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Bruguiera × hainesii C.G.Rogers
| Family Name: | Rhizophoraceae |
| Common Name: | Berus Mata Buaya, Eye of the Crocodile |
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 | Columnar |
| Maximum Height | 33 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From India to Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea It is estimated that only 200 individual trees of Bruguiera hainesii can be found in the wild, making it one of the most endangered mangrove tree species in the world. In Singapore, there are currently only a total of four trees of this species found at Pasir Ris, Kranji Nature Trail and Pulau Ubin. Besides being classified as "Critically Endangered" in the Singapore Red Data Book (2nd edition, 2008), B. hainesii is also listed as a "Critically Endangered" species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. |
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| Native Habitat | Shoreline (Mangrove Forest, Backshore) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a medium to large-sized tree up to 33 m tall, with kneed roots that rise above the substrate. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | The tree has brown to grey bark covered with yellowish brown lenticels from bottom to top. |
| Roots | Short buttresses and kneed roots. |
| Foliage | Its opposite, long-stalked leaves have thinly-fleshy, leathery leaf blades that are oval to oval-oblong, 9–16 by 4–7 cm, shiny green on the upperside and light green on the underside. Leaf margins are smooth. |
| Flowers | The pendulous flowers are borne on short stalks, in small clusters of about 2–3 at the axillary. Calyx of each flower is pale yellowish green, 18–22 by 5 mm, top-shaped, opening up into 10 pointed lobes at the distal end. Petals are 7–9 mm long, white, forked, hairy, with 2–4 bristles at the tip. |
| Fruits | The fruit develops within the calyx, and becomes enlarged when ripened. The single seed germinates within the calyx while attached to the parent plant, forming a green hypocotyl that emerges from the calyx, known as a propagule. The propagule is cigar-shaped, slightly curved and thickened at the end, 9–22 by 1–1.2 cm, maturing from green to dark purple. |
| Habitat | It grows on landward margins of mangrove forests that are relatively dry and flooded for only a few hours a day. It occurs locally in Western Catchment, Kranji Nature Trail, Sungei Loyang and Pulau Ubin. |
| Associated Fauna | It has been reported that the flowers are pollinated by day-flying insects, such as butterflies. The loose pollen of the flowers are held under tension by the petals of the flower. These dehisce to scatter a cloud of pollen over the head of the visiting insect when it probes at the base of the flower. The Brown-throated and Copper-throated Sunbirds (Anthreptes malaccensis ) have been reported to feed at the flowers of Bruguiera hainesii. |
| Cultivation | It is propagated by propagules produced on the tree, which can be collected when mature and planted straight into potting media. |
| Etymology | The genus Bruguiera is named after the French explorer J. G. Bruguieres (1750–1799). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products ( It is used as firewood and charcoal. The timber is used for construction.) |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | This tree can be planted along the water edges of ponds and waterways, or on waterlogged soil for its attractive lush foliage. It is rather slow-growing, hence minimum maintenance is needed. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils (Does not Drain Site), Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, Beachfront / Shoreline, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog |
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden, Marsh Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird Attracting (Flowers) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Vertebrates (Bird)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Viviparious Propagule |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Mature Bark Texture | Lenticellate |
| Root Type | Underground, Aboveground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
|---|---|
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green, White |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
References
| References | Noske, R.A. 1993. Bruguiera hainesii: another bird-pollinated mangrove?. Biotropica. 25(4). 481-483 Sheue, C.R., J.W.H. Yong and Y.P. Yang. 2005. The Bruguiera (Rhizophoraceae) species in the mangroves of Singapore, especially on the new record and the rediscovery. Taiwania. 50(4). 250-260 |
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Others
| Master ID | 29693 |
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| Species ID | 4002 |
| 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. |
