Half Flower is a large evergreen shrub, found on tropical beaches of
Indian Ocean. The flowers are composed of five white to pale purple petals
in a distinctive fan shape, hence the common name half-flower. The flowers
are produced throughout the year. The shrub can reach 3-4 m in height, and
the glossy, light green leaves can range from 5-15 cm long. The plant is
able to quickly colonize areas because it easily roots wherever branches
come in contact with the ground. For this reason, it was introduced to
coastal areas outside of its native distribution to be used for erosion
control. The fleshy white fruit contains lightweight, buoyant seeds. The
seeds remain viable even after prolonged exposure to sea water, but will
only germinate in fresh water.
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
Photographed at Sagar Upavan, Mumbai.
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The flower labeled Half Flower is ...