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Knema corticosa Lour.
Family Name: | Myristicaceae |
Synonyms: | Knema globularia (Lam.) Warb., Knema missionis (Wall. ex King) Warb. |
Common Name: | Small-Leaved Nutmeg, Gerahan, Merbatu Kechil, Penarahan Padi, Cendarah Padi, 小叶红光树 |
Knema corticosa or Small-Leaved Nutmeg is a tree that grows to 24 m tall. It has membranous to thinly leathery leaves with a greyish underside. Both flowers and fruit are covered in rust-coloured, woolly hairs, the fruit is single-seeded enclosed within a rose-red aril.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
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Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Plant Shape | Irregular |
Maximum Height | 24 m |
Biogeography
Native Distribution | Southern China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Java |
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Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest) |
Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | It is a tree that can grow up to 24 m tall. |
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Foliage | Leaves are membranous to thinly leathery, oblong to lance-shaped, dark metallic sheen above, greyish below. The leaves are covered in short hairs at the start, turn hairless (glabrous) with time. Leaves are measured 6 - 23 cm long by 1.3 - 7 cm wide. |
Flowers | Flowers are dioecious where male or female flowers are produced on separate individuals. The male inflorescence has 5 - 20 flowers while female inflorescence bears fewer, up to 10. Each flower is greenish yellow, 3 - 4 lobed, up to 5 mm wide, covered in short, rust-coloured, woolly hairs. |
Fruit | The fruit is held in clusters of up to 5. Each fruit is single-seeded, pinkish-orange, elliptic, almost round to pear-shaped. They measure between 1.2 - 2 cm long, 1 - 1.5 cm wide, grey-brown to rust-coloured hairs may be present. The seed is enclosed within a fleshy rose-red covering known as aril. |
Habitat | Occurs in lowland primary forest, on low undulating land, swampy ground, hill sides in coastal forest, close to sandy beaches, to 250 m altitude. <1> |
Associated Fauna | Its fruits are eaten by the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris). |
Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: Its wood can be used in house-building although not durable. |
Landscaping Features
Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Fruits |
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Landscape Uses | Coastal, General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
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Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Full Sun |
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Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Fertile Loamy Soils |
Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
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Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery, Thin |
Young Flush Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Oblong) |
Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
Foliar Margin | Entire |
Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Acute |
Foliar Base | Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse |
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Greyish below. |
Non - Foliar and Storage
Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
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Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden |
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Flower Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Flower Location | Axillary |
Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Individual Flower Shape | Cruciform / Cross-shaped |
Inflorescence Type | Umbel |
Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
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Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
Fruit Type | |
Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
References | <1> de Wilde, W.J.J.O. & Duyfjes, B.E.E. (2018). Knema. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G., Soepadmo, E. (2018). Myristicaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. 2 Seed Plants, vol. 7, pp. 202-204. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia. |
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Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 1689 |
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Species ID | 2982 |
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. |