Common trees and plants

Singapore is a City in Nature. The city used to be known as the Garden City, followed by City in a Garden. So, the city's green landscape is evolving all the time, in name as well. A little confusing, but what remains till this day is the immense greenery in an urban and modern city with pockets of nature reserves, forests, parks and gardens packed in a 728.3 sq. km (281 sq. miles) of land area.

Prior to colonisation in 1819, much of Singapore's land area would have been covered in lowland rainforest. Rainforests are forest that receive high amounts of rain throughout the year. The trees in the forest act like umbrellas, controlling the amount of heat, light and water beneath. This creates layers with different environmental conditions where various plants, animal and fungi can thrive. Do you know that plants have been around for about 3,500 million years but humans only appeared about 100,000 years ago?

However, today, the largest remaining habitat are found in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve of which MacRitchie Reservoir is part of, but less than 0.5% of the original primary forest cover remains. These forests hold over 1,600 native plant species, offering a glimpse at the landscape of a bygone era. Still, while Singapore moves ahead full steam with urbanisation, Singapore's greenery flourished thanks to the city's first Prime Minister, the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. On 16th June 1963, he planted a Mempat tree at Farrer Circus, which marked the launch of an island-wide greening movement that has continued to almost six decades now.

Many of the previous colonial administrators were keen horticulturists or trained botanists, including the first two early administrators, Sir Stamford Raffles and William Farquhar, so we have to thank them as well. The largest flower in the world, Rafflesia, is named after Sir Stamford Raffles. The 162 years old Singapore Botanic Gardens, established in 1859 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is designed like an English garden. There are gardens named after Raffles and Farquhar at Fort Canning Hill.

MacRitchie Reservoir

Prior to that, in 1822, Raffles set-up the first experimental Botanic Garden at Fort Canning Hill with the aim of cultivating economic cash crops and planted with spices but it did not last long. By late 1820s, it was populated instead with ornamental and fragrant trees.

We have three national gardens now, Singapore Botanics Gardens, Gardens by the Bay and Jurong Lake Gardens. And dozens more parks and nature reserves such as MacRitchie Reservoir, Sungei Buloh, Punggol Waterway Park, Pasir Ris, Bukit Timah, Coney Island, the Southern Islands, Fort Canning, Bukit Batok and Pulau Ubin. Many of these parks are part of the 36km (22 miles) coast-to-coast trail. There are a total of 18 parks hugging this trail.

Nature is certainly in abundance here and that is why the city is now known as the city in the nature! The annual tree planting day that started in 1971 has become a tradition since then. Within the next 10 years, Singapore plan to plant a million trees! To add to a collection of over 7 million trees here. Which is necessary as within 50 years while we modernise, the temperature here has been getting hotter by 1.5 degree Celsius!

Hiking in MacRitchie Reservoir

1.5 degrees is a critical threshold and anymore increase can be catastrophic and contributes to global warming, and it will be too hot to enjoy nature and outdoors. So, trees and plants are important to keep us cool a bit in a tropical heat and humidity. Plants also help to absorb pollutants to keep us healthy. Nature is our greatest teacher and we have long known the curative power of plants.

And I am proud to plant a few new young trees together with many other volunteers at Pulau Ubin as part of the campaign initiated by NParks. Just for half a day. And nope, I do not work for NParks but love their initiatives, as like many others, I enjoy walking or hiking in the parks, nature reserves or gardens, and admiring the greeneries and wildlife! In Japan, forest therapy is very popular.

It is refreshing breathing in fresh air and listening to the serenading voice of the hidden cicadas. Do you know that the droning sounds of cicadas are only made by male cicadas? And if you can hear the high pitching sound of cicadas it spells good weather?

Sungei Buloh Wetlands

Here are some common and not so-common trees and plants (they used to be common) that can be found in many parks, gardens and forests in Singapore or along the roadsides. Many of these plants are also heritage trees. Heritage trees tend to be large with a circumference of more than 5 metres (16 ft.) and remind us of our roots, historically or culturally. They are the canopy of the rainforest, trees that typically grow up to 25 to 40 metres (82 to 131 ft) tall.

There are more than 200 heritage trees in Singapore. These heritage trees create a dense layer of leaves and branches that protects the layers underneath. The canopy layer intercepts most of the rainwater and up to 80% of sunlight coming from above. Rainforests are forests that receive high amounts of rain throughout the year. And being a tropical country obviously the variety of flora in city in nature are tropical. The list includes some common scrubs as well.

Katong Tree

When there are forests and nature reserves, there will be wildlife too. Flora and fauna work hand in hand and are part of the ecosystem. We know there are crocodiles in Sungei Buloh. Monitor lizards and long-tailed macaques are common and can be found in almost all parks here. Otters and oriental pied hornbills have made a great comeback. Wild boars can be found at Pulau Ubin and Pasir Ris. The critically endangered Sunda or Malayan pangolins have been spotted at the central catchment area, Pulau Ubin and Bukit Timah. And there are less than 100 critically endangered lesser mousedeer (kancil) left in Singapore forests.

Do you know that many places, streets and rivers in Singapore are named after or related to trees, plants, flowers and herbs and spices? Like Kranji, Sembawang, Tampines, Changi, Katong, Tembusu, Angsana, Saraca, Pine, Nipah (palm), Pelepah (palm frond), Chempaka (marigold), Banyan, Gelam (melaleuca cajaputi), Buloh (bamboo), Palm, Rhu, Casuarina, Ketapang (sea almond), Keruing, Nim, Nutmeg, Tamarind, Selaseh (basil), Kayu Manis (cinnamon), Cassia, Jintan (cumin), Ketumbit (coriander), Lada Putih (white pepper), Kayu (wood), Pokok Serunai (flute tree), Gambir, Mimosa, Vanda, Orchid, Lavender, Cactus, Gardenia, Lilac, Begonia, Lotus, Rose, Marigold, Jasmine, Kemuning (orange jasmine), Mayflower, Serai (lemongrass), Pandan, Grove, Plantation, Flora, Bunga (flower), Clover, Meranti (shorea), Waringin (ficus benjamina), Cedar, Willow, Kenanga (ylang ylang) and Olive.

Pisang (banana) and Rambutan fruits

Also, there are streets named after tropical fruit and nut trees such as Rambutan, Rambai, Langsat, Duku, Orange, Limau Nipis/ Purut/ Manis/ Bali (lime/ calamansi/ sweet lemon/ pomelo), Pisang (banana), Klapa (coconut), Sentul (cotton fruit), Binjai (white mango), Jambu Batu (guava), Jambu Ayer/ Mawar (water/ rose apple), Durian, Mulberry, Chestnut, Cashew, Almond, Pinang (areca catechu), Kledek (sweet potato), Ubi (tapioca), Mengkudu (noni), Chermai (Malay gooseberry), Belimbing (bilimbi), Semangka (watermelon) and Chempedak. Obviously, oranges do not adapt too well in tropical climate, but then more than century ago it was worth the try and the climate here was probably one or two degrees Celcius cooler.

From a botanical perspective, a banana is a giant herb as it distantly related to ginger. It is also not a tree as it does not produce wood. In fact, it is the largest flowering herbaceous plant in the world. The shopping belt of Orchard Road was also once spice and fruit orchards, hence the name. By the way, if you like orchids, there is a post dedicated just to orchids, specifically the ones at National Orchid Garden. Do you know that the national flower of Singapore is an orchid?

Tall Common Pulai at Pulau Ubin

PULAI TREE. Alstonia angustiloba. Family: Apocynaceae

A heritage tree, Common Pulai Tree is a mid-canopy tree that can grow up to 40 metres (131 ft.) in height and has a pagoda-shaped crown. They live in rainforests, swamps and coastal areas and are endemic in South-East Asia including Singapore. Its fragrant flowers are creamy white in colour and develop in clusters of 3 to 8. These white flowers attract nectar-feeding insects and sunbirds. Dried, bean-like fruits split to release small hairy seeds that are dispersed by wind.

The tree's latex, leaves and bark are used traditionally as medicine. Latex exuded from the bark can be used to treat abscesses, shingles and boils, while the leaves and bark are used for treating fever. The latex is also an ingredient for making chewing gum, though you cannot find chewing gums in Singapore! Its light coloured soft wood can also be used in making floorboards, household items, matches, pencils and posts.

