Leea guineensis G. Don (Manila leea)

Family leeaceae

Having lots of branches, mostly with the form of shrubs and occasionally growing into little trees, the whole plant is nearly glabrous, with fragile and breakable little green twigs. The Manila leea’s pinnately compound leaves are extra-large, almost grown to one meter long, with three to four splits. Leaflets are ovate-elliptic with serrated margins and obvious lateral veins. The axillary leaves hold obvious axils. Its red corymbs with white flowers are so big that in a sea of red-and-white inflorescence people are charmed. Even the old plant can still send forth holdfast roots. In old times, women always gathered firewood for cooking. Occasionally, they carelessly picked up branches of the Manila leeas, they complained that it was hard to ignite because of the high burning point; thus, it also nicknamed as “shrew women complain” in Chinese.

　　Source of Pictures: Self-shot Pictures