The frangipani (Plumeria rubra) is native to Mexico where it has been cultivated for several thousand years. The Mayans revered this fragrant tree for it was created by K'akoch, the father of the gods. From the flowers of the bak nikte' were born the children of the supreme creator; these were the gods who watched over the Earth and the affairs of humanity. After the Spanish conquest, the Mayans added a son of the bak nikte' --Hesuklistos (Jesus Christ), the god of foreigners. The Aztecs so admired the cacaloxochilt that it was punishable by death for a common person to pick or even stop to smell the flowers. The plumeria was the symbol of immortality for it was used medicinally as a stimulant and restorative.

Plumerias are now found around the world in the tropics. They are used as offerings in Buddhist temples, planted in cemeteries to honor the dead, used medicinally by the Chinese, and strung to make leis for greeting visitors to Pacific islands. They have been the inspiration for legends of lost loves and tales of dashing princes. To smell a plumeria is to understand why.

All parts of the plumeria are considered toxic and the sap can cause a rash in sensitive people. But the alkaloids in plumerias make the plant extremely bitter and there are no definitive cases of plumeria poisoning. (Actually, it may well be that any creature that could eat this plant would be something that you do not want around anyway.)