Know Your Dillenia_quattro

KNOW YOUR DILLENIA – QUATTRO Following is the introduction to the following selection of plants commonly encountered when trekking in Singapore.









SEA ALMOND Terminalia Catappa SIMPOH AIR Dillenia Suffruticosa SINGAPORE RHODODENDRON Melastoma Malabathricum TAPIOCA Manihot Esculenta TEMBUSU Fagraea Fragrans WILD CINNAMON Cinnamomum Iners. WILD PEPPER Piper Sarmentosum WILD WATERMELON Passiflora Foetida

SEA ALMOND / KETAPANG (Terminalia Catappa) Also known as Indian almond, the sea almond grows can be found from tropical Asia to Australasia and grows on rocky and sandy seacoast. It is one of the most common tree found throughout the Tropics. It is an easy tree to recognize because of its distinctive style of branching. The tree has a characteristic pagoda shape because it sends out a single stem from the top centre. When the single stem reaches a good height, it sends out several horizontal branches. The special form of branching is called, after this species ‘Terminalia branching’, or descriptively, pagoda branching. The leaves form a rosette and are found only at the end of a branch. During the dry season, the leaves turn into autumn colours of red, copper, gold. The tree usually sheds all its leaves twice a year in January-February and July-August. The tree first drops its leaves when it reaches 3-4 years old. After a leaf fall, the branches will be barren of leaves until the bright new leaf starts growing again and the whole cycle repeats itself. This is a large tree, growing up to 25 meter in height. The leaf blade looks like a spatula. The tiny greenish-white flowers develop into an almond like fruit, hence the name of the tree. The green almond-shaped fruit turns red to purple when ripe. Each fruit has a thin fleshy layer surrounding a tough corky fibre interior, which enables it to float in sea water, so the seed is water dispersed. The fruit, pinkish when it first drops from the tree and the fibrous husk still contains a sweetish juice, is a great favorite with pigs and children. Children like to pound at the fallen kernels to get at the edible almond flavored embryo inside. In South America, edible oil is extracted from the dried nuts and used in cooking. Its timber is not widely used, but in some places where other suitable timber is lacking (e.g., islands), it is made into heavy-duty items like house, boat building, carts, wheels and posts. Tannin and a black dye can be extracted from the bark, leaves and fruit. The leaves are sometimes used by fish hobbyist to condition their tank water. Do you know … the sea almond has the following medicinal use: Leaves, bark and fruits: dysentery (Southeast Asia) Fruits and bark: coughs (Samoa), asthma (Mexico). Fruits: leprosy, headaches (India), Ripe fruits: travel nausea (Mexico) Leaves: get rid of intestinal parasites (Philippines); treat eye problems, rheumatism, wounds (Samoa); stop bleeding during teeth extraction (Mexico), fallen leaves used to treat liver diseases (Taiwan); young leaves for colic (South America); dressing for swollen rheumatic joints (Indonesia & India). Juice of leaves: scabies, skin diseases, leprosy (India, Pakistan) Bark: throat and mouth problems, stomach upsets and diarrhoea (Samoa); fever, dysentery (Brazil).

