Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a slender climber that is sparsely hairy. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its opposite, stalked leaves have leathery blades that are usually elliptic to egg-shaped with a pointed tip, 11 by 7 cm, and have 8 pairs of veins that are hairy below. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are 1.9 cm long and arranged in clusters 5 cm wide. |
| Fruit | Its capsule is spindle-shaped, 1.3 cm long, ridged, and hairy. |
| Habitat | It grows in inland forests. It occurs locally in Pulau Tekong, in the vicinity of Upper Pierce Reservoir, and Nee Soon Swamp Forest. |
| Associated Fauna | It is the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the Commander butterfly (Moduza procris), the adults of which usually lays its eggs at the leaf tips of the plant. |
| Etymology | Latin uncaria, hook, referring to climbers with hook-shaped flower clusters; Latin cordata, heart-shaped. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30976 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5363 |
| 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. |
