Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Banka island, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Foliage | Its opposite, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are broadly drop-shaped to lance-shaped, brown when dry, and 15 by 8 cm. |
|---|---|
| Flowers | Its green-white flowers are about 7 mm wide, and found in clusters at the leaf axils. |
| Fruit | Its green fruits are round, about 5 cm wide, ripen from yellow to pink to purple, and are about 26 mm wide. Its seeds have fleshy white pulp. Its stigma is obscure, and sunken into a 2 mm round pit. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland forests, swamps, and along riverbanks, up to 1000 m altitude. |
| Etymology | Latin Garcinia, commemorating Laurent Garcin (1683-1751), a French botanist who travelled widely in India; Latin bancana, from the island of Banka, referring to one locality in the natural distribution of this species |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Pink, Purple, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
References
| References | Burkill, I. H. 1966. A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Volumes I & II. Kuala Lumpur: Governments of Malaysia and Singapore. 2444 Corner, E.J.H. 1988. Wayside Trees of Malaya Volume 1 & 2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Malayan Nature Society. 861 Ridley, H. N.. 1922. The Flora of the Malay Peninsula. Volume 1. London: L. Reeve & Co., Ltd. 918 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29897 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4206 |
| 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. |
