Fagraea berteroana


Fagraea berteroana, commonly known as the pua keni keni, pua kenikeni or perfume flower tree, is a small spreading tree or a large shrub which grows in the sub-tropics, where temperatures are 10 °C or more. It is indigenous to the Samoa Islands where it is known as the pua-lulu and occurs from New Caledonia to eastern Polynesia. The ITIS database clarifies the spelling of the name.

Description

The plant has quad-angular branches, blunt tipped leaves, and fragrant 7 cm tubular shaped flowers of creamy white, which become yellow with time.

Cultural use

The flowers are popular for making lei. The tree's name, in Hawaiian, means "ten cent flower", referring to the sale price for a lei made from them in the past.