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Aporosa lunata (Miq.) Kurz

Family Name:

Phyllanthaceae

Aporosa lunata is a medium sized tree native to Singapore. Growing to 27 m tall, leaves are thick, narrowly elliptic to obovate, bullate with sparse hairs on the underside and sickle-shaped stipules found at the axils. Flowers are dioecious, borne on a brush like inflorescence found along the axils or below the foliage. The fruit is a dry, oval to flask-shaped capsule that splits upon maturity to reveal 3 bright red, elliptic seeds.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

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Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Maximum Height	27 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Malesia: Peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a medium-sized tree that can grow to 27 m tall, with thin trunk of up to 29 cm wide, buttresses present.
Foliage	Stipules are sickle-shaped found along the axils, 6-9mm long by 11-15mm wide. Leaves are held by a hairy petiole of 6-20 mm long with a swollen base. Leaves are thick, shiny, narrowly elliptic to spoon-shaped measuring 9.5 - 43 cm long by 3.5 - 13 cm wide. Black disc-like glands found along the leaf margins. Veinlets of 10-14 pairs are sunken in from above as such the foliage bulges out. Sparse hairs found along the midrib and underside of the leaves.
Flowers	Flowers are dioecious where the female and male flowers are produced separate individuals. Borne on a brush-like inflorescence, flowers are covered in hairs, found along the axils or just below the foliage. The female inflorescence measuring 15 - 33 mm long and 2-3 mm wide in bundles of 3 - 6, comprises of up to 10 flowers each. The male inflorescence measures at 7 - 45mm long, 1 - 1.2 mm wide, in bundles of 2 - 5 with up to 15 flowers. Female flowers are 1.5 - 2.5 mm long while male flower is 2 - 3 mm long.

Fruit	The fruit is a dry, oval to flask-shaped capsule measuring 10 - 16 mm long by 9 - 14mm wide. Upon maturity, it turns from yellow to red, spilt to reveal 3 bright red, elliptic seeds of 8 - 9 mm long.
Habitat	Occurs in primary, secondary, lowland forest, on hillside, ridges, along river banks, in flat, hilly and moist land up to altitude of 1300 m.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed. <1 & 2>

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

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

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Bulging in between Veins

Foliar Modification	Stipule
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Reticulate
Foliar Margin	Entire - Wavy / Undulate
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Oblique / Asymmetrical, Rounded / Obtuse, Cordate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Green

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 , Capsule

Mature Seed Colour(s)	Red
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

References

References	<1> Ridley, H.N. et. al (1924). The flora of Malay Peninsula, vol. 3. London: L. Reeve & Co., Ltd. pp. 237. <2> Schot, A.M. (2004). Systematics of Aporosa (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea Supplement 17:281-283.

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Master ID	34482
Species ID	8895
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: 24 December 2024.