Mangrove Wax Plant

Hoya diversifolia is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Philippines. This species name comes from Latin Hoya, commemorates Thomas Hoy, a 18th century head gardener to the Duke of Northumberland at Syon House, Isleworth; Latin diversifolia, variable-leaved It is a desirable plant for its ornamental flowers and fragrant. The fragrance is mild, but pleasant. Suitable for growing in parks, gardens and streetscapes, on trees or on trellises and pergolas. It contains latex which is a skin irritant and is considered toxic, therefore keeps away from children and animals.

Akar kekapal (Malay), Hoa sao khác lá (Vietnamese).

This species is tolerant of a wide range of habitats and can be found growing on mangrove or coastal trees. It grows best in semi shade area, with little to moderate water. This plant can grow in moist, well-drained, saline soils/salt spray, and fertile loamy soils, with humidity of 67.3% to 74%, and temperature of 29 °C to 31.2 °C.

• Stem - climbing in segments (11.5-16 cm), green to yellowish green, 3-5.5 mm in diameter.
• Leaves - green, simple, opposite, entire margin, its stalked leaves have very thick, and fleshy leaf blades that are elliptic-obovate, blunt or apiculate at the tip, rounded at the base, and are up to 13 by 6.4 cm.
• Flower - axillary, 1–20 flowers develop in umbrella-shaped flowering clusters (inflorescence), star-shaped, cream or pink with pink centers, and are 0.8–1.3 cm wide. Calyx is membranous; sepals elliptic-blunt, usually fringed with hairs at the tips.
• Fruit - simple, its fruits are follicles that would split open at one side when mature, brown, and are up to 15 by 0.6 cm.
• Seed - seedpods are single nearly linear, sickle-shaped, pericarp thick.

• Generative propagation is by seed.
• Vegetative propagation is by stem cutting - take 7 cm stem tip cuttings in spring. Cuttings should include at least 1 pair of leaves. They will root easily in a moist potting mix.

Saponins, alkaloids, tannins, triterpene cinnamates, anthraquinones, squalene, β-sitosterol, β-amyrin cinnamate and a mixture of α-amyrin, β-amyrin, and lupeol.

• It has antibacterial activity.
• The leaves decoction is used in Malay folk medicine (Kuala Kangsar, Peninsular Malaysia) for hot baths to treat fevers and rheumatism.
• It has been used to cure skin diseases such as eczema, abscess, acne, boils, scabies, itch, infections, dermatitis, rash, sores, scar and warts.