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Pentace triptera Mast.
| Family Name: | Malvaceae |
| Common Name: | Melunak Pusat Beludu, Balong Ayam, Medang Serai, Melunak, Sepa Petri |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 45 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a large tree up to 45 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have slightly leathery leaf blades that are oval to egg-shaped-oval, 6-16 by 3.5-9 cm, hairless above, and scaly below. Its midribs are sunken above. The juvenile leaves have widely spaced serrated leaf margins at the top half of the leaves. |
| Flowers | Its green-whitish flowers are about 6 mm wide, and grow on flowering shoots that are about 20 cm long. |
| Fruit | Its green or pink fruits are oblong, and about 1.5 by 3.4 cm, with three membranous wings each. |
| Habitat | It grows on sandy to clayey soils on hillsides, alluvial sites, and in forests up to 400 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek pent, five, referring to the five wings on the fruit of some species; Greek triptera, three-winged, referring to the three membranous wings on the fruits. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It may be suitable for parks, streetscapes and gardens. |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Oval, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Serrate / Toothed |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Green - Light Green, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green - Light Green, Pink |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1765 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3058 |
| 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. |
