Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Utania nervosa is a tree that usually grows to 1 -5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Bark is grey brown to dark brown and mostly smooth (sometimes slightly fissured). |
| Foliage | Leaves are smooth, elliptical (20 -31 cm long and 11 – 15 cm wide) with petiole (5 – 12 mm long). Leaf has 10 -16 pairs of secondary veins. Veins are sunken on the upper surface of leaf blade and protruding on the underside of leaf blade. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence (0.8 – 2 cm long) is densely crowded with cream yellow to white flowers, and hangs pendulous at the terminal end. Branching tiers are very often closely spaced. |
| Fruit | Fruits are smooth (about 1.4 to 1.8 cm long) and compactly clustered together as a result of closely spaced fruiting tiers. Fruit apex is beaked and base clasped by calyx lobes. Seeds slightly elongated (0.15 cm to 0.2 cm long). |
| Similar | Utania nervosa and U. racemosa are very similar. You can tell them apart by looking at the secondary veins. U. nervosa has 10–16 pairs while U. racemosa has 5–7 pairs. U. nervosa also has a thicker flower stalk (5 – 6 mm diameter), as compared to U. racemosa (2 – 4 mm diameter). |
| Associated Flora | Utania nervosa was previously misidentified as Fagraea racemosa by Leenhouts (1962). |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
References
| References | Sugumaran. M & Wong K.M. 2014. Studies in Malesian Gentianaceae, VI. A revision of Utania in the Malay Peninsula with two new species. Plant Ecology and Evolution . 147. 2. 213-223 |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32874 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7288 |
| 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. |
