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Pellacalyx axillaris Korth.

Family Name:	Rhizophoraceae
Common Name:	Abu-abu air, Bebuloh, Bebulu, Berbula, Buloh, Kaju baro, Kaju bulu, Kaju merah kuku, Kiramu, Mata keli, Membuloh, Menderakan, Merah bulu, Merbuloh, Piangu Jantan

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Native to Singapore

Ornamental Leaves

Tree

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular

Native Distribution	From Sumatra to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore to Borneo (Brunei, East Malaysia, and Kalimantan) and to southwest Philippines (Mindanao)
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Growth Form	It is a small- to medium-sized tree with buttresses, stiff horizontal branches, and drooping leaves, growing to about 25 m tall.
Foliage	Its opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are smooth, slightly toothed, drooping, oblong to drop-shaped-oblong, and 10–20 by 5–6 cm. The leaf blades are also hairy to glabrous and green above, and pubescent and rusty green below.
Flowers	Its stalked flowers are small and 5–10 mm long. Its flowers have small petals that are yellowish-green or white, and occasionally with thread-like protrusions at the tip. Its flowers are also borne singly or in small clusters at the branch axils.

Fruit	Its brown fruits are ovoid or nearly round, about 10 mm wide, and have numerous small seeds.
Habitat	It grows in damp localities, and along streams of lowland primary and secondary forests. It occurs locally in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Associated Fauna	Its fruits are eaten by birds.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Greek pella, hide; Greek kalux, calyx, referring to the hair-covered calyx; Latin axillaris, arising from the axillary, referring to the flowers developing at the leaf axils
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: Its timber is red, hard, heavy, and durable, if protected and not in contact with the ground.

Landscaping	This tree can be grown in wet places around ponds and waterways. Its drooping, oblong leaves also add form to the landscape.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River

Thematic Landscaping

Golden Garden

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird-Attracting
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Images

Master ID	31204
Species ID	5598
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: 19 November 2024.