Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand, Sumatra, Singapore, Lingga Island, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a woody climber, with spiny, rounded projections on its stem. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are broadly egg-shaped, often 3-lobed, and 10–25 by 7–20 cm. The undersides of the leaf blades are covered with soft, short, brownish hair. |
| Flowers | The plant is dioecious, where the male and female flowers occurs on different plants. The male flowering shoot is usually found from the leaf axils, up to 20 cm long, and bear 1–3 male flowers. The female flowers develop in flower-heads that are also found in a group of 1–3. |
| Fruit | Its egg-shaped fruits are covered with yellowish bristles, up to 2.3 cm wide, and found in round clusters. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland hill forests and on hedges. It occurs locally in Nee Soon Swamp Forest, Mandai forest, and in the vicinities of MacRitchie and Upper Peirce Reservoirs. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek phyton, a plant; Greek krene, a fountain, referring to the quantity of sap oozing out from its cut plant parts akin to that of a fountain; Latin bracteata, having bracts (a modified leaf generally associated with the flower or flower cluster), referring to the bracts present in the male flowering shoot |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for growing on trellises and pergolas in parks. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute, Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Palmately Lobed |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31886 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6287 |
| 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. |