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Donella lanceolata (Blume) Aubrév.
| Family Name: | Sapotaceae |
| Synonyms: | Chrysophyllum roxburghii G.Don, Chrysophyllum lanceolatum (Blume) A.DC. |
Donella lanceolata is a small to medium-sized tree native to Singapore. Growing to 18 m tall, the young twigs are covered in fine red hairs, leaves are glossy, elongated or lance-shaped with a tail-like tip. Flowers are small, cream-white, fragrant, borne on an inflorescence of 5 to many-flowered along the axils. The fruit is yellow, round to faintly lobed, pulpy, with 5 bright brown, flattened seeds.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m), Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peninsular Malaysia and adjacent islands, Sumatra, Java and the Philippines and Singapore |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a bushy, small to medium-sized tree that grows between 12 - 18 m tall. Young twigs are covered in fine, red hairs. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are glossy, elongated, lance-shaped, measuring 11.4 - 15.2 cm long by 3 - 3.8 cm wide with a narrow tail-like tip. Lateral veins are very fine, numerous, almost straight and parallel, linked by a fine nearly straight intra-marginal nerve close along the margin. |
| Flowers | Flowers are borne on an inflorescence of 5 to many-flowered, found along the axils. They are small, cream white, fragrant, bell-shaped, 5 to 7 overlapping lobes, measuring 25mm wide. |
| Fruit | The fruit is round to faintly lobed, pulpy, measuring 2.5 - 3.8 cm wide, ripening to yellow. Each fruit contains 5 bright brown, flattened seeds, about 1.5 cm long. |
| Habitat | Occur in forests; lowland forest. <1&2> |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Recticulate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Caudate |
| Foliar Base | Oblique / Asymmetrical |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | <1> Ng, F.S.P. (1972). Tree Floral of Malaya, vol. 1, pp. 396. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute. <2> Ridley, H.N., et al. (1923). Flora of the Malay Peninsula, vol. 2, pp.257. London: L. Reeve & Co., Ltd. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32189 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6595 |
| 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. |