Dhok Khem | ดอกเข็ม| Ixora coccinea
Family: Rubiaceae - Genus: Ixora
The needle flower can be found on several spots on the premises of TCDF and Eco-Logic as ornamental plants.
The Needle flower is a tangled and multi branched evergreen shrub that has small oblong green shaped leaves with circular clusters of red, pink, orange or yellow flowers.
They can grow up to 3 meter tall, although it is much more common to see them between 50 to 90 centimeter. They are usually grown as hedges.
The plant is also known as 'flame of the woods' and the 'jungle flame'.
The Needle Flower blooms all year long.
THE SHRUB
A dense, multi-branched evergreen shrub, 1.2–1.8 meter in height, but capable of reaching up to3.7 meter high. It has a rounded form, with a spread that may exceed its height.
THE LEAVES
The glossy, leathery, oblong leaves are about 4 in (10 cm) long, with entire margins, and are carried in opposite pairs or whorled on the stems.
THE FLOWERS
Small tubular, flowers in dense rounded clusters 5.1–12.7 centimeter across are produced almost all year long.
The flowers are bisexual, pointed, reddish, pink, orange or yellow.
The Needle Flower flowers are edible.
THE BERRIES
The Needle Flower produces globose berries, reddish-black, 0.5 centimeter across, with persistent calyx.
The berries are green turning to dark red or purplish-black as they matures
NOTE: The unripe fruits can be toxic and therefore caution needs to be exercised while eating this fruit.
CULINARY USES OF NEEDLE FLOWER
The flowers are edible and used as condiment and for flavoring in Thailand.
Flowers can be used frozen in ice cubes
Ripe fruits are edible,
NOTE: The unripe fruits can be toxic and therefore caution needs to be exercised while eating this fruit.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
The flowers, leaves, roots, and the stem are used to treat various ailments in various folk medicines, and are said to be effective with:
Healings wounds
Body pain
Hemorrhoid
Dysentery
Cramps in the calves
Maintaining the health of the uterus
The fruits, when fully ripe, are used as a dietary source.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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