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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.
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Name
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. |
| Fruits | 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
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| 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 | Recticulate |
| 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 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
|---|---|
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 2 | 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) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Indehiscent Dry Fruit |
| Fruit Type 2 | 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. |
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Image Repository
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. |
