Back

Barringtonia reticulata (Blume) Miq.

Family Name:	Lecythidaceae
Synonyms:	Barringtonia sumatrana Miq.

Barringtonia reticulata is a large shrub to small tree native to Singapore. Growing to 10 m tall, it has leathery, elliptic leaves with revolute margins and ladder-like veins. Flowers are 4-petalled, white, reddish-white or pink with numerous white stamens held on a long pendulous inflorescence of up to 30 flowers. The fruit is a single-seeded, tear to spindle-shaped berry with a box-like tip and tapering base.

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Tree

Name

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

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m), Small (6m-15m))
Maximum Height	10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo (Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah, E Kalimantan), Philippines and Singapore
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a large shrub to small tree that can reach between 2 - 10 m tall.
Foliage	Leaves are leathery, elliptic, measuring 11 - 22 cm long by 3 - 8 cm wide with a tail-like tip measuring 5 - 14 mm long. The leaves have 9 - 18 pairs of looping lateral veins that rarely meet at the margin. Margins are faintly toothed, curls towards the underside. Veinlets found in between the lateral veins are ladder-like and visible on both sides.
Flowers	Flowers are held on a long pendulous inflorescence of up to 30 flowers directly attached to the main flower stalk. The inflorescence is found along the tip measuring 30 - 65 cm long. Flowers are 4 petalled, white, reddish white or pink with numerous white stamens.

Fruit	The fruit is a single-seeded, tear to spindle-shaped berry with a box-like tip and tapering base measuring 6 - 10.5 cm long, 2.5 - 7 cm wide and 2.5 - 6 cm thick. The seed is tear-shaped, deeply fissured that is 2 cm long.
Habitat	Occurs in primary hillside forest and mixed dipterocarp forest, up to 1700 m in altitude. <1 &2>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The genus Barringtonia, is named after an English natralist, The Hon. Daines Barrington (1727–1800). The species epithet reticulata, Latin reticulatus meaning reticulate; referring to the reticulate network of leaf veins

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers), Ornamental Flowers
Usage Hazard - Cons	Toxic Upon Ingestion

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bat Food, Moth Food Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Vertebrates (Bat))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Crenulate, Serrate / Toothed
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White, Red, Pink

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Flowering Opening Time	Night (dusk to dawn)
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Berry

References

References	<1> Prance, G.T. (2012) Barringtonia. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Lecythidaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II: Seed Plants, vol. 3, pp. 75 - 77. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia. <2> Prance, G.T., Kartawinata, E.K. (2013). Lecythidaceae. In: Van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 21, pp. 205-207. Jakarta: Noordhoff-Kolff N.V.

References

<1> Prance, G.T. (2012) Barringtonia. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Lecythidaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II: Seed Plants, vol. 3, pp. 75 - 77. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

<2> Prance, G.T., Kartawinata, E.K. (2013). Lecythidaceae. In: Van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 21, pp. 205-207. Jakarta: Noordhoff-Kolff N.V.

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	33920
Species ID	8336
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.