Singapore Government Logo

A Singapore Government Agency Website

Alangium longiflorum var. hirsutum

Back

Alangium longiflorum var. hirsutum (Bloemb.) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes

Family Name: Cornaceae
Synonyms: Alangium hirsutum Bloemb.

Alangium longiflorum var. hirsutum is a large shrub to small tree native to Singapore. Growing between 2 - 12 m tall, it produces grey-brown bark, spines often found on its trunk. Leaves are elliptic-obovate or oblong-obovate, densely to sparsely hairy. Flowers are white, fragrant, covered in pale or brown short hairs, 5-7 recurved petals with 14- 17 shorter, thread-like filaments. The fruit is a pink to red, thinly hairy, elliptic drupe with juicy flesh surrounding the seed.

Name

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

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub
Maximum Height 12 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo
Native Habitat Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary 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-sized tree with grey-brown bark, grows between 2 - 12 m tall, spines often found along the trunk.
Foliage Leaves are elliptic-obovate or broadly spoon-shaped, densely to sparsely hairy, measuring 6 - 15 cm long by 2.5 - 7 cm wide.
Flowers Flowers are held singly or on an inflorescence of up to 3, covered in pale or brown short hairs, fragrant. Petals are linear, in 5 - 7, recurved measuring 20 - 30 mm long. Filaments in 14 - 17, slender, thread-like, straight, hairy at the middle, measuring 10 - 20 mm, shorter than the petals.
Fruit The fruit is a pink to red, elliptic drupe with juicy flesh, measuring 20 - 35 mm long by 15 - 20 mm in diameter with thin hairs on the outside.
Habitat Occurs commonly on lowland forest on hillsides at 400 m altitude. <1>
Cultivation It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology The genus, Alangium, derived from the Malabar plant name alangi. The species epipthet, longiflorum, Latin, longus = long, flos = flower. The varietal epipthet, hirsutum, Latin, hirsutus meaning hairy; referring to the leaves.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Fragrant (Flowers)
Usage Hazard - Cons Spines/Thorns - Trunk

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate
Rootzone Tolerance Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Obovate, Oblong)
Foliar Venation Recticulate
Foliar Margin Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip Acuminate, Acute
Foliar Base Oblique / Asymmetrical, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s) White
Flower Grouping Solitary, Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Axillary
Flower Symmetry Radial
Flowering Habit Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Pink, Red
Mature Fruit Texture(s) Hairy / Hirsute
Fruit Classification Simple Fruit
Fruit Type

References

References <1> de Wilde, W.J.J.O & Duyfjes, B.E.E. (2021) Alangium. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (ed.) Cornaceae. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II: Seed Plants, vol. 8, pp. 154-156. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 34194
Species ID 8607
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: 11 July 2024.

You may also like

Share