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Melicope lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) T.G.Hartley

Family Name:	Rutaceae
Common Name:	Chabang Tiga, Pepauh, Tenggek Burung, 三刈叶蜜茱萸

Melicope lunu-ankenda or Chabang Tiga is a tree native to Singapore. Growing to a height of 30 m tall, it produces trifoliate foliage where each leaflet is elliptic to spoon-shaped. Flowers are dioecious, small, white, 4-petalled, found along the axils. The fruit is a dry, elliptic to egg-shaped follicle that splits to reveal 1 -2 seeds in each cavity (locule).

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly Host Plant

Native to Singapore

Tree

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
Maximum Height	30 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	From Sri Lanka, Himalayas to Malesia (including Singapore).
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a shrub or tall tree that can grow to 30 m tall.
Foliage	The leaves are trifoliate, leathery, held on a petiole 1.5 - 15 cm long. Each leaflet is elliptic to spoon-shaped, asymmetrical, measuring 3.5 - 23 cm long by 2.5 - 7 cm wide. The terminal buds are sparsely hairy to velvety.
Flowers	Flowers are dioecious where the female and male flowers are found on the same individual. They are small, white and 4-petalled, held on an 2 - 32 cm long inflorescence found along the axils or below the leaves.

Fruit	The fruit is a dry, elliptic to egg-shaped follicle measuring 6 - 10 mm long. Each locule contains 1 - 2 round, oval to elliptic seeds measuring 3 - 6 mm long.
Habitat	Occurs in primary, secondary, well-drained or swampy forest and montane shrubbery. From near sea-level to 2200m in altitude. <1>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	Melicope lunu-ankenda is a fast growing species and suitable to reforest various less ideal site conditions. It flowers and fruit easily at 2- 3 m height.
Landscape Uses	Reforestation

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves), Bird-Attracting Plant (Flowers)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

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

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery
Foliar Type	Compound (Trifoliate)

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Acute
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse, Attenuate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	White

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

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Follicle

References

References	<1> Jones, D.T. (1995). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak, vol. 1, pp. 392-393. Kuala Lumpur: Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

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Master ID	30127
Species ID	4436
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.

Species record last updated on: 20 January 2026.