You can find a very tall Common Pulai Tree at Pulau Ubin. It is located along the way to Chek Jawa wetlands. As this tree is very tall, unless you take a panoramic view or lie down on the ground, you are unlikely to take photo of the whole tree. It looks like more than 40 metres (131 ft) high! It has a large girth of more than 6m (20ft).

Blackboard Pulai Tree

Due to its height, this tree is used as a lightning conductor to protect both the tree and humans during thunderstorms. There is a metal cable conductor running up this Pulai tree trunk that will protect us should it be struck by lightning. So, the next time when you walk in a park, and you see a metal cable running along a tall tree trunk you will know what it is for.

These Common Pulai trees can also be found in Sentosa Island along the Imbiah nature and coastal trails. Do you know that there is an island called Alstonia at Jurong Lake Gardens which is named after the Common Pulai?

There is also another type of Pulai tree, Alstonia scholaris, from the same Apocynaceae family. Also known as the Blackboard tree, Alstonia scholaris is native to Malaysia and widely used to treat boils, abscesses and fevers just like the Common Pulai above. It is supposedly able to eradicate intestinal worms as well. See the connection between blackboard and scholaris? A scholar tree. Interestingly the Blackboard Pulai is also known as the Indian Pulai or Indian Devil's Tree. These very tall Blackboard Pulai trees can be found at the Healing Garden of Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Sea Almond trees at Lazarus Island

SEA ALMOND. Ketapang. Terminalia catappa. Family: Combretaceae.

Also known as Indian Almond Tree, and Ketapang in Malay, this native colourful deciduous tree is very common in the Southeast Asian region and of course in Singapore. You can find it practically everywhere near the sea including at Changi Beach, Pulau Ubin, Sentosa Island, East Coast Park and the Southern Islands like Lazarus and St. John, hence the name Sea Almond. It has a characteristic pagoda-like crown with layers of branches spaced at about 1-2m (3-7 ft.) apart.

With prominent buttress roots, the Sea Almond Tree can reach 35m (115 ft.) in height and produces large leaves similar in shape like Simpoh Air that turn deep red twice a year before they are shed. Its fruits look and tase vaguely like almonds and are eaten by birds, monkeys, squirrels and wild bats. Bees feed on the nectar, pollinating the flowers in the process. This tree also produces fabric dyes. The oval shaped seeds are easily recognisable strewn on the ground under the trees.

Sea/ Indian almond fruits

In traditional medicine, fallen leaves are used to treat liver diseases. Tea made from the leaves is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. However, you will not see anyone here picking up fallen sea almond leaves to treat illnesses even though they are practically everywhere.

Being a naturally coastal plant, the sea almond leaves are leathery and glossy. Interestingly in Singapore, aquarists often put these sea almond leaves in their aquariums as they have an antibacterial effect believed to promote fish health. At Singapore Zoo, sea almond tree leaves are harvested for proboscis monkeys to feed on. Such a useful common tree indeed.

Young Tembusu Plant at Hort Park

TEMBUSU. Cyrtophyllum fragrans/ Fagraea fragrans. Family: Gentianaceae (Loganiaceae).

A heritage tree, the Tembusu is a large, evergreen tree that grows up to 40 metres (131 ft) in height. This native of Singapore can be recognised by its deeply fissured dark brown bark and unique perpendicular branching. The very strong and hard wood of the tree helps to support the weight of the branches. It can grow on poor soils. The wood is hardy and durable, in olden days its trunk was used to make chopping boards.

During its twice-yearly flowering season in June and November, its creamy white flowers open at sunset and give off a strong fragrance in the evening, hence its scientific name, Fagraea fragrans. The fragrant flowers attract moths in the evening. As the flowers age, they turn from white to yellow and the fragrance deteriorates. The fruits are small reddish or orange berries. The fruits and seeds are eaten and dispersed by birds and bats. A tembusu tree is featured on the back of the Singapore five-dollar note.

Jalan Tembusu in Katong, in the east, is named after this tree. Katong is also named after a tree, the Katong Tree. Though Katong could possibly be named after an extinct turtle 'katong'. There is a Tembusu tree at Sentosa Island and Hort Park. Sentosa Island indeed has many heritage trees along its Imbiah nature trail. Though the island is now more famous for its theme parks.

Rows of Rain trees at Pasir Ris Park

RAIN TREE. Samanea saman. Pukul Lima. Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

Large and majestic, that can grow up to 30 metres (98 ft.) high, the Rain tree is the most common tree that can be found along the expressways, roadsides, wayside streets and in parks in Singapore, providing plenty of shade with its massive umbrella-shaped crown. When it blooms, the crown of the rain tree is covered in clusters of pink-white flowers like small, upturned brushes. Its sweet fruit pulp is relished by farm animals such as cattle, goats, horses, pigs and even children in some countries.

Rain tree has bipinnate compound leaves. The leaves of these massive trees have a habit of folding up at dusk or before an impending storm or rain, giving rise to its name as Rain Tree. The Malays called it Pukul Lima or 5 o'clock tree because the leaves of the Rain Tree folded up at 5pm, before sunset or evening. Prior to 1982, 5pm was 5:30pm. So, Singapore has about 12 hours of daylight each day all year round.

Heritage Rain tree at Fort Canning

Rain tree is a local tree introduced from abroad. The Rain Tree is native to Central and South America ranging from El Salvador to Colombia and Venezuela. It was introduced to Singapore in 1876. Due to its form and useful shade, in 1900s it was planted in coffee and nutmeg plantations and along roadsides. By mid-1900s the rain tree was planted throughout the tropics. The trunk and branches of mature rain trees often host beautiful ferns and orchids such as bird nest ferns and the Tiger Orchids.

Ferns and most orchids are both epiphytes that will require hosts for support and Rain trees are perfect for supporting these epiphytes. The Rain tree share the same family as the saga, Angsana and yellow flame below. Trees that originate from Central and South America are well represented here as we share common tropical climates. A Rain Tee at Fort Canning is so big and massive that it was endorsed as a Heritage tree in 2014.

Tempinis tree at Sentosa Island

TEMPINIS TREE. Streblus elongatus. Family: Moraceae. Origin: Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo and Sulawesi.

This bushy evergreen heritage tree with a rounded crown grows between 12-30m in height. The Tempinis tree is monoecious - it produces both male and female flowers on the same tree.

You can find young Tempinis trees at Hortpark. The mature trees can be found at Sentosa Island along the Nature Trail towards Mount Imbiah. There is a concentration of Tempinis trees near Tempinis Fall (ironically located at Sentosa Island, and not at Tampines). There is also Tempinis tree at St. John's Island, one of the Southern Islands.

Tempinis is a Malay word. But it evolved to Tampines during the colonial period. Tampines estate, a well-developed, densely populated housing estate located in the eastern part of Singapore, is named after this tree as it grew abundantly in this area in the old days.

Saga Tree Twisted Seed Pod

SAGA. Adenanthera pavonina. Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

Known as the red bead tree, the Saga tree is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30m (98 ft) tall. It is a hardy and deciduous tree that has a large spreading crown, making it suitable for providing shade in large gardens. The fine leathery leaves shed annually, and the tree trunk is covered with smooth greyish bark. Its small creamy-yellow star-shaped flowers give way to dark brown pods, which then twisted and open to expel small, hard, bright-scarlet seeds.

Saga seeds

The characteristic scarlet saga seeds symbolise love and are used as decorative items. These seeds are known for their amazingly uniform weight: 4 seeds make up about 1 gram. Because of this, they were used widely in the past as weight measures for gold, silver, even diamonds. These seeds are also used for playing games such as congkak. Congkak was widely played prior to the 1980s by the Malays and the Peranakan.

In the late 1800s the saga trees were planted to provide temporary shade for nutmeg trees and to suppress the growth of grass and lallang. Nutmeg was a cash crop here in the 1800s. In the 1970s to 1980s, the saga tree became common as a shade tree along roadsides in Singapore. Saga trees are native to Southeast Asia including Singapore, India and Sri Lanka.

The saga, rain, yellow flame and Angsana trees all come from the same Fabaceae/ Leguminosae family, hence the leaves of all these trees have similar smallish compound leaves or shapes. Their crowns may also look similar. Sometimes at a glance they can all look alike, but each of these trees have distinct characteristics.

Yellow Flame at Sungei Buloh

YELLOW FLAME. (Peltophorum pterocarpum). Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

A native tree, the Yellow Flame is a medium size tree that grows up to 20 metres (66 ft) tall and is a popular ornamental tree for wayside or roadside planting due to its attractive yellow blossoms, wide umbrella-shaped crown and drought-resistant nature.

