Santan de Noche

Quickpost: I chanced upon this flowering Ixora philippinensis in the NAPWC when I was there the other night. This was the same Philippine santan given by Mike Asinas as donation to the German funded demo plot, now named after our departed friend, native plant champion Leonard Co. The white flowers are very riminiscent of the garden variety santans we all know. But what surprised me was that it had noticeable scent, reminiscent of the gardenia's smell. It is fragrant at first but turns a bit foul, giving hints of ammonia or urine. But the smell is not overwhelming, only when you hold it close to your nose.