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Plant of the Month
Typha angustifolia
Typha angustifolia, commonly known as the Narrowleaf Cattail, is an emergent aquatic plant up to 2 m tall with linear, erect leaves and brown, rod-shaped inflorescences with separate male and female parts. The fluff from the seeds is used as nesting material by various birds including the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) and several sunbird species. In a wetland constructed by researchers in Singapore, the Narrowleaf Cattail was found to perform phytoremediation services; accumulating pollutants from the water in its plants’ tissues.
Animal of the Month
Cypraea tigris
Cypraea tigris, commonly known as the Tiger Cowrie, is a large sea snail found on the ocean floor in the Indo-Pacific region. Once common, it is now much less abundant due to shell collecting and habitat destruction. In Singapore, it is exceedingly rare.
These Irises Can 'Walk'
Did you know that Neomarica caerulea and related plants from the genera Neomarica and Trimezia are collectively known as Walking Irises? These iris-like plants will produce plantlets along the flowering stems of spent inflorescences. The flowering stem will slowly bend from the weight of the developing plantlets until it touches the ground. Eventually, the plantlets will take root and grow into new plants a small distance away from the mother plant, suggesting that the plant is able to ‘walk’!
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Henry Nicholas Ridley
Did you know that Alangium ridleyi is named after Henry Nicholas Ridley, the First Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens? His monumental contributions to the region’s botany, natural history, and economy in 1880s saw over 50,000 specimens collected from Singapore, Malaya, and the wider South East Asian region. He was also a prolific writer, publishing more than 4,000 new species over the span of his 68-year career; over 100 of which were new species described from Singapore.
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Richly Fragrant Hoya nummularioides
Did you know, the flowers of Hoyas (Wax Plants) produce an array of fragrances often described to smell like chocolate, citrus or vanilla? The fragrance of Hoya flowers tends to intensify during the night which suggest night pollinators might be their target audience. Hoya nummularioides produces tiny clusters of star-like flowers. Despite its small size, the white waxy flowers pack quite an aromatic punch and are one of the most richly fragrant Hoyas, often compared to the perfume of Jasmine and Honey!
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Traveller’s Palm
Did you know that the Traveller’s Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) is not a true palm? It belongs to the Strelitziaceae family and it is a close relative to the Bird of Paradise plant (Strelitzia reginae). Native to Madagascar, the Traveller’s Palm is popular in tropical landscape because of its enormous leaves which are arranged in a fan shape. It produces big, erect inflorescence like that of Heliconias. However, it seldom blooms in Singapore due to the wet weather. Its fruit are brown capsules, enclosing numerous seeds covered with bright blue arils.
Ravenala madagascariensis
A Pipe’s Trap
Did you know the Aristolochia acuminata (Dutchman’s Pipe) can trap pollinating insects in its flower? This woody climber produces small pipe-like flowers, specially modified to attract and trap unsuspecting pollinating insects like fruit flies. The trap works when the insect slides down the slippery and hairy tube of a fresh flower that opens in an upright position. As the insect feeds on the nectar or attempts to escape, it is dusted in pollen, and its movements pollinate the flower. After fertilisation, the flower starts to wilt and tilt downwards, providing an escape route for the trapped insects.
Dutchman’s Pipe
Sunda Pangolin
Video of wild Sunda Pangolin in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.