The brilliant yellow flowers are about 3 centimetres in size, and have wavy, crinkled petals that resemble tissue paper. These flowers develop into woody purple-brown pods that remain in the crown for several months before dropping off. Not to be confused with Flame of the Forest tree, with its reddish flowers. However, both Yellow Flame and Flame of the Forest are from the same Fabaceae/ Leguminosae family, just like the rain and saga trees above and the Angsana below.

Angsana Tree

ANGSANA. Pterocarpus indicus. Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

Same family as the yellow flame and saga trees, the Angsana is a large deciduous tree that grows up to 40 metres (131 ft) tall and can be recognised by its drooping, dome shaped wide-spreading crown. It is a very common wayside tree that provides good shade. As it matures, large buttresses roots grow above ground level and can cause cracks on pavements.

A native

Angsana fruit pod

tree, the Angsana has yellow flowers that blown for only a day. It subsequently rains down the next morning, creating yellow carpets on the ground. Its fruits are flattened pod with disc-like papery wings.

Kino, a resin from the bark is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The leaves and flowers of Angsana tree are edible and widely used in traditional medicine, however the fruit seed is poisonous.

MANGROVES.

Once prized for their wood, which make excellent charcoal and timber for coastal dwellers, the mangroves are now valued as nurseries for young fish and act as natural seawalls that help to protect coastal areas. There are still large tracts of mangroves at swampy Pulau Ubin, Pasir Ris Mangroves Park and Sungei Buloh. You can find mangroves at Southern Islands too. So, we are fortunate to still have expanses of healthy mangroves in this area.

Mangroves at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin

Mangroves are important to ecosystem, supplying nutrients to marine creatures. As mangroves can form dense coastal forests that are able to survive regular flooding by the tides, they act as natural buffer against erosion, waves and storms, thus helping to stabilise coastlines.

Mangroves also provide a place for migrating birds to rest and feed. The mangrove thickets become home to endangered species such as mangroves horses' crabs and serve as refuge for young fish, shrimps and crabs. Many other creatures are dependent on food chains that can be traced back to this part of the ecosystem.

Mangroves propagules

Seawater will kill most trees due to its high salinity. But mangrove trees have adapted to life near the sea. The most apparent adaptations are the stilt, pencil or knee roots that enable the trees to breathe above the waterlogged soil. The aerial roots brace the trees against wind and tides, filter salt and take in and store oxygen. The closely packed tangled root systems of mangrove trees also serve as sediment traps, preventing the silting of marine habitats. Mangroves are able to absorb pollutants such as heavy metal and play a major role in the fight against climate change due to their high sequestration for carbon dioxide.

Some species of mangroves are able to pump out excess salt through pores in their leaves. You can see a sacrificial yellowish leaf here. To improve the chances of survival, the fruits of many mangroves' trees germinate while they are still attached to the tree. Such propagules can take root immediately in the mud once dispersed or they can float and remains in the sea for months.

Fishtail palm

FISHTAIL PALM. Tukas. Caryota mitis.

The clustered fishtail palm leaves are shaped like the tailfin of a fish hence the common name of this palm. Commonly found in nature parks here like in Pulau Ubin, Sungei Buloh and Pasir Ris.

Fishtail palm is also called toddy palm. The sap can be made into palm sugar and fermented to make toddy or wine. In some countries, an edible starch is extracted from the stems, and the palm heart is also eaten. Leaves are used as thatching material or woven into household hems. The leaf sheaths can be made into ropes.

Fruit pulp of fishtail palm contains needle-like oxalate crystals, which can cause severe itching. However, the seeds are edible and consumed by wildlife such as birds, squirrels, monkeys and civets.

Nipah Palm at Pulau Ubin

NIPAH PALM/ ATTAP PALM. Nypa fruticans.

The Nipah Palm is among the few palms that grows well in mangroves, and therefore it is also known as the mangroves palm. It grows in soft mud, usually where the water is calmer, but where there is regular inflow of freshwater and nutritious silt. They can be found inland, as far as the tide can deposit the Palm's floating seeds. The Nipah Palm can tolerate infrequent inundation, so long as the soil does not dry out for too long.

Nipah Palm is a mangrove plant with the oldest known fossil, with pollen dated 70 million years old. A globular flower cluster on a nipah palm, the fruits form into a large ball about the size and shape of a football, rising from the mud on stick. When it ripens, the ball breaks away and breaks up into individual fruits. These float away and may even germinate as they float.

Nipah Palm Flowers

Before the inflorescence blooms, it is tapped to collect a sweet sap. Young Nipah Palm shoots can be eaten. The petals of the flower can be brewed to make aromatic tea. Locals will know attap chee, the white translucent and jelly-like, but a bit hard, common ingredients in local desserts such as ice-kachang, hence it is also called the Attap Palm. It comes from the immature fruits. Its horizontal creeping stem stabilises riverbanks preventing soil erosion.

New fronds emerge quickly after damage and so quickly protect the land after storms. It also continuously produces useful products for the locals. The fronds were commonly used for roof materials in traditional kampong houses. While it may be trunkless, the trunk of the palm actually lies horizontally underground. Nipah or attap palm is considered a cash crop in the Philippines and Thailand as the fruits are harvested for various uses. In Malaysia, its stalk is cultivated to produce another local favourite, i.e., gula Melaka! In Singapore, you can find nipah or attap palm at mangroves areas of Pulau Ubin and Sungei Buloh.

Gelam trees at Pasir Ris Park

GELAM TREES. Melaleuca cajaputi. Family: MYRTACEAE. Origin: Indochina, Malaysia, Australia.

Commonly known as Gelam or the paperbark tree, Melaleuca cajaputi is another species that has adapted to a freshwater swamp environment. It is easily identified by its white, flaky and papery bark hence the name paperbark tree. It is also called kayu putih (white wood) in Malay and Indonesian due to the whitish appearance of the bark. Cajaputi probably got its name from kayu putih.

The gelam tree is a close relative of the Ti Tree, known for the Tea Tree Oil. It also a family of eucalyptus. Hence gelam tree leaves also smell like the tea tree and eucalyptus leaves. Pick some fallen leaves on the ground, crush them and smell them. The familiar aroma will come out.

The tree's oil, bark and wood have medicinal and other properties. Tiger Balm, the famous Singapore balm, has cajaputi indicated as its main ingredients. So is 'Axe' oil, which has been around for decades. Cajaputi oil is used in many 'warming' oils for muscle and joint sprains.

Gelam trees at Kampong Glam

Legend claims that a healer saw a bubot bird healed its chick's broken leg with the gelam tree leaves and followed its lead. And so minyak kayu putih (literally white wood oil) is created. And for the flaky paperbark, it was used to caulk or seal boat and its hardy whitish bark, minus the flaky paperbark, were used to build boats. Very versatile tree indeed despite its flaky appearance.

It is believed that Kampong Glam in the Bugis district is named after this tree species, which suggests that it grew in the area beside the Rochor and Singapore River. Kampong Glam now is quite a cool area and there are still few species left there in a small park along Kandahar Street to remind us about the history of the area. There are still sizeable pockets of gelam trees in Singapore, notably at Pasir Ris Mangroves Park and at Singapore Botanic Gardens Foliage and Healing Gardens. You can also spot these trees at Admiralty Park and at Jurong Lake Gardens.

Pandan

PANDAN Leaf. Pandanus amarylifolius. Family: Pandanus

Often referred to as the 'Vanilla of the East', the Pandan is a tropical plant easily found in Southeast Asia and of course Singapore. It is an upright, green shrub with woody aerial roots and fan-shaped sprays of blade-like leaves. Traditionally, these leaves were woven into baskets used for cooking rice and meats. Popular local coconut milk rice dish, nasi lemak, has pandan-ish flagrance, with the pandan leaves tied into knots and cooked together with the rice. Putu piring, a Malay snack, also use pandan leaves as garnish.

And we all know the fluffy and greenish pandan cake! Pandan leaves have been used to flavour or colour desserts such as cakes and sweet beverages. The leaves are pounded and strained (or blended with a little water) to yield flavour and green food dye for kueh, desserts and sweets. Pandan is used with the essences of rose to flavour spicy rice dishes such as biryani.

