This flowering vine has strong and sweet fragrance just like newly cooked rice. The plant is well known in Thailand because its flowers have a scent like that of pandan leaves or newly cooked fragrant rice. In Thailand it is known as 'New Rice Flower'.
I read that Malaccan women, the Malay women, Nyonya ladies and Chitty women use bunches of these tiny, white flowers to beautify their hair at bridal rituals and special occasions as it serves as natural perfume for them. IStraits born women place these flowers on their wedding beds to create a romantic atmosphere for their first night.
The bread flower or kesidang is also used as an ingredient to make potpourri or bunga rampai. Here are the ingredients you can use to make bunga rampai or potpourri. Note that the main ingredient is pandan leaves while the other ingredients can be any type of fragrant flower or leaves.
Ingredients for Bunga Rampai
•Fresh Red Rose petals
•Fresh Pandan Leaves (Finely sliced as possible)
•Fresh Chempaka (Magnolia) Flowers
•Fresh Kesidang (vallaris glabra ) Flowers
•Fresh Melor(Jasmine Sambac) Flowers, I prefer the Maid of Orlean due to its fragrance.
•Fresh Siantan (Ixora plant) Flowers
•A few drops of Agarwood Essence (for a more lasting fragrance and natural insect repellent)
Preparation
Mixed all the ingredients together and put them in a nice glass bowl in the room or on the bed for a romantic aromatherapy atmosphere. Alternatively, you can place the ingredients in a small bag and hang it in your car.
I planted the breadflower plant in the Herb Garden somewhere in the middle of last year but the plant has since died. Shall I buy a new one to replace it? Perhaps then I can get to make some potpourri bags for my car and home.
References:
http://www.cityturtle.com/Kesidang.html
http://www.cityturtle.com/Bunga_Rampai.html
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