Plumeria rubra (Common Name Temple Tree)

Characteristics: Plumeria rubra is a deciduous plant species belonging to the genus Plumeria. Originally native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela, it has been widely cultivated in subtropical and tropical climates worldwide and is a popular garden and park plant, as well as being used in temples and cemeteries. It grows as a spreading tree to 78 m (2025 ft) high and wide, and is flushed with fragrant flowers of shades of pink, white and yellow over the summer and autumn. It has a thick succulent trunk and sausage-like blunt branches covered with a thin grey bark. The branches are somewhat brittle and when broken, ooze a white latex that can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. The large green leaves can reach 30 to 50 cm (1220 in) long and are arranged alternately and clustered at the end of the branches. They are deciduous, falling in the cooler months of the year. Uses: In Cambodia, as with other Plumeria species, P. rubra flowers is used to necklaces as offerings to deities or as decoration for coffins. The leaves of this species are used in the care of sores and made into soothing infusions. Widely available in nurseries, frangipanis are readily propagated by cuttings of branches taken in cooler months and left to dry for a week or more. As well as gardens and street- and park planting, frangipanis are planted in temples and cemeteries.

Impatiens walleriana (Common Name Busy Lizzie)

Characteristics: It is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1560 cm tall, with broad lanceolate leaves 312 cm long and 2 5 cm broad. Leaves are mostly alternate, although they may be opposite near the top of the plant. The flowers are profusely borne, 25 cm diameter, with five petals and a 1 cm spur. The seedpod explodes when ripe in the same manner as other Impatiens species, an evolutionary adaptation for seed dispersal. Uses: It is commonly cultivated in parks and gardens, typically grown in containers but also in bedding schemes. Numerous cultivars in a range of colours from white to purple, are widely available commercially, either as seeds or young plants. Also used in gardening as : Mass in shady beds, borders and woodland gardens. Ground cover. Edging along walks or paths. Containers, window boxes and hanging baskets. Houseplant.

Alstonia scholaris (Common Name Indian Devil Tree or Saptaparni)

Characteristics: Alstonia scholaris is a small tree that grows up to 40 m tall and is glabrous. The bark is greyish; branchlets are copiously lenticellate. The upperside of the leaves are glossy, while the underside is greyish. Leaves occur in whorls of 3-10; petioles are 13 cm;

Flowers bloom in the month October. The flowers are very fragrant similar to the flower of Cestrum nocturnum. Seeds of A. scholaris are oblong, with ciliated margins, and ends with tufts of hairs 1.52 cm. The bark is almost odourless and very bitter, with abundant bitter and milky sap. Uses: Alstonia or devil tree or Saptaparni is genus of evergreen trees or shrubs with white funnel-shaped flowers and milky sap. In India the bark of Alstonia scholaris is used solely for medicinal purposes, ranging from Malaria and epilepsy to skin conditions and asthma. Extracts prepared from the plant has been reported to possess cytotoxic activity. The active compounds include alkaloids, flavonoids etc. These are present in all parts of the plant. In landscape it is used as a shade plant and also as accents. It is also used along driveways and pathways as demarcation.

Gerebera jamesoni (Common Name Gerebera Daisy)

Characteristics: Gerbera species bear a large capitulum with striking, two-lipped ray florets in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colours. The capitulum, which has the appearance of a single flower, is actually composed of hundreds of individual flowers. The morphology of the flowers varies depending on their position in the capitulum. The flower heads can be as small as 7 cm (Gerbera mini 'Harley') in diameter or up to 12 cm (Gerbera Golden Serena). The Gerbera daisy is perennial and reproduces asexually. Gerbera are plants with a height up to 18 to 24 inch. There will be more than ten leaves in a plant, medium green in colour spread out in a circle parallel to the ground.

Uses: Gerbera is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. Colours include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The centre of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colours. Gerbera is also important commercially. It is the fifth most used cut flower in the world (after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip). It is also used as a model organism in studying flower formation.

Euphorbia milii (Common Name Christ plant)

Characteristics: It is a succulent climbing shrub growing to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall, with densely spiny stems, the straight, slender spines up to 3 cm long, which help it scramble over other plants. The leaves are found mainly on new growth, and are obovate, up to 3.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. The flowers are small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like bracts, variably red, pink or white, up to 12 mm broad. The sap is moderately poisonous. Wat Phrik in Thailand claims to be the home of the world's tallest Christ plant. E. milii is a variable species, and several varieties have been described; some of these are treated as distinct species by some authors. Uses: Euphorbia milii are amongst the toughest plants in cultivation and can take extreme conditions and still look good. On the whole, Euphorbia milii seem to be indifferent to humidity levels but extremely dry conditions are best avoided if possible.

On the whole, Euphorbia milii seem to be indifferent to humidity levels but extremely dry conditions are best avoided if possible. Euphorbia is mainly used as a garden plant and is planted in pots and as decorative plants.

Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum (Common Name Peace Lily)

Characteristics: They are evergreen herbaceous perennial plants with large leaves 1265 cm long and 325 cm broad. The flowers are produced in a spadix, surrounded by a 1030 cm long, white, yellowish, or greenish spathe. The plant does not need large amounts of light or water to survive. It is a herbaceous perennial which produces flowers in the typical aroid structure: a densely crowded inflorescence called a spadix is subtended by one large bract called a spathe (occasionally two spathes are produced, with the upper spathe smaller) Leaves are basal, glossy and somewhat deeply veined, ovate and acuminate. The petioles are long and the leaves arch gracefully. The plant produces offsets at the base and in time becomes a dense clump. Uses: Several species are popular indoor houseplants. Spathiphyllum cleans indoor air of many environmental contaminants, including benzene, formaldehyde, and other pollutants. It cleans best at one plant per 10 m3. Spathiphyllum is mildly toxic to humans and animals when ingested. The Peace Lily is not a true lily from the Liliaceae family. True lilies, as well as onions and garlic, are much more toxic to cats and dogs. The Peace Lily contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation, burning sensation in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, and nausea.

In landscape it is used as a border plant along pathways and walkways. It is also planted along pools of water and other water bodies.

Cotinus coggygria (Common Name smoke tree)

Characteristics: It is a multiple-branching shrub growing to 57 m (1623 ft) tall with an open, spreading, irregular habit, only rarely forming a small tree. The leaves are 3-8 cm long rounded ovals, green with a waxy glaucous sheen. The autumn colour can be strikingly varied, from peach and yellow to scarlet. The flowers are numerous, produced in large inflorescences 1530 cm (5.912 in) long; each flower 5-10 mm diameter, with five pale yellow petals. Most of the flowers in each inflorescence abort, elongating into yellowish-pink to pinkish-purple feathery plumes (when viewed en masse these have a wispy 'smoke-like' appearance, hence the common name) which surround the small (23 mm) drupaceous fruit that do develop. Uses: It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant, with several cultivars available. Many of these have been selected for purple foliage and flowers. The species and its cultivars 'Royal Purple' and 'Flame' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The wood was formerly used to make the yellow dye called young fustic.