Popular local coconut-based jam spread, the kaya jam has pandan flavouring. The colour of the jam can be greenish or brownish depending on if there are more pandan or more coconut to it. Kaya toast set is a popular breakfast meal here in Singapore. And there is also pandan flavoured milk shakes and ice-creams. Hainanese chicken rice, a popular local delicacy, is cooked with sesame oil and pandan to make it more fragrant. The use of pandan in Hainanese chicken rice is probably influenced by the Malays who often use pandan leaves to cook rice such as nasi lemak. And in Thailand, pieces of marinated chicken are enclosed in a clever wrapping of Bai Toey (the local name for Pandan leaf) and grilled or deep fried, their subtle flavour being imparted to the chicken.

Wild Pandan on Sentosa Island

Pandan leaves infusion prepared with coconut oil is used to treat rheumatism. And the roots of pandan leaves contain 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with a potential to treat diabetes. And due to its distinctive aroma and the leaves that contain an oil that supposedly has insect repellant qualities, many taxi drivers put pandan leaves in their car as air freshener and as a natural cockroach and ants repellent. The pandan indeed has many uses!

The simple yet versatile pandan has become abundantly available for consumption and their fragrance and is commonly cultivated. Pandan being wild, yet useful, can be found at many parks including at Pulau Ubin, Admiralty Park and Sentosa Island. They thrived well near water. Even IKEA stores and some supermarkets here sell potted pandan plants. Unlike other pandanus species like tectorius or screwpine, Pandanus amarylifolius has not been observed to produce fruits due to its lack of female inflorescence.

Pará rubber trees at Pulau Ubin

RUBBER TREES. Pará Rubber. Hevea brasiliensis. Family: Euphorbiaceae.

There are many trees that produce rubber, but it was the Pará rubber tree, whose seeds were sent from Brazil to Singapore, which ignited the rubber boom in Southeast Asia. It is named after the Brazilian state, Pará, from which it originated, hence the name Para rubber. Its botanical name also reflects its origin.

On 11 June 1877, a total of 22 rubber seedlings from the Kew Gardens in England were sent to the Botanic Gardens in Singapore. 11 seedlings were sown in the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG). In the late 1880s and 1890s, Henry Nicholas Ridley, the first Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens and a trained Orchidologist and Botanist, set out a mission to convince coffee growers to switch to rubber cultivation because of the explosive growth in world demand for rubber due to the industrialisation of the automobile industry.

His persistence in persuading plantation owners to plant rubber earned him nicknames such as "Mad Ridley" and "Rubber Ridley". He was known to always carry some rubber seeds in his pockets.

A rubber Tree at SBG

One of Ridley's important achievements during the 1890s was the invention of the herring-bone method of tapping. Unlike the traditional method of incision, which often resulted in over-tapping and killing the tree, the new method allowed for just a section of the bark to be removed.

Rubber trees produce latex in reaction to their being wounded, so that the latex can harden over the wound and protect the bark. The Mesoamericans likened this release of latex to the shedding of tears, and named rubber latex 'caoutchouc', which means 'weeping wood'. How rubber came to be called 'rubber' is through a discovery made by Joseph Priestly, an 18th century scientist and philosopher. He noticed that the material was able to rub pencil markings off paper, so he named it "rubber', in light of its amazing erasing properties.

A rubber seed.

In the wild, the rubber trees, Hevea brasilensis, will grow to heights of up to 40 metres (130 feet), and can live up to 100 years, though each rubber tree can only yield latex for up to 28 years only. In some parts of Singapore like in Pulau Ubin there are many rubber trees that grow in the wild, though they are no longer being milked for its latex. Rubber tapping ceases on Ubin island in the 1980s, and that was not too long ago. If you are at Pulau Ubin, go behind Murai Hut and there are rows of rubber trees, remnants of the old rubber plantation.

Rubber trees are planted in rows to facilitate easy movement of the rubber tappers, who would remove thin layers of barks in a downward spiral way along the trunk with cups attached at the base of the cups. Rubber trees will drip latex for about four hours until the latex coagulates naturally at the tapping cut.

Trilobate rubber leaves

At many older trees you will be able to see the old, angled cuttings of the tree barks. Many new trees have popped up though they are now part of the secondary rainforest vegetation on the island. The wild boars apparently like to eat rubber seeds that will perhaps keep the population of rubber trees in check, as rubber trees are actually invasive fast-growing trees and can grow easily by the dispersal of seeds.

Apart from its distinctive greyish-green barks and seeds, the rubber trees can also be easily recognised by its trilobate leaves of three compound leaves on one stalk. You can find many young trees not only at Pulau Ubin but other parts of Singapore including at MacRitchie Reservoir and Windsor Nature Park.

Rubber trees were once cash crop. It is a crop that changed history and the discovery of rubber also changed the way we lived. Today, 90% of the world's supply of latex and natural rubber comes from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, the three largest rubber-producing countries.

Nyatoh Putih/ White Gutta

Nyatoh Putih/ White Gutta. Palaquium obovatum.

Prior to the promotion of the Pará rubber tree by Henry Ridley, the latex of Nyatoh Puteh or White Gutta is widely used for industrial products such as undersea cables, even for dental fillings! Do you know that dentists still use latex products derived from this tree for root canal fillings?

In the 1800s, Singapore came to prominence as a key exporter of white percha, a natural thermoplastic made from the latex of the Naytoh Putih. Putih is a Malay word for the colour white. It was once used for insulating underwater cables, and in the making of pistol grips and acid-resistant containers.

A heritage tree, the Nyatoh Putih grows in primary and secondary rainforests and has a wide distribution range, from India to South-East Asia. It has a hard reddish wood, popular for building houses, boats and furniture. It has large spirally arranged leaves with small green flowers. The flowers smell like sour milk.

The Naytoh Putih is considered 'vulnerable' in Singapore. You can find White Gutta in Sentosa Island along the Siloso/ Coastal trail and at Imbiah Court. You can also find them at Singapore Botanics Gardens, along Evolution Garden.

Sealing Wax Palm

SEALING WAX PALM. Cyrtostachys renda.

Another palm tree that grows naturally near the swamps, Sealing Wax Palm is also known as the lipstick palm because of its bright red trunks. Being one of the most colourful palms in the world, it is commonly cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and parks. Sealing wax palm can grow up to 16m (53 ft.) high. It is not a source for sealing wax but got its name due to its lipstick red colour.

This striking clumping lipstick palm is native to the peat swamp forests of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. The sealing wax palm is the emblem of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and it is featured on their logo. Being quite common, you can find sealing wax palms at Jurong Lake Gardens, Admiralty Park, MacRitchie Reservoir and along some roadsides. And of course, at Singapore Botanic Gardens where they are practically everywhere.

Simpoh Air

SIMPOH AIR. Dillenia suffruticosa.

The Simpoh Air is a native shrubby tree that can grow up to 7 metres (23 ft.) tall. It grows well in the secondary forests, along forest edges, in swampy areas and in wasteland. Due to its large leaves, it provides the necessary shade for the growth of young primary forest species. Its leaves were traditionally used by villagers and hawkers to wrap or shaped into cones to hold local dishes and vegetables such as rojak (salad mix of fruits and vegetables) and tempeh (fermented tofu), while its reddish young leaves were boiled to make a sour soup. Yes, the young leaves are edible.

Simpoh Air

Carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa and Ceratina) are frequently seen buzzing around its large yellow flowers while its red fruits are a food source for birds such as the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier). Tailorbirds (genus Orthotomus) use its leaves to form their nests.

The flowers of the Simpoh Air start to open at about 3 in the morning and come into full bloom just before sunrise and lasts for only a day. Its fruits also split open at about 3am, in star-shape, revealing seeds covered in red arils, which is the fleshy tissue. Simpoh Air can be found at almost all parks here in Singapore including at Pulau Ubin and Sungei Buloh. Do you know that the large leaves can be used to staunch bleeding wounds?

Red button ginger

RED BUTTON GINGER. Costus woodsonii. COSTACEAE.

Also known as Scarlet Spriral Flag. This very common and popular zingiberales specie which can be found practically everywhere in Singapore, growing in the wild, in the parks and along street pavements. It has wax-like red inflorescences and flowers, with a greatly reduced labellum, hence it is also called French Kiss or Red Buttons.

Costus woodsonii is native to Central America. It thrives in sunny conditions and can reach 2 to 2.5m (6 - 8 ft.) tall. A dwarf varietý not exceeding 1m (3 ft.) are common too.

Red Ginger

RED GINGER. Alpina purpurata.

This native of the Pacific and Peninsular Malaysia is perhaps the most common ornamental ginger. It is also cultivated on a large scale as a cut flower, since the pink to deep red, long-lasting bracts are very attractive. Bracts are modified leaves. The true flower is small and white. This specie is often sold under the names Jungle King or Jungle Queen.

