Plant ofthe Month
Acriopsis liliifolia (Koen.) Ormerod
Acriopsis liliifolia is epiphytic orchid native to Singapore. Its clump forming pseudobulb bears a pair of long narrow leaves and long, branching inflorescences of up to 200 flowers grow from the base. The dainty flowers have white petals bearing a purple spot at its tips and its white lip has a light sprinkling of purple spots. In its natural habitat, it can be found growing on trees, and is best cultivated outdoors under filtered light.
Animal ofthe Month
Draco melanopogon Boulenger, 1887
The Black-Bearded Gliding Lizard is a species of Agamid lizard commonly found in the lowland primary and secondary rainforests in Southeast Asia. In Singapore, it can only be seen in the nature reserves. It glides from tree to tree in search for small invertebrates to feed on. Males can be easily identified by their distinct orange and black gular flag and lappets, when fully extended during courtship or territorial displays. )
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Learn MoreSunda Pangolin
Video of wild Sunda Pangolin in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
View AllA New Record for Singapore, Memecylon acuminatissimum
Singapore saw a new record through research done on herbarium material collected. Using five herbarium specimens collected from one or two trees from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Chestnut Nature Park, it was determined that Memecylon acuminatissimum is an accepted species and not as previously thought, a synonym of M. oleifolium. This showed that vouchering living specimens is still vital for the recording of biodiversity in Singapore. This new record is also testament to the important conservation value of small patches of primary forests within urban environments, like Singapore.
01 Feb, 2023Species ID of famous ‘Changi Tree’ demystified!
The species identity of the ‘Changi Tree’ has been shrouded in the mists of time until recently – using herbarium specimens collected from Changi in 1893, researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens determined that the famous ‘Changi Tree’ was likely Sindora echinocalyx. At 76 m tall, it stood out in the landscape and was featured in sea navigation maps as a landmark as early as the mid-nineteenth century. As the tree was located within military barracks, it was removed by the British army during World War II to safeguard against artillery attacks.
05 Jan, 2023Newly discovered Hoya species of Borneo
Botanists from Singapore Botanic Gardens and Bogor Botanic Gardens jointly described nine new species and one subspecies of Hoya occurring in Borneo. This adds to a total of 85 Hoya species in Borneo. Among the newly minted species, five are endemic to Kalimantan, which is the least explored part of Borneo. Though the discoveries were based on limited plant collections, the researchers are confident that these species are not part of any species complexes, therefore, they are less likely to be synonymised in the future.
15 Dec, 2022