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Barringtonia macrostachya (Jack) Kurz

Family Name:	Lecythidaceae
Synonyms:	Barringtonia cylindristachya Griff., Barringtonia pendula auct. non (Griff.) Kurz <3>
Common Name:	Red Putat, Putat Gajah, Buah Putat

Barringtonia macrostachya or Red Putat is a shrub to tree native to Singapore. Growing to 30 m tall, it has leathery leaves with looping veins and a long to tail-like tip. Flowers are 4 petalled, pinkish-red crimson or striped red with numerous pink to deep red stamens held on an long pendulous inflorescence found along the tips or branchlets. The fruit is a tear-shaped, 4-angled berry that ripens from green to dull red when matured.

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Ornamental Flowers

Shrub

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Shrubby (1m-5m), Small (6m-15m)), Shrub
Maximum Height	30 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Singapore
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a large shrub to tree that can reach between 4 - 30 m tall.
Foliage	Leaves are leathery, obovate-oblong to oblong, measuring 10 - 45 cm long by 4 - 10 cm wide. It has 14 - 21 pairs of looping veins, margins are shallowly toothed with a long to tail-like tip. The leaves are held on a petiole, 2.5 - 17 cm long, slightly winged near the base of the leaf.
Flowers	Flowers are held on a long pendulous inflorescence of up to 60 flowers directly attached to the main flower stalk. The inflorescence is found along the tip or branchlets measuring 10 - 75 cm long. Flowers are 4 petalled, pinkish-red crimson or striped red with numerous pink to deep red stamens.

Fruit	The fruit is tear-shaped, 4-angled berry measuring 5.5 - 9 cm long, 2 - 4 cm wide ripening from green to dull red coloured. The seed is also tear-shaped, 3 - 4.5 cm long.
Habitat	Occurs in primary and secondary forests, in disturbed forests, along rivers and hills on inundated forests and swampy areas to 750 m in altitude. <1 & 2>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The genus Barringtonia is named after an English naturalist, The Hon. Daines Barrington (1727–1800). The species epithet macrostachya, Greek, makros meaning long, stachos meaning spiked in reference to the inflorescence.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bat Food, Moth Food Plant

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained 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	Spiral
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed, Crenulate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Cuspidate, Caudate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink, Red

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Flowering Opening Time	Night (dusk to dawn)
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Berry

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

References

References	<1> Prance, G.T. (2012) Barringtonia. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Lecythidaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II: Seed Plants, vol. 3, pp. 197 - 199. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia. <2> Prance, G.T., Kartawinata, E.K. (2013). Lecythidaceae. In: Van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 21, pp. 57-60. Jakarta: Noordhoff-Kolff N.V. <3> Ridley, H.N. (1900). The Flora of Singapore. J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 33: 83.

References

<1> Prance, G.T. (2012) Barringtonia. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Lecythidaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II: Seed Plants, vol. 3, pp. 197 - 199. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

<2> Prance, G.T., Kartawinata, E.K. (2013). Lecythidaceae. In: Van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 21, pp. 57-60. Jakarta: Noordhoff-Kolff N.V.

<3> Ridley, H.N. (1900). The Flora of Singapore. J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 33: 83.

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Master ID	29295
Species ID	3604
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.