Plant ofthe Month
Chloranthus officinalis Blume
Chloranthus officinalis, also known as Sambau Paya, is a small shrub which is critically endangered in Singapore. Sambau Paya was popularly used as tea in Indonesia before Camellia sinensis gained prominence as the ‘tea plant’ in the 19th century. Its flowers are used in China to impart a subtle smoky sandalwood aroma to tea leaves along with a sweet and refreshing aftertaste to create a distinctive scented tea.
Animal ofthe Month
Hylarana labialis
The Copper-cheeked Frog has an unusual call that sounds like dripping water. Found in Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves and their surrounding Nature Parks, this frog can be found near streams and water bodies. It is best identified by a large brown patch at its eardrum as it can come in different colours of green, brown and yellow.)
Did youknow?
Learn MoreSunda Pangolin
Video of wild Sunda Pangolin in Singapore, captured on Night Vision Equipment.
Flora & Fauna News
View AllPlants for a Liveable and Resilient Singapore
Singapore's experience of growing plants in an urban environment was important in the creation of a liveable, sustainable, and climate resilient city. Horticulture programmes in Singapore like community gardens, allotment gardens in parklands, the Gardening with Edibles programme, and therapeutic horticulture programme contributed to the social imperative of cultivating community ownership of green estates, community ties, and interest in horticulture and gardening by offering distinct platforms for people to gather and engage with nature. These programmes also had the added advantage of promoting food security in the island nation.
06 Sep, 2023Long-term Monitoring of Singapore’s Forests
NParks is leading the way to understand how landscape and climate changes will affect Singapore’s forests through long-term ecological monitoring. A network of permanent forest plots that includes nature reserves, nature parks, Mandai Forest, Nee Soon Swamp and historical research plots was identified for regular surveys of trees, birds and animals. Trees in these plots will be individually tagged and measured on a regular basis to monitor how tree growth rate and biodiversity changes over time. This baseline data will be used for early detection of potential threats to endangered forest species and evaluate whether strategies to improve forest resilience are effective.
28 Aug, 2023Newly Discovered Merlion Orchid
Singapore saw the discovery of a new orchid species, the Claderia leontocampus! Researchers from the National Parks Board first encountered this species in 2020 during a routine survey and have since named it after the Merlion (“leontocampus” is Greek for Merlion). Previously, the only known species in Singapore from the same genus is C. viridiflora, which has bright green flowers that open one after the other on an inflorescence. However, C. leontocampus has unique pendulous, cream-yellow flowers with a narrow lip, its flowers open simultaneously on the inflorescence.
25 Jul, 2023