All parts of this plant have a strong gingery fragrance. It is an attractive plant that grows well in pots too. Red Ginger, while not as widespread as Red Buttons can be found in some parks here.

Crepe Ginger

CREPE GINGER. Cheilocostus speciosus/ Hellenia speciosa.

Also, a COSTACEAE like red button ginger. A native herbaceous plant, crepe ginger is also known as white costus and cane reed. When in bloom, the pretty frilly white flowers come out from the reddish-brown bracts in a funnel-shape with a yellow centre that attract a wide variety of fauna such as butterflies, bees and native sunbirds.

As its gingery name implies, the starchy rhizome or the stem underneath that creep horizontally underground, is edible, but it is rather fibrous. It has obviously a gingery taste, though a watered-down version of ginger. Just like red button ginger, you can find beautiful crepe ginger growing in the wild at practically all parks and gardens in Singapore, even by the road-side streets. Do you know that crepe ginger has been used in Malaysia, Indonesia and India to treat a wide range of illnesses including pneumonia, smallpox and syphilis?

Torch Ginger bud and flowers at Jurong Lake Gardens

Torch ginger. Bunga kantan. Etlingera elatior.

Another zingiberaceae or ginger family plant that many locals can relate to is torch ginger or bunga kantan. Torch gingers are tall plants with pretty pink blooms. The young or immature torch ginger flower bud or more commonly known here as kantan is used as food garnish or flavouring in many local dishes. It has unique fragrant and taste. The popular peanutty local fruit salad rojak has slices of fresh torch ginger flower bud as one of the ingredients. It is also added in Penang laksa dish and to flavour curries. The decoction of its fruits is used to treat earaches.

Originates in the rainforests and resembling a flaming torch, hence the name, torch ginger can grow up to 6 meters (20 ft.) tall and enjoy warm climate like Singapore and is widely cultivated all over the world. Due to its pretty bright red or pink colour with overlapping bracts, torch ginger is often used as landscaping in tropical gardens or homes. You can find torch ginger plants in many parks here such as at Sungei Buloh and at Jurong Lake Gardens.

Gingers on rock painting at Sentosa Island

The ginger family is really wide and include not only the ones commonly found in kitchens like turmeric and galanga, but do you know that banana and Traveller's palm are also part of the zingiberaceae family? Traveller's palm is not a palm tree per se though it certainly looks like one, however if you look closely at the leaves, they resemble more of banana leaves than a palm tree. If you want to learn more about ginger, there is a Ginger Garden at Singapore Botanic Gardens, which is located just next to National Orchid Garden.

Gingers are so common that it is immortalised as painting on rock at Sentosa Island, near Fort Siloso, by none other than by local street artist Yip Yew Chong. Other paintings of tropical fruits and plants like mangosteens and durians and nutmeg are also there.

Miago Bush

MIAGO BUSH.Osmoxylon lineare.

A common plant that you can find from Changi Village to Singapore Zoo, the Miagos Bush adapts well to different light and water conditions. It is planted along the edge of freshwater bodies and used in rain gardens.

This shrub has leaves with finger-like segments, forming a nest for its eye-catching black and white flower clusters. When they bloom, the unusual clusters look like multiple gemstones mounted on a single stalk. Being bush-like and shrubby you have to look down to see this eye-catching plant.

Nibung Palm

NIBUNG PALMAE. Oncosperma tigillarium.

You can find pockets of the Nibung Palm at Singapore Botanic Gardens, at Pulau Ubin Chek Jawa, at Jurong Lake Gardens, even at Singapore zoo. Indeed, Singapore Zoo not only has wildlife but abundant flora and fauna too. Nibung palms can grow up to 25 metres (82 ft.) and is found in brackish water swamps. The timber is durable even when in constant contact with water and therefore suitable as building material for kelong or fish traps.

The stem of the Nibong Palm is covered with long, black spines. The spines are used by tribal people to make blowpipe darts to be used in the forest for trapping wildlife. These spines also form a barrier for herbivores trying to reach young shoots at the top of the plant. However, monkeys are known to brave the thorny trunks to get to the flowers and feast on them.

Singapore Kopsia at Jurong Lake Gardens

Singapore Kopsia. Kopsia Singapurensis.

A native flower of Singapore. But critically endangered. Singapore Kopsia can only be found in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. The white and red colours of the flower resemble the colours of Singapore flag hence at one time it was thought this flower might become the national flower of Singapore. Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, an orchid, was chosen instead, not a bad choice as the orchid is equally pretty with lots of history.

Apparently, you can find Singapore Kopsia hidden somewhere in Nee Soon swamp and at Hort Park. And you can find it at Jurong Lake Gardens as shown here. You can find them at MacRitchie Reservoir Park and at Singapore Botanics Gardens, though the petals there appear more pinkish, maybe due to hybrids mixture. Once rare, Singapore Kopsia is slowly making a comeback.

Pandan Palm. Screwpine

Pandan Palm. Pandanus tectorius ‘Veitchii’. PANDANACEA Cultivar.

This species is also known as Screwpine. In Malay it is called Mengkuang laut. The word ‘laut’ means sea. So, as you can guess this plant grows well in swampy area and near the sea. The leaves tend to spiral around the stem hence the name screwpine. The fruits while edible is starchy.

The leaves are used as thatching roofs and can be weaved into mats and baskets and as food wrap for rice and meat. The stems are used for building houses, ladders and fish traps. In some southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Thailand the leaves are extracted for juice just like the more fragrant pandan amarylifolius leaves and cooked with rice and meat. The roots and leaves are also used as traditional medicine for treating stomach problems and rheumatism.

Pandan Palm Fruit

Each fruit, which looks like a pineapple, comprises of multiple fruitlets of about 40 fruitlets which turn orange-red and break apart when ripe. The fibrous fruitlets are edible. The orangey fruits can also be extracted for juice.

These palms are one of the largest species of Pandans and can reach 14 metres (46 ft.) in height. The Pandan Palms are native to South-East Asia including Singapore, Australia, India and the Pacific Islands. The screwpines can be found near water, on sandy beaches, near quarries and in coastal areas such as at Pasir Ris Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park and Sentosa Island.

Interestingly another name for Pandanus spp. is Rasau. There is Rasau Walk at Jurong Lake Gardens named after Pandanus. These photos of Pandan Palm and fruit are from Jurong Lake Gardens.

Do you know that there are over 750 pandan species in the world? They mostly grow in moist environments like along the riverbanks and coasts. Their stilt-like roots prevent soil erosion just like the mangroves. The dead leaves stay attached to the base of the green crown for some time and this grass skirt provide important shelter for birds, snakes, frogs and lizards. Pandans are multi-purpose plants. Some species are a source of food for humans and many animals, while others provide raw materials for clothing, shelter and crafts. In the Pacific Islands, pandas are second only to coconuts in ecological and economic importance.

Ripe Betel nut palm tree

Betel Nut Palm. Pinang. Areca catechu.

Areca palms fruits called betel nuts will turn orange or red when ripe. Betel nut palm trees are quite common in Singapore, though fortunately chewing of areca nuts has somehow slowed down or unheard of these days. Betel nut chewing is a tradition in some communities, especially in the olden days. It is aromatic, intoxicating and addictive. The sliced betel nut is wrapped in betel leaves (a piperaceae that look similar to wild pepper leaves) with other ingredients such as chalk lime, saffron, gambier, cloves and tobacco added depending on preference.

Previously the preparation and offering of betel nuts chewing concoctions play an important role in enacting and fostering social relations. Betel leaves do not come from betel nut palm trees! Please see below. The chewing of betel nut is still practiced in some Asian countries like in Taiwan and India. Areca nuts are thought to be able to regulate one's appetite, freshen the breath and strengthen the gums. In Ayurvedic medicine, betel nuts are used to treat fever and rheumatism. However, long-term use has been associated with oral cancers.

This areca palm tree shown here is at Tampines Round Market and Food Centre. You can find a large cluster of areca palm trees at Pulau Ubin, near Butterfly Hill. You can also find a cluster at Singapore Zoo. There is a street called Jalan Pinang near Kampong Glam. Penang Island in Malaysia is named after pinang, the Malay word for the nut.

Tiger Orchid at Pasir Ris Park

Tiger Orchids. Grammatophyllum speciosum.

