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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 20 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an evergreen tree, up to 20 m tall, with a narrow, bushy crown. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are oval, tipped, reddish-pink when young, and 6-15 by 2.5-6.4 cm, with inconspicuous veins. The leaves point upwards with upcurled margins. |
| Flowers | Its scentless flowers are up to 1.5 cm long, solitary or in twos, and attached to reddish stalks from the leaf axils. The flowers have cream-white petals that do not open or only 1-2 petals unfurl. |
| Fruit | Its long-stalked fruits are rounded berries, 1-1.5 cm wide, and ripen green to brownish. Its many-seeded fruits are half-covered by the sepals at one end, and crowned by the long style (elongated apical floral structure) at the other. |
| Habitat | It grows in secondary forests in open places at low altitudes. It occurs locally at Kent Ridge, the Southern Ridges, Lazarus Island, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong, Sentosa (Mount Imbiah) the vicinity of Upper Peirce Reservoir, and many other sites. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are pollinated by the carpenter bee (Xylocopa species) or may be self-pollinated. Its fruits are eaten, and seeds dispersed by fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis). |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek adinos, crowded; Greek andro, man, referring to the crowded stamens; Latin dumosa, like the briar (Erica arborea) a Mediterranean shrub or small tree, referring to its growth form |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: The hard timber is used for
building houses and firewood. Others: It is cultivated as a park tree for its bushy crown, and attractive, reddish pink young leaves. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for parks for its attractive young leaves. The tree is also known to withstand fire. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bat Food |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Pink, Red |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary, Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown, Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1405 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2698 |
| 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. |