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Plant of the Month
Clerodendrum deflexum
Clerodendrum deflexum, also known as Nodding Witch's Tongue, is a shrub native to Singapore that grows up to about 3 m tall. It is easily recognised by its white, tubular flowers with striking crimson-red bases. Its branches often have hollow sections that may be home to ants, while its berry-like fruits are enjoyed by birds. With its attractive flowers and wildlife-friendly features, this plant adds both beauty and biodiversity to the 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.
Evening Scent
Did you know that Tuberose releases a pleasant fragrance reminiscent of gardenia with hints of jasmine, jackfruit, and buttered popcorn that intensifies during the night? This attractive perennial plant grows up to 40 cm tall with grass-like, linear leaves and produces white funnel-shaped flowers on tall spikes reaching 1.2 m high. These highly fragrant blooms are popular as commercial cut flowers and can be grown outdoors in containers, making them ideal for planting near outdoor dining areas where their evening scent can be enjoyed.
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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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Versatility of Simpoh Air
Simpoh Air is a free-flowering large shrub that produces striking large yellow flowers, which only last for a day. When ripe, its fruit splits open revealing seeds encased in a fleshy red aril and enjoyed by birds. Did you know that this pioneer species has a trove of versatile uses? Its deep taproot allows it to access underground water sources, and its presence could sometimes indicate groundwater sources. This quick-growing plant creates shade in otherwise barren environments, supporting the growth of shade-loving species and promoting the diversity and development of forests. Simpoh Air’s large waxy leaves are also traditionally used in Peninsular Malaysia to wrap and contain food like tempeh.
Versatility of Simpoh Air
The Hairy Red Fruit
You may be familiar with the Rambutan fruit, but did you know the Rambutan tree (Nephelium lappaceum) is native to Singapore? Found in the rainforests of Malesia, this tree can grow to heights of 25 m. The common name, Rambutan, is derived from the Malay word for hair (rambut), and it refers to the red hairy fruit wall that encapsulates the sweet white pulp surrounding a seed. Rambutan pulp is rich in vitamin C and often consumed as a snack or dessert.
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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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Sunda Slow Loris
Video of wild Sunda Slow Loris in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
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The Hoya confusion
23 December 2025
The Hoya confusion
23 December 2025
Researchers resolved a long-standing confusion surrounding the identity of Hoya macrophylla, tracing the issue to an early botanical illustration that mistakenly combined features of two different species. Through re-examining historical drawings, type specimens and herbarium material from multiple global collections, the study clarified which traits truly belong to H. macrophylla and distinguished it from H. latifolia. Their findings underscore the importance of revisiting historical sources with modern taxonomic standards, ensuring that future studies are based on accurate identifications and reliable taxonomic literature.
Dipterocarps: Pillars of the rainforest
21 November 2025
Dipterocarps: Pillars of the rainforest
21 November 2025
Dipterocarp trees are dominant in the rainforests across the Sunda region, including Singapore. These towering trees play a key role in shaping the forest environment. Researchers document the complex structure of these forests and the ways dipterocarp trees support plant regeneration and wildlife. This ecosystem faces ongoing pressures from logging, land conversion, and climate change, highlighting the need for active management and strong conservation efforts.
New Entries to the Flora of Singapore
10 October 2025
New Entries to the Flora of Singapore
10 October 2025
As part of ongoing efforts to document non-native plants that have become established in Singapore, researchers have recently added five new records of casually occurring or naturalised plants to the nation’s official plant list. The team also discusses how these plants may have arrived and provides descriptions based on plant samples collected locally and stored at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Herbarium.
New Ginger Species from Central Vietnam
16 September 2025
New Ginger Species from Central Vietnam
16 September 2025
A new ginger species, Boesenbergia monophylla, has been discovered in Central Vietnam's Quang Ngai Province. It is distinctive for being the only single-leafed (monophyllous) species among its relatives in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The species differs from another single-leafed ispecies, B.prainiana, by its dark green velvety leaves, long petioles, generally concealed inflorescence, and pale-yellow flowers with red-pink banding on the labellum. This discovery brings Vietnam's total Boesenbergia species count to seven.