The flowers of Tiger Orchids are patterned in colours like a tiger's coat hence the name. 'Speciosum' in Latin means 'showy', referring to its floral stalks that are about 2 metres (7 ft.) tall. The orchid plant grows on big trees in the lowlands of Southeast Asia and forms immense clumps. Tiger orchid is the largest orchid in the world. The clump-forming plant can weigh up to 2 tonnes (2,000 kg) with up to 7,000 flowers! This sun-loving plant grows well in Singapore.

You can sometimes spot wild Tiger Orchids hanging onto big trees such as on mature Rain trees, as being epiphytic orchids will need host for support. If on the ground, they are usually supported on husk and charcoal.

Tiger Orchids can be found at many parks all over Singapore including at Gardens by the Bay, MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Pasir Ris Park, Pulau Ubin, Bedok Reservoir, Sentosa Island and of course at National Orchid Garden. While the plant grows easily in the wild the pretty yellowish flower only blooms once a year usually around July and will wilt by August and September. Look out for it when you walk in the parks. To learn more about orchids, there is a separate post about orchids at National Orchid Garden.

Barringtonia asiatica

Barringtonia asiatica. Putat Laut.

Putat is the Malay word for plants in the genus Barringtonia. Laut is also a Malay word which means sea. So, as you can guess Barringtonia thrives well near the sea or coast. The Putat Laut has large boxy fruits that dangle from the trees like lanterns.

Putat Laut flowers are large, showy pom-poms that open only after dark and last only a night. Putat fruits have fibrous husks that allow them to float on water and they can travel for long periods of time. So, the brown boxy fruits that you see on beaches may have come from elsewhere.

The Putat-belt can be found on the muddy banks that form where the river meets the sea. The water levels in the Putat-belt can rise quite high, and the sea water can submerge plants to the tops of their canopies. Plants that inhabit the Pusat-belt have a range of adaptations to survive the unpredictable changes in water level. The Putat Laut trees can be found growing along the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the western pacific.

Putat Laut flower

In Singapore you can find Putat Laut practically everywhere near the coast such as at Pulau Ubin, the Southern Islands, Changi Beach and Pasir Ris Mangroves Park. At Sentosa Island you can find a stretch of beach at Palawan lined up with Barringtonia asiatica. You can sometimes see these boxy fruits on the beaches though they will soon turn brown once they dropped.

The Barringtonia species is quite wide. There is also Putat Ayam which has egg-shaped fruits and Putat Ayer which has cone-shaped fruits. Ayam means chicken and Ayer means water. Ayam and Ayer are both Malay words. There is also Barringtonia racemes or Putat Kampong which you can find at Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning. Do you know that Putat Kampong is also known as fish poison tree?

Jackfruit tree

Jackfruit. Nangka. Artocarpus heterophyllus.

The Jackfruit belongs to the Mulberry and Fig family. Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world with some specimens weighing up to 35 kg (77 lbs.)! It is known for having a distinct sweet and fruity aroma with a banana-ish flavoured flesh. The tree can grow up to 30m (98 ft.), and the average fruit size is about 30 to 60 cm long and 20 to 30cm wide.

The flesh of the jackfruit can be eaten fresh when ripe or cooked with curry if unripe. Jackfruit is called nangka in Malay. Unripe jackfruit is cooked in coconut cream as a culinary dish called lemak nangka. This dish can be commonly found in many Malays or nasi padang stalls.

Jackfruit can also be candied or made into chutney, jam and jelly. Its seeds can be eaten once boiled, baked, roasted or ground into flour to make desserts. We can also find jackfruit chips at supermarkets. The edible flesh which surrounds the seed is known as an "aril". Lately jackfruit is being championed as meat alternatives. It is quite popular as a vegan food.

Cempedak

Though jackfruit may look similar to durian from far, and some people do mistaken jackfruit for durian especially if they are not from Southeast Asia, durian and jackfruit are two different fruits and from two different families. However, cempedak (artocarpus integer) and sukun (breadfruit) are part of the mulberry or Moraceae family. See the similarity?

Both chempedak and sukun are made into fritters or fried coated with flour and sold at Malay snacks stalls. You can find these fritters at Geylang Serai and Bedok Corner. You can find many jackfruit trees in Pulau Ubin and it is also commonly planted along the wayside streets in Singapore in many housing estates. By the way, you can still find durian trees in Singapore especially in Pulau Ubin. Jackfruit free is native to Peninsular Malaysia and can be commonly found growing in kampungs or villages.

Ixora coccinea at Fort Canning Hill

IXORA coccinea. Jungle Flame. Family: Rubiaceae.

Also known as Flame of the Woods or Jungle Flame, Ixora coccinea is a dense, multi branched, evergreen shrub. This common wayside or roadside plant is sometimes harvested for its edible fruit and medicinal uses. It is commonly grown as an ornamental and as a hedge, valued for its floral display. In Singapore, Ixora is commonly found along the roadside or wayside.

Do you know that Jungle Flame is the national flower of Suriname? Ixora coccinea can come in various colours including red, which is most common, orange and white. Ixora is a large genus comprising over 100 species across tropical Asia. Ixora species are mostly shrubs or small trees with tiny, bright and attractive bright red, orange, pink and white flowers. The genus name is derived from a Sanskrit word for deity. Southeast Asia, including Singapore, is home to the large diversity of Ixora species which you can practically everywhere.

Ixora 'Super Pink' at Fort Canning

While the many varieties and cultivars of Javanese Ixora (Ixora javanica) are most commonly planted, the forests of the region are home to other native species which are equally attractive. There are Malayan Ixora (ixora congesta) which can reach the height of 6 to 7 metres (20-23 ft), which is commonly found in the Central Catchment area and on Pulau Ubin.

There are Ixora 'Dwarf Pink' and 'Dwarf Yellow' which you can find at Punggol Park. There is a garden dedicated to and planted with many varieties of Ixora at Fort Canning Hill, at the Flower Garden of Sang Nila Utama Garden. The Ixora varieties include 'Super' and 'Dwarf Pink', 'Yellow', 'Dwarf Yellow', Yellow javanica, Coccinea White, and 'Crimson Star'. In Malay 'Dwarf Pink' and 'Super Pink' are called Menjarum and 'Dwarf Yellow', Menjarum Kuning. Though they may all look similar there are subtle differences between them.

Nutmeg seed enclosed by red aril mace

NUTMEG. Buah Pala. Myristica fragrans.

Once a cash crop in the 1800s and immortalised in many sculptures and paintings here in Singapore, nutmeg tree is a bushy evergreen that can reach to a height of 20 metres (60 feet). The tree has dark green oval leaves and small yellow flowers. The nutmeg fruits resemble apricots or plums, are fleshy and have strong aroma and produce two distinct spices, nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg is a Native of the Maluku or Spice Island. In Malay nutmeg is called buah pala.

Nutmeg is the brown-black hard seed kernel while mace is derived from the aril, the red lacy that covers the seed. Due to its strong aroma, both the nutmeg and the mace are used to flavour sweet and savoury dishes, and in baking. It is used as a mild baking spice in deserts and is commonly added to eggnog, puddings, fruit pies or cakes. Nutmeg is also added to sausages, meat pies, stews, soups and preserves such as ketchup and pickles.

Spices sculptures including nutmeg at Little India

More common to oriental than to western medicine, nutmeg is considered as an aphrodisiac and is used to relieve bronchial disorders, rheumatism and stomach disorders such as flatulence, nausea and vomiting. It is also thought to be able to cure malaria. It is also commonly sucked or chewed to counter motion sickness. The Indians use nutmeg for bad breath, headaches, and fever. The Arabians use it to treat stomach disorder.

Nutmeg is also used to make essential oils and perfumes, in tobacco and dentistry industries, and in the production of nutmeg butter and nutmeg oil. However, nutmeg and its mace can also cause potential hallucinogens and toxicity if used in high amount as they contain poisonous compounds.

A nutmeg tree at Fort Canning

So useful is nutmeg, that in 1822, Sir Stamford Raffles, being a keen naturalist, started the first botanical and experimental garden at Fort Canning Park. This botanical garden was the precursor to the current Singapore Botanical Gardens. This garden started out with 125 nutmeg trees, 1,000 nutmeg seeds and 450 clove trees. However, the spice garden grew less and less profitable and by late 1820s, it was populated instead with ornamental and fragrant trees.

