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Barringtonia papuana Lauterb.

Family Name:	Lecythidaceae
Synonyms:	Barringtonia josephstaalensis
Common Name:	Kun-job, Sehsegeh

Barringtonia papuana, also known as Kun-job in Maian, has showy flowers with numerous filamentous stamens that are pink or creamy yellow. The bark is used as fish poisons as it contains toxic saponins.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Coastal Plant

Ornamental Leaves

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Papua New Guinea
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a small tree, up to 10 m tall.
Foliage	Clustering at the end of the branches, leaves are lanceolate (47 – 126 cm long and 1.5 – 8 cm wide) and papery, with tooth margin. There are 70 – 95 pairs of secondary veins which forms loops near the margin. Petiole is 1.5 – 12 cm long.
Flowers	Inflorescence occurs at the trunk or branches. Each inflorescence is about 3 – 14 cm long, and comprises of 10 flowers. Each flower (2 – 3 cm long) comprises of 4 white petals, numerous creamy pink stamens, and a ring like disc.

Fruit	Fruit is ovoid (6 cm long and 3 cm wide), ripens yellowish brown with flattened hairs, and contains 1 seed.
Habitat	It is found along rivers in primary and secondary forest.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Others: The bark is used as a fish poison by Maian natives.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Coastal

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance

Well-Drained Soils

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Red

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	32829
Species ID	7242
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.

Species record last updated on: 20 August 2021.