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Kandelia candel (L.) Druce
| Family Name: | Rhizophoraceae |
| Synonyms: | Kandelia rheedei, Rhizophora candel |
| Common Name: | Pisang pisang, Berus berus, Beras beras, Pulut pulut |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, Bangladesh, southern China, southern Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, including Singapore |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small tree, reaching up to 7 - 9 m tall, with a thickened stem base. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Greyish to reddish-brown bark, smooth and has lenticels. |
| Roots | Usually does not have proper buttresses or pneumatophores, roots sometimes appear braided at the base of the trunk. |
| Foliage | Elliptic-oblong, sometimes narrowly to obovate-oblong leaves, measuring 6 - 13 by 2.5 - 6 cm. Leaf margin is curled inward. Leaf stalk measuring 1 - 1.5 cm long. |
| Flowers | Dichotomously branched flower cluster has 4 - 9 white flowers that are 1.5 - 2 cm long, petals measuring about 14 mm long, calyx lobes number about 5 - 6. Calyx tube exceeds the ovary and has linear lobes that are recurved after the flower has fully expanded. |
| Fruit | Ovoid green fruit, measuring 1.5 - 2.5 cm long. Long, cylindrical propagule or hypocotyl is club-shaped and measures 15 - 40 cm long, sometimes having a reddish tint. |
| Habitat | Occurs on banks of tidal rivers among other mangroves, and more often in the back mangrove forests. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: Wood used as firewood |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, Riverine |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils |
| Propagation Method | Viviparious Propagule |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32134 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6540 |
| 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. |