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Planchonella obovata (R. Br.) Pierre
| Family Name: | Sapotaceae |
| Synonyms: | Planchonella ferruginea, Chrysophyllum obovatum, Sersalisia obovata |
| Common Name: | Sea Gutta, Menasi, Northern Yellow Boxwood, Yellow Teak, Black Ash, Pulau Dammar, Misi, Nyatoh Laut, 山榄, 树青 |
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 | Oval |
| Maximum Height | 5 m to 28 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Seychelles, Pakistan, India, south China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Andaman Islands, the rest of Southeast Asia (including Singapore), northeast Australia, Solomon Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest, Sandy Beach) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a small or medium-sized tree, up to 28 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Crown | Its crown is conical when young, becoming more rounded, oval or irregular with age, with coppery-golden appearance due to colour of leaf undersides. |
| Trunk | Bark brown, shallowly-fissured, with pinkish to reddish-brown inner bark. Low spreading buttresses (up to 1m high) may be present in mature specimens. All bruised parts of the plant exude white latex. |
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have papery to somewhat leathery leaf blades that are elliptic or obovate, dark glossy green and hairless above, densely reddish-brown hairy below, and 5-20 by 2-10 cm. |
| Flowers | Its greenish-white flowers are 6 mm wide, female or bisexual, in small axillary clusters. Reportedly scented like the leaves of Pandanus amaryllifolius (Fragrant Pandan). |
| Fruit | Its 1-5 seeded fruits are obovoid to somewhat round, pale-yellow to reddish-brown upon ripening, and 8-15 mm wide. Seeds 1-3 per fruit, yellow, with distinct linear scar. |
| Habitat | Forms thickets along sandy or rocky shores, coastal cliffs, back mangroves (just above the high-tide mark, behind the Terminalia and Barringtonia line of seashore trees), coastal secondary forests, inland sandy heaths and limestone hills. |
| Taxonomy | Currently classified in the Planchonella genus, whose centre of diversity lies largely in the Old World. Previously classified under Pouteria -- a New World genus that is most diverse in the tropical Americas. |
| Cultivation | Hardy tree, tolerant of salt-spray, seawater innudation and urban pollution. Avoid planting at eroding coasts, as trees located at such sites are known to topple. Withstands some shade, but looks best in full sun. Propagate by seeds or cuttings. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Planchonella' named after French botanist Jules Émile Planchon (1823-1888), who upon obtaining his doctorate was appointed Keeper of the Herbarium at the Royal Kew Gardens. Subsequently noted for his chief role in introducing disease-resistant American grapevines to France and saving the latter's vineyards from extermination by a microscopic aphid-like pest (Phylloxera vastatrix) during the 1860s and 1870s. Species epithet 'obovata' means 'inverted ovate' or 'egg-shaped' in Latin, a reference to the plant's leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: Traditionally used in pain relief. Leaf paste either applied to forehead, or leaf decoction drunk to relieve headaches. Mixed decoction made from leaves of this plant and those of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Rose Myrtle) drunk to treat stomachache. Leaf decoction drunk as remedy for chest pains. Poultice of crushed leaves applied topically to treat lower backache. Timber & Products: Source of good-quality, decorative pinkish-brown hardwood (known as Nyatoh Laut in Southeast Asia, and as Northern Yellow Boxwood in Australian timber trade), used for carvings, cabinets and furniture, as well as making house posts and saltwater piling. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Coastal, General, Shade Providing Tree / Palm, Beachfront / Shoreline |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Brown, Green, Yellow / Golden |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Oval, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Brown |
| Mature Bark Texture | Fissured |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green, White |
|---|
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1795 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3088 |
| 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. |
