Back

Guettarda speciosa L.

Family Name:	Rubiaceae
Common Name:	Sea Randa, Selar Makan, Baru-Baru Laut, Bebaru Laut, Beach Gardenia, Zebra Wood, Ketapang Pasir, 海岸桐, 榄仁舅

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Drought Tolerant

Tree

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Shrubby (1m-5m), Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Native Distribution	East Africa, tropical Asia (including Singapore), and Polynesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Sandy Beach, Rocky Beach)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Growth Form	It is a tree up to 22 m tall.
Crown	Crown rounded and sprawling.
Foliage	Its opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are somewhat drop-shaped, with a small tip, yellowish-green, hairless to covered with hair below, and 10–25 by 7.6–18 cm.

Flowers	Its flowers are white, 1.1–3.2 cm wide, with yellowish tubes that are 3.8–5 cm long, fragrant, and found in 3.8–11 cm long flowering clusters. Its flowers open about an hour after sunset and the whorl of petals drop off the next morning.
Fruit	Its fruits are faintly and closely ribbed, green then whitish or pinkish, and 2.2–3.2 cm across.
Habitat	It grows on sandy and rocky shores. It occurs locally in Pulau Semakau, Pulau Ubin, and Pulau Unum.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Guettarda, commemorating the 18th century French botanist, J. E. Guettard; Latin speciosa, showy.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: The bark is used to treat chronic dysentery and can be applied to wounds when there are symptoms of inflammation, such as the collection of pus around the damaged tissue. Timber & Products: The wood is used for building houses. Cut - Dried Flower: Its fragrant flowers are used by girls who put them in their hair for the fragrance, string them into necklaces, and used them to prepare essential oil or perfume. Others: It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The bark is used to treat chronic dysentery and can be applied to wounds when there are symptoms of inflammation, such as the collection of pus around the damaged tissue.

Landscaping	It is suitable for parks and roadsides as it has fragrant flowers and can tolerate hot, sunny, windy, and frequent salt spray conditions.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers)
Landscape Uses	Coastal, General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Beachfront / Shoreline

Thematic Landscaping

Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Water)

Rootzone Tolerance	Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Tubular

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Green - Light Green, Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Images

Master ID	1653
Species ID	2946
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 18 February 2022.