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Bridelia stipularis (L.) Blume

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fruit or Vegetable

Coastal Plant

Ornamental Leaves

Climber

Shrub

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Climber, Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Native Distribution	Southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Borneo, Java and Lesser Sunda Islands
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Riverine), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest, Sandy Beach)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Growth Form	It is a woody scrambling shrub or climber, up to 8 m in height.
Foliage	Its alternate, stalked leaves have papery to slightly leathery leaf blades that are elliptic, drop-shaped to round, and 4-17 by 2-11 cm. Its veins are prominent below.
Flowers	Its flowers grow in clusters of 2-6, often along leafless branches or along branches with small leaves. Its male flowers are cream to greenish or yellowish and 0.6-1 cm across, while its female flowers are reddish-green and up to 12 mm across.

Fruit	Its fruits are ellipsoid to slightly round or egg-shaped, dull dark reddish to black, 0.7-1.3 by 0.6-1.1 cm, and grow in clusters of 1-5. Its seeds are yellow to brown, somewhat egg-shaped, and 6-8 by 3-6 mm.
Habitat	Grows on sandy soil, limestone or loam, in primary and secondary forests, often near wet places such as rivers, swamps, seashore and mangroves, up to 400 m altitude.
Associated Fauna	Preferred local food plant for caterpillars of various moth species - Acrocercops quadrisecta; Corcyra cephalonica; Dichomeris petalodes; Endoclita malabaricus; Gargetta costigera; Leucoptera loxoclista; Lobesia rhombophora; Lophoptera illucida; Stigmella clinomochla
Etymology	Bridelia, commemorating Professor S. E. Bridel (1761 - 1828); Latin stipularis, having stipules.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Seeds Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Its fruits are edible and its seeds yield a fatty oil. Medicinal: Roots are used as medication to reduce inflammation. Its bark and leaves have medicinal properties. Timber & Products: Bark is used for tanning and fruits are used are dyeing black. Others: Its fruits are used for dyeing black. Its bark is also used in tanning.

Landscaping	It may be suitable for parks.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Coastal, Riverine

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Caterpillar Moth Food Plant (Leaves)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils

Propagation Method

Seed

Foliar Modification	Stipule
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden, Red, Green - Light Green, Cream / Off-White

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red, Black
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Mature Seed Colour(s)

Brown, Yellow / Golden

Images

Master ID	31862
Species ID	6263
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.