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Ormocarpum cochinchinense (Lour.) Merr.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Parkinsonia orientalis Spreng., Ormocarpum glabrum Teijsm. & Binn., Hedysarum sennoïdes Willd. |
| Common Name: | 链荚木 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 8 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From tropical Africa, India, southern China, Taiwan, Ryukus, throughout Southeast Asia. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Sandy Beach) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a shrub or small tree, 6 - 8 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are odd-pinnate, 9-20 leaflets, with a single leaflet at the terminal end. Each leaflet is papery, about 1.2-5 cm long by 0.5-2 cm wide, elliptic, oblong to obovate. The venation is reticulate, with the mid vein thickened and raised. |
| Stems | The young stems are yellowish-brown in colour and hairless, becoming fissured at maturity. |
| Flowers | Flowers are white to yellow, 1-2.4 cm long, usually with 2 - 13 flowered, arranged on a short axillary inflorescence. |
| Fruit | The fruit is an inflated, smooth, linear pod measuring 1.5 - 2 cm long by 0.7 - 0.9 cm wide. The pod is dark, blackish green coloured, slightly sickle-shaped, divided into 4 - 5 articles. Seeds are oblong, brown measuring 6 mm long by 2.5 mm wide. |
| Habitat | It grows in open coastal thickets, up 50 m in elevation. |
| Associated Flora | The flowers are probably insect-pollinated. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek ormos, necklace, Greek karpos, fruit, referring to the segmented fruit that resembles a necklace. Latin cochinchinense, of or from Cochinchina (now known as southern Vietnam), referring to the natural distribution of this species |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for growing along roadsides, parks and in gardens. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery, Thin |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Venation | Recticulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Obtuse, Mucronate |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Papilionaceous / Pea-shaped |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black, Green |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31245 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5640 |
| 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. |