Along Orchard Road you can spot a couple of nutmeg sculptures, a huge one in front of ION Orchard, and a smaller one near Orchard Central, which shows the connection of nutmeg, spices and fruit orchard, hence the street name Orchard Road. The most famous nutmeg plantation near Orchard Road belonged to Dr. Thomas Oxley, who cultivated the crop up to the mid-1850s when a nutmeg blight wiped out his plantation. Oxley Road is named after him.

There is also a series of spice sculptures comprising of nutmeg, chilli and peppercorns outside Indian heritage Centre at Little India. These sculptures are done by a well-known local sculptor Kumari Nahappan, the same artist as the nutmeg sculptures along Orchard Road. There is also a painting of a nutmeg on rocks at Sentosa Island near Fort Siloso by another local artist Yip Yew Chong. You can find pockets of nutmeg trees at Singapore Botanic Gardens, at Pulau Ubin and at Fort Canning. There is road named after nutmeg in Singapore.

Blue pea/ Butterfly pea

Butterfly Pea, Blue Pea. Clitoria ternatea. Family: Fabaceae.

A bright, slender climbing legume or plant, the funnel-shaped blue pea or butterfly pea flowers range from white, purple, light blue to dark blue. There are butterfly pea flowers that look more white than blue. This plant is quite common and is widely planted on fences and roadsides, in gardens or parks, and is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions.

Edible blue dye is extracted from the flowers to make cakes, kueh and dumplings in Malay and Peranakan cuisine. Nasi kerabu and pulut tai tai are among the dishes or deserts sprinkled with crushed petals and the butterfly pea's blue dye. The blue pea is also made into blue tea, supposedly good for fat burning, though it's pretty tasteless. Medicinally, the leaves of blue pea are believed to be good for treating pimples. And water from soaked leaves is used as eyewash for conjunctivitis. Traditionally also, the juice from the roots can be extracted and mixed with cold milk to treat bronchitis and to remove phlegm. While the seeds can be used to relieve tonsilitis. Such a useful plant indeed!

Wild spurred butterfly pea

Using plants as dyes is not new and we have been using plants to colour our world. Turmeric and pandan are also used as food colouring for its orange and green colour respectively. Mangosteen rind contains tannin for fixing dyes. And since time immemorial people have been using henna plants as natural body art or tattoo and hair dye.

There is also a wild spurred butterfly pea, centrosema virginianum, from the same fabaceae family, but it's more purplish than blue.

Wild pepper

Wild Pepper. Daun Kadok. Piper sarmentosum. Family: Piperaceae.

Wild pepper or daun kadok in Malay is a common sight in Singapore, which you can see practically everywhere here, in the parks, in the understory of secondary forests and along the streets. It is a fast-spreading herbaceous creeper or vine with waxy heart-shaped leaves. Leaves are dark green in colour and look a bit glossy. It can form mounds up to 60cm (2 ft.) in height.

The leaves and roots of wild pepper are consumed for their medicinal properties. Daun kadok is thought to be able to treat toothache, digestive disorders, cough, eczema and asthma. In many South-East Asian countries like in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, the leaves are eaten fresh as food wraps in salads or desserts. The raw young leaves and shoots are also often dipped in sambal or chilli paste. The dried inflorescence of wild pepper is used as spice. So, the next time when you walk about in the parks or along the wayside or roadside, look down and you may see wild pepper leaves. A fast-growing native plant, they are often planted as ground cover in gardens and streetscapes.

Betel leaves

Betel leaves (daun sireh). Piper betle. Family: Piperaceae.

Wild pepper is often confused with betel leaves as they look kind of similar, but betel leaves are paler, less glossy and bit longer in shape as you can see the subtle difference here. The roots of piper betle are traditionally used for birth control, while the leaves are used to treat coughs, asthma, stomachaches, ulcers and burns. This evergreen climbing vine is native to India and the Indo-Malayan region.

Betel nut chewing, where slices of betel nuts and spice additives such as cloves, tobacco, saffron, nutmeg and mace, and a pinch of slaked or chalk lime, are wrapped in betel leaves, is a tradition in some communities, especially in the olden days. Betel nut is aromatic and intoxicating and the combination of various ingredients becomes an addictive stimulant. Sometimes, when not available, wild pepper leaves are used as wrapper instead. Betel nut comes from betel nut palm or areca catechu trees (see above). Betel nut has no relation to betel leaves although they are consumed together.

Betel leaves are known as daun sireh in Malay and have been used customarily in events such weddings. The preparation and offering of sirih sekapur (betel quids) are often presented to guests as a welcome and to signal the start of proceedings. While the practice of betel nut chewing has declined over the last few decades especially in Singapore due to health concerns, sirih receptacle and accessories are still viewed as emblems of Malay cultural ideals.

Snakeweed at Coney Island

Snakeweed. Stachytarpheta indica.

A very common herbaceous plant that grows well in full sun, the Snakeweed typically grows to a height of about 1 metre (3.3 ft). The plant has leaves with serrated edges. The flowers are found on narrow spikes that range from 15 to 40 cm (6 to 16 in.) in length.

The flowers are purple, but hybrids can have pink, red or white flowers. Snakeweed plant can tolerate poor soil and only requires moderate watering. Butterflies love snakeweed purple flowers. Snakeweed can be found in many parks in Singapore.

Broad-leaf mahogany at Sentosa

Broad-leafed Mahogany. Swietenia macrophylla. Family: Meliaceae.

Originally from Honduras, this heritage tree was introduced to Singapore around 1876. Sporting a heavy dense crown of dark glossy leaves, broad-leaf mahogany can grow up to 30 metres (98 ft.) tall. It has buttressed trunk with dark grey scaly bark. Its small flowers are of pale green and yellow hue with a faint scent.

But this tree does not flower or bear fruit regularly. However, when it fruits, the fruits are large, measuring 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 in.) long and look like heavy brown woody capsules or pods. When ripened, the fruit split into five valves to release flat, winged light-brown seeds. The fruit is sometimes used as medicine to treat diabetes. And its densely grained rich brown coloured wood is much sought after for furniture making.

Keranji Tree

Keranji. Dialium indum. Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

A native tree, from the common fabaceae/ leguminosae family, which can also be found in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java, and gives Kranji Town in the north of Singapore its name. The Keranji is a tropical fruit-bearing tree that can grow up to 40 metres (131 ft.) tall. Its grape-sized edible fruits are encased within hard, brown shells. The shells are inedible.

This local tree was once abundant across Singapore till mid-1800. You can still find some Keranji trees along the roadside. Notice the letter 'e' is dropped from Keranji to become Kranji. Just like Gelam becomes Glam.

Hawaiian Hibiscus

Hawaiian Hibiscus. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. (Bunga Raya). Family: Hibisceae/ Malvaceae.

Commonly known by various names such as Chinese Hibiscus or China Rose and Checkered and Cooper's Snowflake Hibiscus, Hawaiian Hibiscus can be found in many parks and gardens in Singapore. It is an evergreen compact shrub belonging to a cotton family Malvaceae with ornamental foliage and flowers. The flowers and stems are red. The flowers, measuring up to 10 cm (4 in.) across are edible and used in salads. The leaves are often variegated with a splash of white, pink and light green.

The plant is considered to have medicinal uses in Chinese herbology. Hibiscus has long been used in Malay folk medicine to bring down fever by boiling its leaves. And just like many other flowers like blue pea, jasmine and chamomile, Hibiscus is also made into tea. Do you know that this hibiscus species is the national flower of Malaysia? In Malay it is called Bunga Raya. During the Japanese occupation, many prisoners-of-war consumed hibiscus that they can find along the roadsides as apparently it contained vitamins and was also used for curing scabies.

Gardenia at Fort Canning

Gardenia.

The pretty Golden Gardenia (Gardenia carinata) is a small tree that usually grows to no more than 5m tall. It is found throughout the Malay Peninsula and Singapore. The similar Water Gardenia (Gardenia tubifera) is usually found on riverbanks in Malay peninsula, Borneo and Sumatra. The fruits of Water Gardenia split open to reveal a bright scarlet which attracts birds, squirrels and civets to eat and diapers the seeds.

Both the Golden and Water Gardenias are widely planted on the roadside and parks in Singapore. Their flowers open at dusk and last for three nights, turning colour from white on the first night to orange on the third. Both Golden and Water Gardenias have been observed to flower and fruit throughout the year. E J H Corner, former Assistant Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens commented in his "Wayside Trees of Malaya" book that Gardenias "are worthy to be placed among the most beautiful flowering trees."

Cape Plumbago at MacRitchie

Cape Plumbago. Plumbago auriculata.

