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Plant of the Month
Pterisanthes polita
Pterisanthes polita, also known as the Simple-leaved Ribbon Vine, is a critically endangered climber native to Singapore. It thrives in the shaded, moist understorey of lowland dipterocarp and swamp forests. This vine bears distinctive ribbon-like inflorescences. The small, delicate flowers are likely pollinated by bees, while birds are drawn to its small red berries.
Animal of the Month
Cypraea tigris
Cypraea tigris, commonly known as the Tiger Cowrie, is a large sea snail found on the ocean floor in the Indo-Pacific region. Once common, it is now much less abundant due to shell collecting and habitat destruction. In Singapore, it is exceedingly rare.
More than feng shui
Did you know that Pachira aquatica, commonly known as Money Tree, isn’t just a symbol of prosperity in feng shui? It is also full of delicious surprises! Its large woody fruit contain seeds that taste like roasted peanuts or chestnuts and can be toasted and ground to make a chocolate-like beverage, likely consumed by locals in South America and Mexico. Found in wetland habitats, this tropical tree can reach up to 20 metres tall in nature and thrives both as a bonsai-like ornamental plant or planted in the landscape.
Pachira aquatica
Smelly but healthy
Did you know that Noni (Morinda citrifolia) used to be grown in villages in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia? The ripe fruit is oval and turns yellowish white with a rancid smell. The bitter fruit juice which is rich in potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants is consumed in many parts of the world such as in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Young leaves are eaten in Java as a vegetable. The fruit and leaves are used in Indonesian and Filipino traditional medicine respectively. This shrub to small tree is native to Singapore and can be found in the wild along the shoreline and secondary forests.
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The 3 Musketeers and the Fourth
Did you know that there is not 1 but 3 species of Resam (Dicranopteris sp.) in Singapore? They are namely D. curranii, D. linearis var. linearis and D. subpectinata. Often found growing together along forest edges and exposed grounds, the sprawling ferns are fast-growing which form large dense bushes known as thickets. Another species that looks similar and is often mistaken to be a Resam is Sticherus truncatus. It can be distinguished by its fully foliated branching while the branching of Resam species remain bare.
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These Irises Can 'Walk'
Did you know that Neomarica caerulea and related plants from the genera Neomarica and Trimezia are collectively known as Walking Irises? These iris-like plants will produce plantlets along the flowering stems of spent inflorescences. The flowering stem will slowly bend from the weight of the developing plantlets until it touches the ground. Eventually, the plantlets will take root and grow into new plants a small distance away from the mother plant, suggesting that the plant is able to ‘walk’!
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Adinandra Belukar
Did you know that Adinandra Belukar is a type of young secondary forest and is named after the dominant species of this habitat – Tiup-tiup (Adinandra dumosa)? And Belukar means ‘degraded’ in Malay. This forest type is characterised by poor, degraded soils, low species diversity and high fluctuations between day and night temperatures and humidity. The Tiup-tiup flourishes in the Adinandra Belukar forest given its preference for poor nutrients soils and full sun conditions typical of young secondary forests.
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Sunda Slow Loris
Video of wild Sunda Slow Loris in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
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Unlocking the Secrets of Hoya Pollinaria Diversity
02 June 2025
Unlocking the Secrets of Hoya Pollinaria Diversity
02 June 2025
A comprehensive study of 85 species and 4 subspecies of Hoya revealed ten distinct pollinarium types, highlighting structural variations across the genus. Researchers observed differences in key floral traits, such as the shape and texture of pollen structures, which are important for successful pollination. These traits were analysed using a phylogenetic tree, which showed that similar features had evolved multiple times across unrelated groups, a pattern known as convergent evolution. These findings enhance our understanding of floral adaptations in Hoya and offer valuable insights for taxonomy and conservation of this beloved tropical genus, which thrives in Southeast Asia’s diverse habitats.
Ninety Years Of Reshaping Tropical Leafing Patterns
06 May 2025
Ninety Years Of Reshaping Tropical Leafing Patterns
06 May 2025
With climate change, Singapore experiences more distinct drier and wetter periods than it did 9 decades ago and tropical trees are adapting to these changes in the weather. Researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens studied how changing weather patterns affect leafing behaviour in 23 tropical tree species, analysing historical phenological and weather records, field observations, and climate data dating back to 1927. The findings reveal that the increase in seasonality of rainfall have resulted in more frequent leaf flushing, which could impact plant-herbivore interactions, nutrient cycling and overall ecosystem resilience. By providing critical insights into how tropical trees are adapting to a changing climate, this research also highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts.
How Colour Changes in Licuala ferruginea Fruits Signal Bird Dispersal Strategy
03 April 2025
How Colour Changes in Licuala ferruginea Fruits Signal Bird Dispersal Strategy
03 April 2025
A study was conducted by researchers from NParks to understand the correlation between the changing colours of Licuala ferruginea fruits and their fauna seed-dispersers. By monitoring local plant specimens in rainforest and nursery settings, observations suggest that the initial red colour serves as an early advertisement to birds while subsequent pink and white stages aid in camouflaging, allowing the fruit to ripen finally to purple and black. Purple and black colouration are established visual prompts for frugivorous birds, signalling that fruits are ripe to consume. Despite being fed on by a range of mammals, it is postulated that Forest bulbuls are the intended dispersers for Licuala ferruginea due to their gape sizes matching the fruit size. This theory supports the hypothesis of coevolution between fruit traits and disperser morphology and behaviour.
Orchid Renaissance in Singapore’s Urban Jungle
03 March 2025
Orchid Renaissance in Singapore’s Urban Jungle
03 March 2025
Singapore’s urban landscape has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in native orchid species. Over the past 15 years, the number of extant native orchids species has increased from 45 to 76, due to taxonomic revisions and new discoveries. This success stems from the establishment of resident taxonomists that embrace integrative taxonomy and comprehensive botanical surveys and field research. The Singapore Botanic Gardens plays a crucial role in orchid conservation, spearheading ex-situ propagation and reintroduction programmes leading to the successful reintroduction of over 60 native orchid species across the city-state. This orchid renaissance demonstrates that urban areas can serve as important refugia for biodiversity, offering hope for conservation in city environments worldwide.