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Cynometra ramiflora L.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Katong Laut, Belangkan, Kangkatung Bukit, Kangkatong Laut |
Name
| Family Name | |
| Genus Epithet | |
| Species Epithet | |
| Name Authority | |
| Name Status (botanical) | |
| Common Names |
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Plant Shape | Rounded, Umbrella |
| Maximum Height | 26 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From India, and throughout Southeast Asia (including Singapore) to the Pacific |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial, Shoreline (Mangrove Forest, Sandy Beach, Rocky Beach) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree, up to 26 m tall. |
| Crown | Its crown is rounded and umbrella in shape. |
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked, pinnate leaves have 1-2 pairs of leaflets that are 1.2-20 by 0.5-7 cm. New foliage is pinkish to beige in colour. |
| Flowers | Its small, white flowers are found on rather inconspicuous clusters. |
| Fruits | Its fruit pods are brown, scaly, wrinkled, and 1.2-5 by 1.3-4 cm. |
| Habitat | It grows on rocky and sandy seashores, tidal rivers, in the landward side of mangrove forests, and inland forests up to 400 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | It is the food plant for the caterpillars of the moth, Carea costiplaga. Its flowers are pollinated by insects. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seeds. kuno-metron |
| Etymology | Greek, kuno-metron, dog matrix, referring to the fruits. Latin, ramiflora, bearing flowers on branches. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products ( The dark-brown, heavy and hard timber is used to make door-posts, or for construction locally, because it is found only in small quantities.) [Others]: It is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental tree. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for planting along roadsides and gardens as a shade-providing tree. |
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Landscape Uses | General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline, Shade Providing Tree / Palm |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Caterpillar Moth Food Plant |
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Water) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Pink |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Even-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Brown |
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Wrinkled |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Indehiscent Dry Fruit |
References
| References | Tan, P.Y., R.T. Corlett and H.T.W. Tan (Editors). 2010. A Field Guide to the Native Garden @ HortPark: an Urban Oasis of the Native Flora and Fauna of Singapore. Singapore: Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (National Parks Board) and National University of Singapore. 124pp |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 1541 |
| Species ID | 2834 |
| 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. |
