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Cratoxylum cochinchinense (Lour.) Blume

Family Name:	Hypericaceae
Synonyms:	Cratoxylum ligustrinum (Spach) Blume, Cratoxylum myrtifolium Blume, Cratoxylum polyanthum Korth., Hypericum cochinchinense Lour.
Common Name:	Derum Selunchor, Yellow Cow Wood, Mampat, Baduk-baduk, Red Mempat, 黄牛木

Cratoxylum cochinchinense or Derum Selunchor is a deciduous shrub to tree growing between 5 - 30 m tall. It has papery to leather leaves with grey-green bloom on the underside and faintly fragrant flowers that are usually deep red coloured. The fruit is an elliptic-cylindrical capsule with sepals more than half of its length.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Bee-Attracting Plant

Butterfly Host Plant

Native to Singapore

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Shrub

Tree

Cratoxylum cochinchinense - tree in landscape

Cratoxylum cochinchinense - green mature leaves

Cratoxylum cochinchinense - red young flush

Cratoxylum cochinchinense - flowers in leaf axils

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

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	Andaman Island, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Nicobar Island, Philippines, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Primary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a deciduous tree that can grow between 5 - 30 m tall.
Trunk	It has a smooth light brown to yellowish brown bark which peels off in long angular stripes.
Foliage	Leaves are fleshy to papery, elliptic to broadly lance or lance shaped measuring 3 – 12 cm long by 1 – 3.5 cm wide. The mature leaves are green above, and distinctly covered with a waxy layer on the grey-green undersides (glaucous) with minute gland-dots. When young, the leaves tend to be reddish. The lateral veins are well spaced, looping, faint to visible above and below.

Flowers	Flowers are borne on an inflorescence of up to 15 cm long at the branch tips or angles of leaves. The flowers are usually deep red, but can also be pink or orange coloured, faintly fragrant, measuring 5 - 10 mm long by 2.5 - 5 mm wide.
Fruit	The fruit is an elliptic-cylindrical capsule measuring 8–13 mm long by 4–5 mm wide with sepals more than half of its length. Seeds are winged on one side, drop-shaped, elliptic to oblong-shaped.
Habitat	Occurs in primary or secondary forest, open woodland, grassland and river banks, up to 500 m in altitude.
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: Parts of the plant has been used in folk remedies in the Southeast Asian communities such examples include a mix decoction of the bark and leaves is used to treat fever, the wood tar can blacken teeth and a decoction of its 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)
Landscape Uses	Suitable for Roadsides, General, Shade Providing Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens

Thematic Landscaping	Water Garden, Naturalistic Garden
SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves, Associated with: Eurema hecabe contubernalis (Moore, 1886), Lexias pardalis), Bee-Attracting
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Moist Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Papery, Leathery

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Red
Young Flush Texture(s)	Papery
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Lanceolate, Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Caudate
Foliar Base	Cuneate, Attenuate
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Bark Colour(s)	Reddish-brown
Mature Bark Texture	Peeling / Flaking / Papery, Smooth
Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Root Type

Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Red, Orange, Pink

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary, Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Bowl-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Cyme
Ovary Position	Superior / Hypogynous
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown, Green
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

References

References	Neo, L., Chong, K.Y., Tan, S.Y., Koh, C.Y., Lim, R.C.J., Loh, J.W., Ng, W.Q., Seah, W.W., Yee, A.T.K., Tan, H.T.W. (2016). Towards a field guide to the trees of the Nee Soon Swamp Forest (II): Cratoxylum (Hypericaceae). Nature in Singapore, 9: 29-39. Robson, N.K.B (1974). Hyperiaceae. Flora Malesiana, ser. I, 8(1), pp.1-29. Leiden: Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

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Master ID	1536
Species ID	2829
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.