Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Java Glory Bower

Java Glory Bower is a branched evergreen erect shrub, 1-4 m tall, with branches almost quadrangular, slightly velvet-hairy. Flowers are borne in showy panicles at branch-ends, on an about 4 cm long flower-cluster-stalk, erect, 15-35 cm long, red in color, with a cluster of flowers, about 3 cm in diameter, scentless. Five toothed bell-shaped sepal-cup, 4-6 mm long, is red in color. Flat-faced flowers, with petals spreading perpendicular to a long thin tube, are scarlet red in color. Flower-tube is 2-2.5 cm long; with 5 obovate petals, 1.5-1.7 cm long, and 4 red stamens protruding out from the flower, together with the style, to a length of about 3 cm.The leaves, bone on a (up to) 20 cm long velvet-hairy leaf-stalk, are simple, opposite, decussate, heart-shaped with pointed or tapering tip, rounded toothed margin and veins sunken above, prominent below, 10-32 cm long and 8-25 cm broad, of glossy dark green color above, paler below, and covered by short and light hair. The fruits are slightly flattened 4-lobed drupes, initially green, then red and finally blackish blue, 1-1.2 cm long. Java Glory Bower is native to W. Malesia, New Guinea to Vanuatu, cultivated and naturalized in South India.