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Pterospermum diversifolium Blume
| Family Name: | Malvaceae |
| Synonyms: | Pterospermum hastatum Blanco, Pterospermum acerifolium auct. non. Willd. <3> |
| Common Name: | Bayu, Bayur Jantan |
Pterospermum diversifolium or Bayu is a tree native to Singapore. Growing to 20 m tall, it produce hairy, oblong-obovate, oblong or palmately lobed leaves. In younger leaves, the underside could appear white, while mature foliage have a straw coloured to yellowish-brown underside. Flowers are white, fragrant, 5-petalled, held on an inflorescence. The fruit is a woody capsule that splits to reveal flattened winged seeds.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 20 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, West Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumbawa, Maluku and the Philippines |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Riverine) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree up to 20 m tall. Several parts of the tree are covered in straw-coloured to yellowish-brown hairs. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are leathery, broadly spoon-shaped (oblong-obovate) to elongated (oblong), measuring 9.5 - 28 cm long by 6 - 14.5 cm wide, attached to a stalk up to 45 mm long. Leaves have a straw-coloured to yellowish-brown underside, the underside of younger leaves might occasionally be white. Margins are slightly wavy, with a heart-shaped base. Orthotropic shoots have palmately lobed leaves, leaf stalk are longer, attached near the center of the leaf blade (sub-peltate), measuring to 250 mm in length. |
| Flowers | Flowers are held on an inflorescence, white, fragrant, 5-petalled. Petals are asymmetrical, spoon-shaped, broad and short measuring 80 - 140 mm long. Sepals consist of 5, hairy, yellow to green coloured, tend to longer than the petals measuring 100 - 150 mm long. |
| Fruit | The fruit is an angular, spindle-shaped or elongated, woody capsule measuring 5–14 cm long, 1.1–4.5 cm wide. Upon maturity, it splits into 5 parts revealing smooth, winged seeds within. |
| Habitat | Occurs by the riverside, secondary forests up to 1000 m altitude. <1,2> |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. |
| Etymology | Greek pteron, a wing; Greek sperma, a seed, hence winged seed; Latin diversifolium, with different kinds of foliage, referring to the varied leaf blade shapes |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: It is a source of timber, and is also used to make paper. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Yellow / Golden, Brown, White |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate, Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Obovate, Palmate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed, Palmately Lobed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Cuspidate |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type |
References
| References | <1> Ganesan, S.K., Middleton, D.J. & Wilkie, P. (2019). A revision of Pterospermum (Malvaceae: Dombeyoideae) in Malesia. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 77(2): 1-81. <3> Rolfe, R.A. & A.L.S. (1885). Supplementary List of Philippines Plants. Journal of Botany 23: 211. London: West, Newman & Co., Printers. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30311 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4620 |
| 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. |
