Vallaris glabra

It has been a while since I last posted anything on garden materials. So here is one to excite your senses. Vallaris glabra or better known as kerak nasi or kesidang is thought to be originated from Java, and has beautiful bunch of white flowers with very strong pandan smell. It really smells wonderful. Some kampong folks called it "bunga setokin"....haha..very strange, does it really look like one? I guess you have to be very creative to imagine this one. It blooms in the morning, spreading its refreshing pandan smell all around it and becoming more intense during the night. We once had an argument about this smell thing in bilik aktiviti and concluded that it may be due to the volatiles (which is responsible for the fragrance) being temperature dependent. Logical?

Because of its sweet smell, kesidang is usually used in pot pourri or in bunga rampai during wedding ceremony. This plant is a climber and is best set on a pergola because of the long hardy stems. I made a mini pergola near my side porch so that it will cover up the pergola and also all along my wooden fence to create some peaceful green and hopefully the lovely white flowers blooming all along it. Haha..keep on dreaming because I have yet to see it!! This plant is easy to grow but needs constant watering. At the moment I have a big problem as the plant grows so well with too many leaves and shoots except the most awaited sweet smelling white flowers! Some suggested baja tahi ayam or tahi kambing for more flowers but I have not tried it yet. Any other suggestions from anyone?

I was thinking how to relate this kesidang plant to our everyday life (before Dr Bakri ask that same question again!). This plant is a climber, meaning it needs some kind of support, otherwise the plant will not look nice, neither will it grow well I suppose. Obviuosly with the support, it will grow well, get in shape and starts to bloom. However, after a while, it may grow so well and if continuos trimming is not being done, it may overcrowd the pergola and easily becomes out of shape. It may also overshadow the other plants too with its leaves, stems and flowers etc........I now open for interpretations. I have also interpreted it for my own use.

l end my post with a beautiful pergola with roses taken during one of my trips, I am just wondering if Dr Razali can make for us a pergola for our kesidang or roses between C18 and C19? haha..keep on dreaming again.....We really wish this can come true...have a nice weekend.