SIMPOH AIR / SHRUBBY SIMPOH (Dillenia Suffroticosa) This distinctive shrubby tree grows vigorously on eroded soil, wasteland, forest edges and swampy areas. The Malay name Simpoh stands for all the members of the genus Dillenia, many of which are exploited for timber. Plants in the Simpoh family (Dilleniaceae) hiss when the trunk or a branch is cut (you have to put your ear to the cut to hear it). The sound comes from the air that is sucked into the cut vessels. “Air” is the Malay word for water, which accurately describes the characteristic location of this plant, next to streams, at the edges of lakes and ponds. This plant can be found right from Peninsular Malaysia, right down to Borneo, Sumatra and the Riau islands. In Singapore, which has an abundance of belukar area, this is one of the most dominant species, as it seems able to tolerate compacted and waterlogged soil very well. Its attractions are the large leaf blades and prominent secondary veins and toothed margin, bright yellow large flowers and the start shaped split fruits bearing bright scarlet fleshy seeds. The plant blooms from age 3-4 and can live for 50-100 years. Its flowers are visited by Carpenter bees whose wing beats have the same resonating frequency as the stamens; when the stamens vibrate; they duly spray their pollens on these pollinator bees. The flowers are interesting by itself, as it starts to open up at about 3 am and drops off towards the end of the day. The unopened fruits are surrounded by thick red sepals. To distinguish them from flower buds, the fruits face upwards while flower buds face down. The ripe fruit splits open also at 3 am, into pinkish star-shaped segments to reveal seeds covered in red arils. These arils are such a favorite of birds that you will be lucky to still be able to spot them late in the morning. The Simpoh Air sends out very deep tap roots to reach underground water sources. So much so that their presence suggests an underground water source, and some people use the plant as a guide to decide where to dig a well.The Simpoh Air is among the few plants that can germinate and grow on white sands. As a pioneer species, it provides shade for other less hardy plants to establish themselves. The timber is not useful because it is twisted and very hard. In traditional medicine, the Simpoh Air has been used to staunch bleeding wounds. In Brunei, the fruit pulp is even used to wash hair. The leaves were once used popularly to wrap food like tempeh (fermented soyabean cakes) or formed into shallow cones to contain traditional "fast food" like rojak. Try munching on the flower petals … the Malays cook it as a lemak dish. Do you know …why the NSmen called the Simpoh Air “CB plant” (translated in Hokkien as Vagina Plant.) This name was derived from the close resemblance of the slit at the base of the leaf to the female sex organ … no wonder they say guys only have one thing on their mind.

SINGAPORE RHODODENDRON (Melastoma malabathricum) One of the common plant you constantly encounter in Singapore is the Singapore Rhododendron. (also known as Sendudok in Malaysia). This name is rather misleading as it is neither a true rhododendron nor is it only confined to Singapore alone, since it can be found all over from nearby Malaysia right up to India and Australia. It is a native of Sri Lanka where it is popularly known as ‘Maha-bowitiya’. It was introduced into both Malaysia and Singapore where it now grows profusely as wild shrubs in the wastelands. The plant grows well in poor soil and rapidly colonizes wastelands thanks to birds that help disperse their seeds. It can reach a height of 1 to 2 meters. Leaves are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the stem, are usually hairy and have three prominent veins. It fruits and flowers throughout the year. The large bright pink or magenta flowers last only one day, opening after sunrise, closing the same day, with the petals falling off on the a few days later. There is also a species with white flowers, which are prized by the Chinese for its medicinal value. The fruits are small and maroon. The pulp of the ripe fruit is soft, dark purple, slightly sweetish and has many tiny seeds embedded in it. The fruits can be eaten raw but stains the tongue black. In fact, the word melastoma is Greek for "black mouth. It is even made into jam. In addition, the seeds are used to produce a black dye & the roots, a pink dye. The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked and taste sour. In some places, the leaves are fed to silkworms. In traditional medicine, the leaves are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery (Malaysia, Indonesia); wash for ulcers, to prevent scarring from smallpox; and to treat piles. The fruits are the favourites of birds like the flowerpeckers and doves which also disperse the seeds. Squirrels and monkeys are also fond of the fruits. The plant is the host for caterpillars of butterflies such as the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) and the Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea). Being among the first to colonize wasteland, the plant helps prevent soil erosion and allow regeneration of vegetation in such places. Do you know…the popular Chinese diarrhea medicine, Poh Chai Pill is made out of the young leaves and shoots of the Singapore Rhododendron.

TAPIOCA (Manihot Esculenta) Originating from tropical America where it is known as cassava, this plant is grown for the starchy root, which are used as food or to make cakes. The stem is brittle with scars of the many leaves. The leaves are palmately lobed and each is borne on a long stalk. Latex tubes occur in all parts of the plant exuding a sticky, milky fluid on injury. The latex in younger plants is a clear watery juice. The root tubers contain a glycoside that yields highly poisonous hydrocyanic acid and this is responsible for the bitter taste. The quantity and distribution of this acid divides the cassava into 2 main groups, bitter and sweet. The latter is relatively free from poisonous properties. However, it is the bitter variety, which remains the staple food in several countries. This plant was first domesticated in Central or South America, having been cultivated there for several thousand years by the American Indians. The cassava was taken to West Africa by the Portuguese in the 16th century and than spread to the rest of the world. It is second in importance to the sweet potato as a tropical root crop. Young starchy roots are peeled and steamed or made into cakes prepared from pounded paste Flour made from the root are used in making bread and other dishes while starch is also manufactured for the paper, laundry and other industrial products. The young leaves may also be consumed as a green vegetable. Do you know … in Indochina, the starchy roots are used to dress ulcerous sores while in Philippines, the bark is considered anti-rheumatic.

