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Scolopia macrophylla (Wight & Arn.) Clos
| Family Name: | Salicaceae |
| Common Name: | Damak-damak tahun, Pokok rukam gajah |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree, Shrub |
| Maximum Height | 10 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Cambodia, Vietnam, south Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Java, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree or shrub up to 10 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have thinly leathery leaf blades that are purple to brown when young, oblong to elliptic-oblong, 6–16 by 2.5–8 cm, and with round-toothed margins. Its leaf stalks are reddish with two black glands on top. |
| Flowers | Its flowering clusters are 3–10 cm long and found in the leaf axils or at the ends of leafy twigs. They also consist of 20 short-stalked flowers that are fragrant and greenish-white. |
| Fruit | Its orange fruits are egg-shaped berries, up to 2 by 0.8 cm, and with a persistent style. They are also black when dry and contain 1–6 seeds. |
| Habitat | It grows on marshy soil at the back of mangrove forests, along rivers, creeks, the margins of pools, and along marshes in teak forests, on temporarily inundated soil, usually between 0–15 m, rarely up to 90–150 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek skolopes, thorn, probably referring to the thorns in some species; Latin macrophyllus, with large leaves, referring to the leaf blades |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Its wood is denser than water, reddish brown, and used for house building in Malacca. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green - Light Green |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange |
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References
| References | Sleumer, H.. 1968. Flacourtiaceae.. Flora Malesiana, Series I. 5. 1-106 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33625 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8039 |
| 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. |