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Plant of the Month
Hanguana rubinea
Hanguana rubinea is a herbaceous plant that can grow to about 1.5m tall and is critically endangered in Singapore. It has long, narrow leaves measuring 65-95 cm in length. Its striking ruby-red fruits are borne on erect stalks up to 50 cm tall. The species is apomictic, meaning that female plants produce fruit and seeds without pollination. The resulting offspring are genetically identical to the mother plant. Its seeds are likely to be dispersed by birds. First described as a new species in 2015, the species’ discovery highlights the thriving biodiversity amidst the city state’s highly urbanised landscape.
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.
Variegated Chimera
Did you know that the Variegated Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’) is a chimera? In the plant world, a chimera comprises genetically distinct tissues, which is expressed as variegation. The Variegated Snake Plant has yellow margins and a green band in the centre of its leaves. Propagation of chimera plants can be tricky; methods like leaf cuttings may produce an entirely yellow plant or even a fully reverted green plant. Dividing the Variegated Snake Plant helps to preserve the yellow-margin variegation.
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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
Colour-changing magic
Commonly known as Butterfly Pea plant, the flowers of Clitoria ternatea is one of the key ingredient for the colour changing drink which is taking over the world by storm. Dried flowers are boiled to produce a blue solution, and it changes to purple when lemon juice is added! In traditional Peranakan culture, the blue pigment is also used for popular dessert like Kueh Salat. Butterfly Pea plant is widely cultivated in home gardens and the roots can improve soil quality by fixing nitrogen. Click on the button to learn more.
Clitoria ternatea_'pisang-raja'_izzul_haq-abdullah_2.jpg)
Heart of the Banana
Did you know that besides the fruits, banana flowers are also edible? The banana flowers are grouped in clusters, enclosed within dark reddish-purple bracts and closely arranged oppositely along the flower. While pollinated female flowers can develop to become fruit, the male flowers remain enclosed within the bud at the tip of the inflroescence. The flowers contain antioxidants and flower buds have a mild neutral taste when boiled or steamed. They can be added to salads or cooked in curries or stews as vegetables.
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Pretty like a Fairy
The Fairy Petticoat (Elaeocarpus grandiflorus) is a tree that can reach up to 25 m tall and develops reddish young leaves that mature to a green colour, leaves turn red again when senescing, before dropping off. This low maintenance species tolerates dry soils when it is mature. Did you know how the common name Fairy Petticoat came about? This common name references the clusters of small, pendulous flowers with white, frilly petals surrounded by pink sepals that the tree produces. These whimsical looking flowers bring to mind a fairy’s skirt!
Elaeocarpus grandiflorus
Sunda Pangolin
Video of wild Sunda Pangolin in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
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A new night-blooming species of Hoya (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) from Borneo
11 August 2026
A new night-blooming species of Hoya (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) from Borneo
11 August 2026
Researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Bogor Botanic Gardens have discovered a new species of night-blooming Hoya. Hoya biruensis, has a shrubby to epiphytic habit with pendulous stems. Its pinkish-cream, round-shaped, single flowers open after sunset, partly close the next day, re-open the second night and wither the following morning. This species is only known to occur in the primary heath forest of Bukit Biru in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Additions to the Flora of Singapore
27 July 2026
Additions to the Flora of Singapore
27 July 2026
Since 2025, 3 plant species are now recognised by researchers to have become naturalised in Singapore: Boat Lily (Tradescantia spathacea), Limeberry (Triphasia trifolia) and West Indian Nettle (Laportea aestuans). Another 2 species are discovered to be casual, meaning they occur in the wild but have not yet formed self-sustaining populations: Fire Bush (Hamelia patens) and Rose Cactus (Leuenbergeria bleo). All of them except West Indian Nettle are widely grown in Singapore for their ornamental foliage, flowers and fruits. Monitoring the populations of these species in the wild for ecological balance with Singapore’s native flora is important.
A new species of Homalomena from Indonesian New Guinea
07 July 2026
A new species of Homalomena from Indonesian New Guinea
07 July 2026
A new aroid species discovered in Central Papua, Indonesia, was formally named Homalomena polyneura. The specific epithet polyneura is derived from the Greek poly- (many) and neuron (nerve, vein), in reference to the conspicuous raised veins on the upper leaf surface. This water-loving plant is about 10–17 cm in height, with attractive, narrow, elongated to oblong leaves bearing 5–9 prominent veins on each side. The species has long been in commercial trade under the horticultural name Homalomena ‘Samurai’ and was formally described as a distinct species in 2025.
A new species of Curcuma from Vietnam
08 May 2026
A new species of Curcuma from Vietnam
08 May 2026
A new ginger species discovered in south-central Vietnam was named Curcuma corallina. The specific epithet from the Latin ‘corallinus’ references the coral pink bracts and corolla lobes. This terrestrial rhizomatous herb grows up to 1.2 metres tall and can be found naturally in the understorey of secondary broadleaf forests, secondary broadleaf-bamboo mixed forests and along stream banks.