TEMBUSU (Fagraea Fragrans) The tembusu is one of the more beautiful native trees in Singapore. It can grow to a height of about 30 meters. It is easily recognized from the distinctive dark brown, deeply fissured bark, which contrasts nicely with the light green foliage. Flowers are a lovely cream color and grow in clusters near the ends of branchlets. The tree flowers towards the middle and the end of the year. The blooming flowers create a strong, yet not overpowering fragrance that is most noticeable at night or in the late evening. Flowers are pollinated by nocturnal moths and develop berries, which ripen from orange to red. These fruits are fleshy and contain numerous tiny reddish brown seeds and are eaten by birds, squirrels and fruit bats. It is a native of Sumatra , parts of Thailand and Malaysia. The highly fragrant flowers are gathered by women for garlands and personal adornments. The wood of the tembusu is very hard, pale yellow with a purplish tint, easy to work and durable. It is therefore used a lot to build houses, bridges, furniture, chopping boards and Malay grave posts. A decoction of the leaves and twigs is a said treatment for Malaria and for blood in the stools. Because it tolerates low soil fertility, it is often planted as a shade tree and to check soil erosion. Do you know that the tembusu is the National tree of Singapore and the tembusu tree that appears on the $5 Singapore is found in the Singapore Botanics Garden.

WILD CINNAMON (Cinnamomum Iners.) Also known locally as Kayu Manis, this quick growing small tree up to about 10 meters in height is related to the commercial Cinnamon tree. It is often planted by the roadside for the brightly colored new leaves which it puts out at frequent intervals. The leaf blades bear three characteristic longitudinal veins. Its small yellowish flowers have an unpleasant waxy smell. The small black fruits are eaten by birds, squirrels and fruit bats, who will than proceed to disperse the seeds. The leaves when crushed smelled faintly of cinnamon and are eaten by the caterpillars of the Bluebottle butterfly. The wood is used in making fragrant joss sticks and a decoction of the boiled roots is given as a tonic after childbirth or for fever. The Orang Asli also use the leaf juice as a cure for poisoning by the Upas tree. Sometimes, the leaves are even used as a poultice for rheumatism.

WILD PEPPER (Piper Sarmentosum) More commonly known by its Malay name of Chabei or Daun Kadok, this erect herb has long runners which develop into plantlets. The plant becomes a weed once it is left untended in a shady place, as evident now in a lot of shady roadside areas in Singapore. The leaves are simple and heart shaped. The leave is an important ingredient in the Penang version of ‘otak-otak’ and also one of the many herbs that goes into the traditional Malay nasi Ulam (a type of herbal salad with rice.). The roots are used in Chinese medicine as a cure for toothache and in Malaysia, the leaves are used to treat headache and pain in the bones. In Indonesia, the rootlets are chewed with betel nut and the juice swallowed as a remedy for coughs and asthma.

WILD WATERMELON (Passiflora Foetida) This particular plant goes by many other names like Stinking Passion Flower, Love In A Mist and Wild Water Lemon. This is a tropical, tendril climber, which originated from South America and is a member of the Passionflower family. It was introduced into Malaysia more than 200 years ago and now grows wild throughout Malaysia and Singapore. It is the hardiest of vines in the Passifloraceae family. The whole plant has an unpleasant smell. The flower bud and unripe fruit are enclosed in a basket formed from 3 finely subdivided bracts bearing sticky glandular hairs. The flowers are white, small and showy and look like passion fruit flowers. Unripe fruits look like tiny watermelons. The young shoots can be cooked and eaten. The inside of the ripe fruit is a hollow, filled with soft, transparent, sweet pulp full of small black seeds. These are usually eaten by children and birds. The leaves of the plant contain hydrocyanic acid and are poisonous. Do you know…the name of the passion fruit is derived from the flower of the Passiflora vine, which is a perennial climbing plant with many edible fruits. When Central and South America were colonized by the Spaniards, the Christian priests who came to America were struck by the unusual form of the flower of the Passiflora vine. They saw in it a symbol of Christ’s “passion” and they named it “flor passionis” or passionflower.