Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Maximum Height | 10 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From Mauritius, India, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Sabah, Sarawak to Papua New Guinea. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree, up to 10 m tall, without buttresses. Bark is brown and generally smooth, but prominently lenticillate. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaf is broadly egg-shaped (5 – 16 cm long and 2 – 16 cm wide), papery, and densely covered with star-shaped (stellate) hairs on both surfaces. Leaf has (3-) 5 basal veins and distinctly toothed margin. Leaf base is rounded or heart-shaped while leaf tip is short (acute to acuminate). Petiole is slender (3 – 11 cm long) and hairy. Stipules are persistent, 0.4 – 1 cm long and 0.5 – 1.2 cm wide, with pale hairs on both surfaces. |
| Flowers | Flowers are clustered into a flat-topped inflorescence (corymb), about 4 – 11 cm long, and occurs at the axillary. Flowers are pink – red, star-shaped (about 0.3 – 0.4 cm long and 1 – 1.2 cm wide) with 5 yellow stamens and a yellow style. |
| Fruit | Fruit is oblong capsule (0. 7 cm long and 0.5 cm wide) with 5 longitudinal grooves. Fruit turns from green to brown when ripe, and split open from the center, along the groove and revealing 1 brown winged seed (0.5 cm long) in each locule. |
| Habitat | It is found in secondary forest, disturbed areas and along riverbanks, up to 1250m altitude. |
| Etymology | Latin umbellatus, umbel –bearing, which refers to the umbellate inflorescences. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: It is commonly planted in Borneo as a shade providing tree. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Shade Providing Tree / Palm |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|
References
| References | Ganesan, S.K., Lua, H.K. & Ibrahim, Ali. 2018. Melochia umbellata (Malvaceae subfam. Byttnerioideae), a new record for Singapore. Gardens Bulletin Singapore. 70 (1). 25 - 31 Wilkie, P & Berhaman, A.. 2011. Sterculiaceae. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak: 7: 331−407 |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33043 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7457 |
| 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. |