Ixora coccinea

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Location collected: Awak village
Collected by: Suprina Ladore

Synonym: Ixora incarnata

Genus species: Ixora coccinea
Family: Rubiaceae
Chuukese name: Achiou
English name: Burning Love, Jungle Flame or Jungle Geranium
Kosrean name: Kalsruh
Pohnpeian name: Ketieu
Yapese name: Waish
Growth form: Shrub
Growth location: Terrestrial
Growth environment: From forest to cultivated garden
Growth zone: Topical
Average height: About 172 cm tall
Stem: Woody and smooth
Leaf arrangement: Opposite arrangement
Stipule: Not present
Petioles: None
Leaf blade: Ovate shape with pinnate venation, accuminate tip with entire margin, green color, smooth surface,
Inflorescence: umbel with a pedicel that is
Floral bracts: None
Flower: Rotation and tubular shapes, actinomorphic symmetry
Calyx: None
Corolla: Four petals, rotate shape, smooth, no hair, reddish color
Stamens:
Ovary: Inferior
Style:
Fruit: None
Seed: None
Anything else: No strong odor, ants are the pollinators

Cultural usage

Pohnpei

The stick is used in a cultural dance called dokia.

Kosrae

The plant lights up the darkest depths of the forest. Often used to mark grave sites due to long life. When a hunter sees a bird he is hunting above a kalsruh he is likely to think, "Doom, doom," and other thoughts of death. Tradition was that the hunter should not shoot a bird above a kalsruh or he will bring doom on himself and his family. Source: Tadao Waguk.