Lagerstroemia speciosa
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Lagerstroemia speciosa Pers. |
Lythraceae |
 |
 |
| L. speciosa in full flower Credit: WD Hawthorne |
The plant flowering in the West Indies |
Lagerstroemia speciosa
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Lagerstroemia speciosa Pers. |
Lythraceae |
|
|
| L. speciosa in full flower Credit: WD Hawthorne |
The plant flowering in the West Indies |
Common names: Pride of India, Queens crape-myrtle, Queens flower tree.
Synonyms: Lagerstroemia flos-reginae Retzius
Life form: Tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Root suckers or seeds, which germinate readily. Seeds are wind dispersed. Introduced by humans as an ornamental tree.
Reproduction: Seedlings flower after two years. Produces lavender/pink flowers, pollinated by a variety of insects, especially bees. Fruit are brown and 1 or 2 cm long. Produces many winged seeds, about 1.25 cm long. Seeds germinate readily and flower the second year.
Herbivores: Aphids and scale
Resistant stages: No information available.
Habitat:
Native habitat: No information available.
Habitat occupied in invaded range: No information available.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | Below 1500 metres above sea level. |
| Light | Full sun. |
| Temperature | Mean annual temperature between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. |
| Annual rainfall | Between 1500 and 4500 mm. Drought resistant. |
| Soil | Grows on a wide variety of soil types and is drought resistant. Intolerant to saline soil. |
Distribution:
Native to southern Asia
Introduced range: Introduced but not considered invasive in USA, tropical Africa, Australia and Jamaica.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: Spreads quickly due to wind dispersal and prolific seed production.
Health, social and economic: No information available.
Management:
Mechanical: No information available.
Chemical: No information available.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Gilman, E.F. and Watson, D.G., 1993. Lagerstroemia speciosa. USDA Forest Service. Available from http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/LAGSPEA.pdf (Accessed August 2006).
Daehler, C., 2005. Lagerstroemia speciosa Risk Assessment Results. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Available from http://www.hear.org/Pier/wra/pacific/lagerstroemia_speciosa_htmlwra.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Last updated October 2006
