Back
Saraca thaipingensis Cantley ex Prain
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Saraca cauliflora, Saraca declinata, Jonesia declinata |
| Common Name: | Yellow Saraca, Talan, Bunga Asoka, Gapis Golak, Yellow Asoka, Gapis, Gapis Batan, Gapis Batang, 黄花无忧树 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Umbrella |
| Maximum Height | 7 m to 20 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Java) |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Riverine) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Evergreen, medium, wide-spreading tree of between 7 to 20 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Crown | Coarse-looking, dome-umbrella shaped. |
| Trunk | Bark smooth and often blotched with lichens. |
| Foliage | Even-pinnate compound, with up to 8 pairs of large oblong leaflets. Young leaves purplish, maturing to cream-coloured with purplish-red leaf edge and rachis, then green. New growth usually appears after a dry spell. |
| Stems | Young pendulous flushes purplish-red, limp, and hanging in a tassel, before stiffening upon maturation. |
| Flowers | Cauliflorous, bisexual, slightly fragrant (especially at night), petal-less, and colours of the flowers come from the sepals. As the flowers mature, a dark red eye develops. It flowers heavily after pronounced dry weather. |
| Fruit | Purplish large, flattened pods, swell upon maturation and splitting into 2 coiling halves when ready for disperse. Each seed is large, hard and black. |
| Habitat | Naturalized along bank of rocky streams, grows well on dry ground too. |
| Cultivation | It is a shade tolerant species, and can be planted as an understorey tree, or in between larger trees to create forested environment. Propagate by air-layering and seeds. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Saraca' is from the Indian word 'asoka', and species epithet 'thaipingensis' refers to the town of Taiping in Malaysia, probably the place where this plant was first described. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Medicinal: The Malays recorded that the fruits has some medicinal properties. Timber & Products The roots are used to make handles of parangs. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers) (Night, Day), Ornamental Fruits |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, General, Riverine, Shade Providing Tree / Palm |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant, Butterfly-Attracting, Bee-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence, Gravity) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site) |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Air-Layering |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Purple |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Even-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Mucronate |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Mature Bark Texture | Smooth |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flower Size - Remarks | 1.5 cm |
| Inflorescence Type | Corymb |
| Flowering Period | Hot & Dry Period |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Weeks |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1818 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3111 |
| 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. |