This is a pretty and pleasant shrub with leaves of varying sizes. This species flowers all year round in Singapore. The flower is slightly purplish. Its specific epithet auriculata means 'with ears', referring to the shape of the leaf base. 

The genus name Plumbago came from the Latin word 'plumbum' which means the mineral lead, as it was supposed to cure lead poisoning. The pretty Cape Plumbago can be found along the wayside in many parks including at MacRitchie Reservoir Park and Bedok Reservoir Park.

Durian tree in Pulau Ubin

Durian. Durio zibethinus. Family: Malvaceae.

Durian is known as the "King of fruits", and some may find its pungent-like smell overpowering. The smell can even penetrate through the husk. Durian trees can grow up to more than 40m (131 ft.) tall and can be recognised by its leaves that have coppery undersides. Young trees begin to fruit around seven years of age and the fruits take about three months to develop. So how do pluck the durians from the tree? You don't. The fruit will fall to the ground only when it is ripe. When left undisturbed, it will split open into five pieces. This gives animals easy access to the flesh and seeds. Animals love durians as much as we do. Animals will then help disperse the seeds. 

There are still durian trees in Pulau Ubin and Mandai. There is a kampung and street named after durian in Pulau Ubin. Do you know there is a durian named after Singapore. It is called the Singapore Durian! Yes, its botanical name is Durio singaporensis.  The Singapore Durian can grow up to 36 metres (118 ft.), but its fruits can grow only to 10 centimetres in size and being quite small this native durian do not have as much flesh as other edible durian. This durian can be found in Nee Soon Forest, MacRitchie Reservoir and in the vicinities of Upper Seletar Reservoir.

A durian tree at Fort Canning

Local durians plantation is not enough for local consumption. Durians are mostly imported from neighbouring countries just like most tropical fruits that Singapore consumed even though Singapore is a tropical country simply because there is not enough space to grow. Do you know Singapore imported a whopping 9,000 tonnes of durians each year? Indeed, there are plenty of durian lovers out there! Some may say durians are acquired taste but for those living in South-East Asia durian is just one of the many common tropical fruits. 

Fun facts: Do you know that bats are the main pollinators of durian flowers and without them the durian trees will not bear any fruits? This is a great example of the importance between plants and animals in our ecosystem. The flowers of durian trees are bright yellow blooms that exude strong odours when they blossom at night, thus attracting the bats which are its main pollinators. Interesting isn't' it?

Durians are native to Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo and of course Singapore. Durian trees have been around in Singapore since the 14th century! When the British arrived in Singapore in the early 19th century, they found durian trees and other tropical fruit trees at Fort Canning Hill. Durians have been consumed by the ancient inhabitants and kings of Singapore. While the fleshy pulp is usually eaten fresh, in Java, the seeds are also cooked in sugar and eaten as sweet treat. And of course, durians have been made into deserts, cakes, puffs and cooked as porridge or dipped into with glutinous rice, like durian sarawa.

Bamboo Orchid

Bamboo Orchid. Arundina graminifolia.

Only five orchids are common in the wild in Singapore and one of them is bamboo orchid. There used to be more than 200 native orchid species but as more land is developed and natural habitats are lost, three-quarters are already nationality extinct though they can be found in other parts of South-east Asia. A native terrestrial orchid to Singapore and quite widespread here is Arundina graminifolia, which is more recognised by its common name bamboo orchid. Terrestrial orchid grows on the ground as opposed to epiphytic orchids that grow on trees or rocks that most orchids belong to.

You can find bamboo orchid in many parks in Singapore as it is a sun-loving orchid. Because of its similar purplish colour some may mistake the bamboo orchid to Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, Singapore's national flower, but you will be able to see the distinct difference in its two lateral petals and three sepals shape, ranging from white to pink. The flower develops at the end of the stems. A bamboo orchid is so named because the stalk looks like bamboo. As it is native to Singapore and with plenty of sun here, many hobbyists or gardeners like to grow this pretty flower in their gardens.

You can find bamboo orchids in the wild and in parks like at Jurong Lake Gardens and at MacRitchie Reservoir. Terrestrial orchids are thought to be rich in phenolic compounds thus could be medicinally important. There is a separate post on orchids here.

Bird's Nest Fern at Coney Island

Bird's Nest Fern. Asplenium nidus.

A very common plant found along the roadside or wayside and in the parks, bird's nest fern is often found wedged or hanging from large trees such as on the branches of mature rain trees. The rosette of the bird's nest fern is green and simple but large in size and the fronds look similar in shape to banana leaves and can grow to more than a metre long.

Being epiphytic like orchids, these ubiquitous ferns live on other plants, however they are not parasites and do not suck any water or nutrients from the host tree. Its roots can absorb large quantities of water during rainfall, and its large nest of fronds can capture fallen leaves that decompose into food for the plant. The species genus nidus is derived from the Latin word for nest, as the rosette does resemble like a bird's nest.

Coconut trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Coconut tree. Cocos nucifera.

The easily recognisable Coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is found throughout the region and in many tropical countries including Singapore where it is a familiar sight in kampung like in Pulau Ubin or along the beaches of Changi and Sisters Island. Do you know that a Coconut is not a nut but a drupe, i.e., a fruit where the fleshy part (the green outer covering) surrounds the seed. The name Coconut is actually derived from the 16th century Portuguese and Spanish word coco, which means 'head'. There certainly is a resemblance there. The tree can reach up to 30m (98 ft.) high.

The Philippines, Indonesia and India are the world's primary Coconut producers. To the Javanese, the Coconut tree symbolises longevity due to its golden colour and lack of branches. The locals called it 'kelapa gaming', and planting a coconut tree is a metaphor for 'seeing how a king act'. In Malay, Coconut tree is called Pokok Kelapa. It is called the 'tree with a thousand uses' in the Malay language.

The ripens flesh of coconut can be pressed to produce coconut milk, an important ingredient in many local dishes, and oil processed from the milk can be used for cooking. While the husk provides materials for mats and baskets and even hats. The shell can be made into culinary items like ladles and spoons. It can also be used as fuel. And we all know how refreshing a coconut drink can be in a hot and humid city like Singapore. While it has many uses, falling coconuts have been known to kill people too!

Heliconia Heliconiaceae.

A common plant that can be found in parks and gardens as well as along roadsides in Singapore, Heliconia is a genus of flowering plants native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, as well as some islands in the South Pacific. There are over 200 species of heliconia, which are known for their striking, brightly coloured flowers and large, tropical foliage. These hardy plants, which are related to gingers and bananas, can be propagated from seed or from dividing the rhizome, which is the underground stem that produces new shoots and roots. Heliconia requires warm temperatures, high humidity, and well-drained soil to grow successfully. The plant also requires plenty of sunlight but can tolerate some shade, thus the tropical Singapore climate suits well.

Heliconia plants are generally quite large, ranging in size from small shrubs to large trees, with some species reaching up to 9 metres (30 ft) in height. The flowers of heliconia are usually long and tubular with brightly coloured bracts that surround the true flowers. The bracts can be red, orange, yellow, green, or a combination of these colours, and they are often arranged in a spiral pattern around the stem. The leaves of the plant are also large and paddle-shaped, making them a popular choice for tropical landscaping. The flowers of Heliconia rostrata grow on long, arching stems that hang downwards and is commonly known as the hanging lobster claw or false bird-of-paradise due to the distinctive shape of its flowers, composed of several bracts that overlap each other to form the shape of a lobster claw or bird's beak.

Heliconia rostrata can grow up to 5 meters in height and has long, narrow leaves that can reach up to 2 meters in length. Heliconia rostrata is a popular plant in tropical gardens and is often used as a cut flower in floral arrangements. The nectar of some species is also an important food source for hummingbirds and other pollinators. In addition to their ornamental value, heliconias have several practical uses. Some species produce edible fruits or seeds, while others have medicinal properties to treat a variety of ailments. The leaves and stems of the plant contain compounds that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and they are sometimes used to treat conditions such as arthritis and back pain. Heliconia leaves can also be woven into baskets, hats, and other crafts.

Heliconia flowers are pollinated by birds, such as hummingbirds and sunbirds, which are attracted to their bright colours and nectar. Overall, heliconia plants are a beautiful and fascinating group of tropical plants that are popular among gardeners and plant enthusiasts around the world. In Singapore there is a garden within the Singapore Botanic Gardens called Heliconia Walk and contains rows and rows of heliconia plants!