Please, identify this plant for me. It is a climbing plant with very fragrant flowers that smell like Pandan (P. amaryllifolius). It has been almost 2 days since I posted this, but there is still no response. Perhaps I should also say that my place is in Borneo, right on the equator, so this plant I asked about is tropical.
They look very familiar. Check out "Kesidang" - Vallaris glabra. Some references say that they smell like Pandan leaves, and they're certainly something that grows in Borneo.
Thank you Iorax, my plant is unmistakably Vallaris glabra. I wonder if Vallaris glabra is originally from Java (only)?! Among so many other local names, none are Javanese. How long ago was this plant named Vallaris glabra, and why was it named so? Jim.
Tropicos says it was given the name Vallaris glabra in 1891; however it was previously called Flos pergulans (as far back as the 1750's). Additional Malay names I was able to find are Plisse Dangan, Pele Tsjedangan, and Kerak Nasi (for the smell of burnt rice). The Thai name is Chammanard. The common English name is Bread Flowers. The Latin name refers to its smooth leaves and flowers, perhaps in contrast to other members of the genus Vallaris. (The relative Vallaris solanacea has crinkled flowers that resemble those of the Solanums, and other Vallaris have leaves that are serrated on the edges or have deeper venation.) As far as I can tell, it's native to Java and perhaps other parts of Malaysia, but has since spread out to occupy large parts of Asia.
