Plant of the Month
Tetracera indica
Tetracera indica is a woody climber that can grow up to 5 m. The young stems are deep red before maturing into greyish-brown. This sun-loving plant produces clusters of four to seven flowers, each with numerous pink-tipped stamens that create a pink-and-white powderpuff like display. Its common name, “Sand Paper Vine” references its rough textured leaves. Southeast Asian communities traditionally used these abrasive leaves to smooth wood and polish objects.
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.
Tiny Durian
Did you know that there's a bite-sized version of the durian (Durio zibenthinus)? Durio griffithii, also known as Squirrel's Durian, is an endangered tree native to Singapore and found in forests and hillsides. It can grow up to 30 m tall and bears adorably small fruit measuring just 4 to 8 cm long! At first glance, the tiny fruit has a strong resemblance to the durian, however instead of remaining green, they ripen to a striking orangey-red colour. It contains very little pulp and is not consumed by humans, but is eaten by animals like monkeys.
Tiny Durians
White to Black
Did you know that Gluta wallichii also known as Rengas Kerbau Jalang, is a tree that produces milky-coloured sap that changes to black? Species from the Mango family (Anacardiaceae) exude colourless, pale yellow or clear resinous sap which oxidises to black upon exposure to air.
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Tasty Tamarind
Did you know the Tamarind tree is the source of Asam commonly used in Southeast Asian cooking? Part of the legume family (Fabaceae), the tree can be found along the streets of Singapore. The mildly fragrant flowers are pollinated by insects and develop into bean pods. Within the fruit is the tasty pulp, prized for its complex and sour flavour, giving dishes their characteristic Asam taste. Outside of Asia it is a component in the renowned Worcestershire sauce. The Tamarind tree is hardy and long lived, making it an ideal urban tree. There are currently three individuals in Singapore that have been registered as Heritage Trees!
Tasty Tamarind
Sacrificing seeds for pollination
Did you know that the Monkey Apple (Glochidion littorale) is pollinated by a seed parasite? Native to Singapore, the Monkey Apple attracts its pollinator, the Leaf-flower Moth (Epicephala species) by offering the moth caterpillars its seeds as food! The moth pollinates and deposits eggs in the plant’s ovary. After the fruit develops, the hatched young then feed on some of the seeds. This strategy of sacrificing some seeds for the greater good of the species is one of many plant-insect interactions in our tropical ecosystem.
Monkey Apple
More than feng shui
Did you know that Pachira aquatica, commonly known as Money Tree, isn’t just a symbol of prosperity in feng shui? It is also full of delicious surprises! Its large woody fruit contain seeds that taste like roasted peanuts or chestnuts and can be toasted and ground to make a chocolate-like beverage, likely consumed by locals in South America and Mexico. Found in wetland habitats, this tropical tree can reach up to 20 metres tall in nature and thrives both as a bonsai-like ornamental plant or planted in the landscape.
Pachira aquatica
Sunda Slow Loris
Video of wild Sunda Slow Loris in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
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New Ginger Species from Central Vietnam
16 September 2025
New Ginger Species from Central Vietnam
16 September 2025
A new ginger species, Boesenbergia monophylla, has been discovered in Central Vietnam's Quang Ngai Province. It is distinctive for being the only single-leafed (monophyllous) species among its relatives in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The species differs from another single-leafed ispecies, B.prainiana, by its dark green velvety leaves, long petioles, generally concealed inflorescence, and pale-yellow flowers with red-pink banding on the labellum. This discovery brings Vietnam's total Boesenbergia species count to seven.
Rethinking Plant Genera - Lessons from Annonaceae and Rubiaceae
08 August 2025
Rethinking Plant Genera - Lessons from Annonaceae and Rubiaceae
08 August 2025
Large plant genera often conceal cryptic diversity and unresolved taxonomies. A recent study by the National Parks Board examines various approaches to tackling taxonomic challenges in large plant genera in Annonaceae and Rubiaceae families. The research recommends shifting away from the old-fashioned, individualistic style of plant taxonomic research and embracing global collaboration, supported by modern tools such as molecular data, morphological analysis, and updated genus concepts. Prioritising teamwork and global cooperation, especially with local botanists in biodiversity hotspots, offers greater potential for meaningful taxonomic revisions.
Tracing the Origins of Orchid Diversity
10 July 2025
Tracing the Origins of Orchid Diversity
10 July 2025
This global-collaborative review investigates the evolutionary origin and global diversification of orchids, one of the most species-rich groups of flowering plants. Using an expanded taxon sampling of 1,921 species and georeferenced data from world botanical databases, the study refines the orchid diversification timeline previously from 112 - 76 million years ago to approximately 83 million years ago in Laurasia, earlier than the extinction of dinosaurs. It challenges the long-held belief that Australia is the centre of orchid speciation, and instead identifies southern Central America as the origin for modern orchid diversity. The study attributes orchid diversification to ecological factors such as deceptive pollination, fungal symbiosis and changes in environmental conditions.
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Unlocking the Secrets of Hoya Pollinaria Diversity
02 June 2025
Unlocking the Secrets of Hoya Pollinaria Diversity
02 June 2025
A comprehensive study of 85 species and 4 subspecies of Hoya revealed ten distinct pollinarium types, highlighting structural variations across the genus. Researchers observed differences in key floral traits, such as the shape and texture of pollen structures, which are important for successful pollination. These traits were analysed using a phylogenetic tree, which showed that similar features had evolved multiple times across unrelated groups, a pattern known as convergent evolution. These findings enhance our understanding of floral adaptations in Hoya and offer valuable insights for taxonomy and conservation of this beloved tropical genus, which thrives in Southeast Asia’s diverse habitats.