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Terminalia subspathulata King

Family Name:	Combretaceae
Common Name:	Jelawai Jaha, Medang Salah, Malayan Terminalia, Jelawi, Pelawei

Terminalia subspathulata or Jelawai Jaha is a native tree of Singapore that is critically endangered. Growing up to 45 m tall, Jelawai Jaha has spoon to spatula-shaped leaves and greenish to yellow flowers. The winged fruit is broad, light yellow and smooth.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Terminalia subspathulata_Tamako Kobayashi

Name

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

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	Tiered, Conical
Maximum Height	45 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Java
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree up to 45 m tall, with a tiered, widely conical, narrowly flat-topped crown.
Foliage	Leaves are leathery, glossy green above, bluish green below, spoon to spatula-shaped. They measure between 4 - 14 cm long by 1.5 - 5 cm wide, arranged spirally towards the ends of the twigs. The leaf blades are also bluntly or scarcely tipped, with narrowly recurved edges.
Flowers	Flowers are greenish or yellow coloured, borne on long shoots between 6 - 20 cm at the leaf axils.

Fruit	The fruit is dry, flattened, 2-winged, measuring 2 - 3.3 cm by 3.5 - 5.5 cm wide. It is light yellow in colour, glabrous but velvety when young.
Habitat	Up to 1350 m in altitude.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are insect-pollinated. Its rather open and tiered crown is utilised as nesting sites for large birds of prey.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Latin terminus, end, referring to the leaves being borne at the ends of the twigs; Latin sub, almost; Latin spathulatus, like a spatula, referring to the shape of the leaf blades
Ethnobotanical Uses	Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There are currently 4 individuals of Terminalia subspathulata listed as Heritage Trees in Singapore. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register.

Landscaping Features

SGMP Treatment

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral

Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Reticulate
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Acute, Obtuse, Rounded
Foliar Base	Cuneate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Green, Yellow / Golden

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Inflorescence Type	Spike
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Samara

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

References

References	Exell, A.W. (1948). Combretaceae. Flora Malesiana, ser. 1, Seed Plants, vol. 4, pt 1. Leiden: Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	2010
Species ID	3302
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.