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Gymnanthera oblonga
| Family Name: | Apocynaceae |
| Synonyms: | Gymnanthera nitida R.Br. |
| Common Name: | 海岛藤 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines and Australia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Vine-like structure, mangrove associate, woody scrambler or climber, can grow up to 2 - 3 m in length. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Opposite, stalked leaves, papery leaf blades that are lance-shaped, narrowly-elliptic to elliptic, green above, paler green below, up to 12 by 8 cm, not covered with hair, and have 8 - 12 pairs of lateral veins that are prominent below. |
| Flowers | Cream to yellow-green, 11 - 17 by 7 - 30 mm, and arranged in up to 5 cm long clusters that are made up of 1 - many branches, each with 1 - 4 flowers. |
| Fruit | Follicle, dark brown, 8 - 12 by 5 - 6 mm, and not covered with hair. Seeds are tawny-brown and about 7 by 2 mm. |
| Habitat | Grows in mangrove forests and may occur upstream along riverbanks and on rocky platforms. |
| Associated Fauna | In Singapore, it is a caterpillar host plant for the Spotted Black Crow butterfly (Euploea crameri bremeri). |
| Etymology | Greek gymnanthera, with exposed stamens; Latin oblonga, oblong referring to the somewhat oblong leaf blades of this species. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Riverine |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Green - Light Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31861 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6262 |
| 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. |