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Knema intermedia

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Knema intermedia

Family Name: Myristicaceae
Common Name: Pala Paya

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form Tree
Maximum Height 15 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution Peninsular Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical
Local Conservation Status Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a tree 5–15 m tall, with no buttress roots, and often with stilt roots.
Foliage Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have papery or leathery leaf blades that are oblong to lance-shaped, with a pointed tip, greenish-brown above, greyish-brown and densely covered with hair below, becoming hairless with age, midrib raised above, and have about 12–25 pairs of lateral veins.
Flowers Its flowers are creamy or pinkish inside, covered with woolly or mealy rusty hair 0.3–0.5 mm long, and are arranged at the leaf axils in short, densely crowded, simple or 2–3-branched flowering clusters up to 15 mm long, 5–25-flowered in male clusters, and 1–10-flowered in female clusters.
Fruit Its fruit is ellipsoid, covered with 0.3–0.5 mm long, rusty or red hair that is easily rubbed off, often ridged, with a dry fruit wall 2–3 mm thick, and arranged in clusters of 1–4 fruits. Its seeds are ellipsoid, not variegated, and covered with an aril.
Habitat It grows in mixed lowland forests, and peat forests, up to 1000 m altitude.
Associated Fauna Its flowers are insect-pollinated.
Ethnobotanical Uses Others: It is a source of timber for building houses.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping It may be suitable for parks.
Landscape Uses Suitable for Roadsides

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s) Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Semi-Shade
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate
Propagation Method Seed

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 33723
Species ID 8137
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: 29 August 2024.
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