Hiptage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hiptage |
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| H. benghalensis (L.) Kurz | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Malpighiaceae |
| Genus: | Hiptage Gaertn. |
Hiptage is a group of plants that includes about 30 different kinds of vines and woody shrubs. These plants belong to a larger plant family called Malpighiaceae. This family has about 75 different groups of flowering plants. You can find Hiptage plants growing in the warm, tropical forests of southeastern Asia. They grow from countries like Pakistan and India all the way to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
What Makes Hiptage Plants Special?
Hiptage plants are unique because of their seeds. Their seeds have three special "wings" that help them fly through the air like tiny helicopters. This helps the seeds spread far away from the parent plant. This type of winged seed is called a samara.
Many Hiptage species also have a special gland on their calyx. The calyx is the green leaf-like part that protects a flower bud before it opens. This gland is usually long and thin.
The Famous Hiptage benghalensis
The most well-known species in this group is Hiptage benghalensis. People think it originally came from India and Sri Lanka all the way to the Philippines. This plant is very popular because it has beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers. Because of its pretty flowers, it is grown in many gardens around the world.
However, Hiptage benghalensis can sometimes escape from gardens and grow wild. When it spreads, it can grow very quickly and take over areas. This can make it a problem plant, sometimes called a "weed," because it can outcompete other native plants.
