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Dillenia reticulata King
| Family Name: | Dilleniaceae |
| Common Name: | Stilted Simpoh, Simpoh Jangkang, Simpoh Gajah |
Name
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| Common Names |
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 30 m to 40 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | This is a lofty tree up to 40m tall, with conspicuous prop roots at the base of the trunk. |
| Foliage | Alternate, stalked leaves possess finely toothed leaf blades that are oval or oval-oblong to drop-shaped, and 10-46 by 6-28cm, with venation that resembles a close network. Leaf blades also have heart-shaped or narrowed or rounded bases. The undersides are velvety and golden brown when they wither. |
| Flowers | Stalked flowers are up to 8.1cm wide, with large, yellow petals. They develop in a loose, 3 to 15-flowered cluster that is up to 13 by 13cm, at the ends of leafless twigs or twigs with new leaves. |
| Fruits | The greenish-yellow fruits are slightly flattened and roundish, and up to 3.8cm wide. Its seeds are glossy black, and 3.5 by 2.5mm, with a reduced, fleshy covering. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland primary forests, on swampy ground on wet to rather dry soil. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. The flowers and possibly the fruits, are also eaten by gibbons and monkeys. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Latin Dillenia, commemorating Johann Jacob Dillenius (1687–1747), Professor of Botany at Oxford, author of Historia Muscorum and Hortus Elthamensis; Latin reticulata, conspicuously net-veined, probably referring to the venation of the leaf blades |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | This tree has attractive, large, yellow-petalled flowers. The prop roots at the base of the trunk make this an interesting addition to landscape design. Its tolerance for damp soil makes it suitable for waterlogged sites that most plants do not favour. |
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site, Does not Drain Site), Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Other Mammal)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Orange, Red |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Elliptical, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Green, Yellow / Golden |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Fleshy Fruit |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 1553 |
| Species ID | 2846 |
| 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. |
