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Cratoxylum cochinchinense (Lour.) Blume
| Family Name: | Hypericaceae |
| Synonyms: | Cratoxylum ligustrinum, Cratoxylum myrtifolium, Cratoxylum polyanthum, Cratoxylum cochinchinense |
| Common Name: | Kayu Arang, Yellow Cow Wood, Tree-Avens, Derum Selunchor, Kemutong, 黄牛木 |
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Big (>30m), Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Weeping / Pendulous |
| Maximum Height | 30 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, China, Indochina, Thailand, Sumatra, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Borneo |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Primary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status 1 | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a shrub or small to medium sized tree up to 30 m tall, but in Singapore, it is usually 10 m or shorter. Its smooth bark is flaky and light buff to pale brownish-yellow. |
| Crown | The crown form is generally drooping. |
| Trunk | The bark is smooth and flaky, light buff colour to pale brownish-yellow. |
| Foliage | Its opposite, stalked leaves possess fleshy to papery leaf blades that are oval to oblong or lance-shaped, and 3–13 by 1–4.4 cm, with minute gland-dots. Its mature leaf blades are green above, and distinctly covered with a bloom on the grey-green undersides. Its leaf blades are also deep purple, then pinkish-brown when young. |
| Flowers | Its faintly fragrant flowers are 1.3–2.5 cm wide, with deep crimson to pink or pinkish-orange petals. They are usually found in pairs, on 5.1–15 cm-long flowering shoots occurring at branch tips, or the angles of leaves. |
| Fruits | Its brown fruits are oval, 8–13 by 4–5 mm, and covered for two-thirds to three-quarters of its lengths by the sepals. Its seeds are narrowly drop-shaped to oval or oblong, 6–8 by 2–3 mm, and many per fruit. The seeds are released when the ripe fruit splits. |
| Habitat | It grows on well-drained soils in grassland, open woodland, primary or secondary forests, and river banks, up to 500 m altitude. It occurs locally in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Fort Canning Park, and Sentosa. |
| Associated Fauna | It is the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the butterflies, the archduke (Lexias pardalis dirteana), and the common grass yellow (Eurema hecabe contubernalis). The adult of the archduke lays its eggs singly on the undersides of leaves of the host plant. Its flowers are also insect-pollinated. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek kratos, strength; Greek xulon, wood, referring to the strong timber; Latin cochinchinense, of or from Cochinchina (now known as southern Vietnam), referring to the natural distribution of this species |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal ( The wood tar can be used to blacken teeth. Fever can be treated by taking a decoction of bark and leaves. A decoction of the roots is given to women as a post-labour tonic.) Timber & Products ( The durability of the wood is disputable, but it is used for cabinets, construction, furnitures, and inside fittings.) Cultural / Religious ( Heritage Tree: There is 1 individual of Cratoxylum cochinchinense listed as Heritage Trees in Singapore. It can be found in Telok Blangah Green. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register.) |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for planting in parks and roadsides for its attractive bark, new foliage and flowers. |
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Trunk, Fragrant (Flowers) |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Moist Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm, General, Shade Providing Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| SGMP Treatment |
