Exhibition runs from 8 July 2023 - 25 Feb 2024
Venue: Level 2, Centre for Ethnobotany (Ethnobotany Garden)
Nearest Entrance: Bukit Timah Gate (Botanic Gardens MRT)
Open Daily from 9am – 6pm (Closed on the last Wednesday of every month)
Admission is free

Humans have used plants as medicines since prehistoric times. Tropical rainforests are home to an astonishing number of plant species, with estimates suggesting that at least half of all known plant species are found there. Tropical rainforests are a treasure trove of knowledge and resources, and many of the medicines we use today have their origins in plants from the rainforest. However, with the continuous degradation of rainforests from unmanaged logging, conversion to agriculture and urbanisation, we risk losing many species which have medicinal uses or hold untapped potential for various other uses.

This exhibition presents plant species from the tropical rainforests of Singapore, Southeast Asia, and beyond that have traditionally been used for medicinal purposes. It showcases the diverse ways in which plants have been utilised by various communities, especially in our region. Many of these plant species can be observed in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, such as at the Healing Garden, Ethnobotany Garden, and Ginger Garden.

Tropical rainforest on Borneo island. Photo: S.K. Ganesan