25 mm wide and up to 38 mm long. Flowers are inconspicuous with papery showy bracts. Bracts are ovate with acuminate apex, 3–5 mm long, and come in shades of white, pink and purple. Bracteoles are dentate-cristate, 7–12 mm long and 2–3.5 mm wide. |
| Fruit | Utricle fruit is unopened at maturity and about 1.5–2.5 mm long. Seeds are shiny reddish brown, reniform, 1.5–2 mm wide and encased in a thick coating. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Cut - Dried Flower: The long lasting and bright color flowers is excellent for cut flower arrangement. Others: The flowers of Gomphrena globosa 'Thousand Day Red' are steeped in boiling water to make a tea. The tea has a fresh floral fragrance with sweet and mellow taste. It contains vitamin C and E and thought to reduce fatigue and slow aging. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Food Plant |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Dry Soils / Drought, Well-Drained Soils, Heavy Clay Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Ciliate / Hairy |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, Yellow / Golden, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular, Stellate / Star-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Head / Capitulum |
| Flower Colour(s) Remarks | White to yellow with bright purple bracts. |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 742 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2037 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
