Clerodendrum indicum
| Clerodendrum indicum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flowers | |
 | |
| Fruit | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Clerodendrum |
| Species: | C. indicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze | |
Clerodendrum indicum, commonly known as Turk's turban, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is a perennial shrub or subshrub native to tropical and subtropical parts of Asia.[1]
Taxonomy
Clerodendrum indicum was originally described under the basionym Siphonanthus indicus by Carl Linnaeus. The current combination was published by Otto Kuntze.[2]
Description
Clerodendrum indicum is a perennial plant that may grow as a shrub or subshrub. In cultivation and naturalized settings it can reach several metres in height. The species typically has whorled leaves and terminal inflorescences with long, tubular flowers; mature plants may produce drupaceous fruits.[3]
Ecology
Nectaries over the calyx secrete a thick, white, slimy substance which pools in the calyx-cup at the base of the corolla-tube. This may function as an ant barrier.[4]
Pollination
The species has a unique pollination system. The flowers are open for 4 days. A little pollen is presented by the anthers on the first day, but most of the pollen is presented on the second day. On the third day, the stigma becomes receptive to pollen. Unusually, when the stigma becomes receptive to pollen, it mimics the appearance of an anther presenting its pollen to fool its pollinator into visiting it. While many insect species may visit the flower to feed on pollen and nectar, most only visit on the second day of a flower opening. Only a species of stingless bee is known to also visit the flower on its third day of opening, thereby delivering pollen to the stigma and pollinating the flower; this species of bee is thus this plant's only known pollinator.[4] The study that determined this identified the bee as a species of Trigona, however, the study took part in India, and Trigona only occurs in the Neotropics.[5][4]
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The flower has nectar secreting nectaries, but its stingless bee pollinator does not feed from these. Rather, it appears that the nectar serves to lure non-pollinating insects away from the pollen-containing anthers.[4]
This is the only known species of plant with bisexual flowers where the stigma mimics the anthers. Other plant species known to have anther-mimicking stigmas all have unisexual flowers.[4]
Uses
Clerodendrum indicum is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions. In some areas where it has been introduced, it grows in disturbed or open habitats.
References
- ↑ "Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ↑ "Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ↑ Huang, X. (2023). "Pollen morphology of Clerodendrum L. (Lamiaceae) from China and its systematic implications". Plants. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ghosh, Arijit; Pal, Pankaj K. (2017-06-08). "Pollination ecology of Clerodendrum indicum (Lamiaceae): first report of deceit pollination by anther-mimicking stigma in a bisexual flower". Revista de Biología Tropical. 65 (3): 988. doi:10.15517/rbt.v65i3.29450. ISSN 2215-2075.
- ↑ Rasmussen, Claus; Cameron, Sydney A. (2007). "A molecular phylogeny of the Old World stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) and the non-monophyly of the large genus Trigona". Systematic Entomology. 32 (1): 26–39. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2006.00362.x. ISSN 1365-3113.
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