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Rubroshorea parvifolia (Dyer) P.S.Ashton & J.Heck.

Family Name:	Dipterocarpaceae
Synonyms:	Shorea parvifolia Dyer

Rubroshorea parvifolia or Light Red Meranti is a large emergent tree native to Singapore. Growing to a height of 65 m tall, it has buttresses, round to dome-shaped crown. Leaves are slightly leathery, egg to narrowly egg-shaped with 10 - 14 pairs of slightly curved veins. Flowers are clustered in 8 (more or less), strongly fragrant, white to cream coloured, 5 overlapping petals with gradual hints of pink from the base. The fruit is a 5-winged nut with 3 long lobes and 2 short lobes, sparsely hairy while the nut is oval to round with a tail-like tip. When young, the winged fruit is light pink, drying to brown upon maturity.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fragrant Plant

Tree

Name

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

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Plant Shape	Rounded
Maximum Height	65 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Thailand, Malesia, Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a large emergent tree with buttresses that can grow to 65 m tall. It lacks stilt roots, and have a round to dome-shaped crown.
Foliage	Leaves are slightly leathery, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, occasionally with a pair of large, pale, scale-like domatia held on a petiole measuring 1 - 1.5 cm long. It has 10 - 14 pairs of slightly curved lateral veins, barely raised below. The midrib is narrow and sunken from above. Numerous parts of the foliage including young twigs, buds, stipule, petiole and the top surface of the midrib may be covered in pale brown, short fine hairs.
Flowers	Flowers are held on an inflorescence of 12 cm long, bearing around 8 flowers, found along the axils or tips of the branches. The flowers are strongly fragrant, white to cream coloured, gradual hints of pink from the base. When developing, the buds consist of 3 outer lobes and 2 inner lobes which are densely covered in short, fine hairs on the outside. Petals are oblong to elliptic, united and overlapping at the base measuring to 8 mm long by 3 mm wide.

Fruit	The fruit is a 5-winged seed, 3 long lobes at 5 - 9 cm long by 0.9 - 1.5 cm wide and 2 shorter lobes at 1 - 2.5 cm long by 0.2 cm wide. It is sparsely hairy, single-seeded, the nut is oval to round, tail-like tip, measuring 0.8 - 1.3 cm long by 0.7 - 0.9 cm wide. When young, the winged seed are light pink and dries to brown upon maturity.
Habitat	Occurs in forest, commonly found within mixed dipterocarp forest <1,2,4>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed. During the sapling stage, it shows tolerance to semi-shade conditions. As it matures, the species thrives in areas with full sun conditions, lack of pronounced water stress with fertile soils.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Fruits, Fragrant (Flowers)

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) ( , Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Gravity)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Slow

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate)
Foliar Venation	Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Caudate
Foliar Base	Cuneate, Cordate, Rounded / Obtuse

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, White

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary, Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Inflorescence Type	Panicle

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

References

References	<1> Ashton, P.S. (2004), Shorea. In: Trees of Sabah and Sarawak vol. 5, pp. 306-308. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). <2> Ashton, P.S. & Arboretum, A. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 9, pp. 237-547. Leiden: Rjksherbarium. <3> Ashton, P.S. & Heckenhauer, J. (2022). Tribe Shoreae (Dipterocarpaceae subfamily Dipterocarpoideae) finally dissected. Kew Bull. 77: 885–903. <4> Ridley, H.N. (1922). The Flora of The Malay Peninsula, vol. 1, pp.224-225. London: L.Reeve & Co.

References

<1> Ashton, P.S. (2004), Shorea. In: Trees of Sabah and Sarawak vol. 5, pp. 306-308. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).

<2> Ashton, P.S. & Arboretum, A. (1982). Dipterocarpaceae. In: Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 9, pp. 237-547. Leiden: Rjksherbarium.

<3> Ashton, P.S. & Heckenhauer, J. (2022). Tribe Shoreae (Dipterocarpaceae subfamily Dipterocarpoideae) finally dissected. Kew Bull. 77: 885–903.

<4> Ridley, H.N. (1922). The Flora of The Malay Peninsula, vol. 1, pp.224-225. London: L.Reeve & Co.

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Master ID	30412
Species ID	4721
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.