Deconfusing Plumeria

Plumeria  is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. Most species are deciduous shrubs or small trees.

The species variously are indigenous to South and Central America, but are grown as cosmopolitan ornamentals in warm regions.

Etymology

The genus is named in honor of the 17^th century French botanist Charles Plumier, who traveled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species.

The common name "frangipani" comes from a 16^th century marquis of the noble family in Italy who claimed to invent a plumeria-scented perfume, but in reality made a synthetic perfume that was said at the time to resemble the odor of the recently discovered flowers.

Botanical Description

branches widely spaced, thick succulent, brittle, thin grey bark, milky latex. 

Leaves are simple, whorl at tip of branches.

Flowers are fragrant, radial symmetry ( actinomorphic ), cymes, perfect, 5-lobed calyx. 5 petals.

Fruits are follicles, 2-horned, cylindrical, split when mature. 

Seeds winged, 20-60 within a fruit.