Plumeria rubra

A deciduous tree native from Mexico through Central America to Venezuela, it belongs to the Apocynaceae family and grows naturally in seasonally dry tropical habitats. Its leaves are thick and leathery, and its succulent branches release milky sap when cut. The plant flowers freely, producing showy, fragrant blossoms whose colors vary among the many cultivated varieties. Its paired seed pods contain winged seeds. The milky sap is poisonous and can irritate the skin. Hawkmoths pollinate the flowers, which offer no nectar reward. The flowers are used in Hawaiian leis. It has become naturalized in Madagascar and can be propagated by seed or stem cuttings. Photographed in Colombia.