Dicranopteris Linearis Common Name in Malaysia

A Guide to the Plants of Kent Ridge
Welcome! This page is intended to be an online resource for the

use of teachers, students, and the general public. Within you
can find information on the vegetation of Kent Ridge, as well as
descriptions of the various common species of plants that can
be found there. The Introduction is a brief essay on various
aspects of Ridge vegetation, while the Plants page gives simple
descriptions of plant life, as well as an artificial key to aid in
identifying common Ridge trees. The References section gives a
list of books and articles for further reading.
Introduction
Plants
References
This webpage done Dec 2001 by Brandon Seah for the Raffles
Museum of Biodiversity Research, Department of Biological
Sciences, National University of Singapore.
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A Guide to the Plants of Kent Ridge -- Introduction
Introduction
There is an interesting variety of plant life on Kent Ridge. This

guide attempts to be an introduction to common species that
can be found along the edge of the Kent Ridge forest that runs
alongside the stretch of Kent Ridge Road from the Central
Library to the staircase behind the Institute of Molecular and
Cell Biology building. Both natives and naturalized exotics are
mentioned. Choose from the links below to access various parts
of the introduction.
Adinandra belukar
Plant Overview
Succession
Land Use History
Soil Erosion
Exotics
Plant-Animal Interactions
Adaptations
The Future
Main | Introduction | Plants | References
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Introduction -- Adinandra belukar
The type of vegetation found on the Ridge is known as

Adinandra belukar, as Adinandra dumosa is its characteristically
most commonly found tree, and 'belukar' is Malay for secondary
forest. Secondary forest is forest that grows on ground that has
been previously cleared of its original vegetation (primary
forest) or disturbed significantly. It is different from primary
vegetation in many ways. For example, the species of plants
growing in secondary forests are different from those in primary
forests, and are more adapted to life in its different conditions.
These different conditions include increased light intensity,
lower humidity, higher temperatures, etc. In order to survive
and be successful, plants in secondary forests also have to grow
quickly and be easily and widely dispersed, so that they may
colonize newly disturbed ground before other plants do.
Adinandra belukar is found on degraded land, whereas another
type of belukar, Trema belukar, dominated by Trema sp. and
similar plants is found in naturally occurring gaps in primary
forest, where the soil is still rich in nutrients and not degraded.
Adinandra belukar was first qualitatively described by Holttum

(1954a), and later by Sim et al (1992). Wee and Corlett (1986)
have given a semi-popular account of secondary vegetation in
Singapore, and Corlett (1991) has described the various stages
of development in Singapore's secondary vegetation based on
studies in the Central Catchment area. In general, belukar has
several distinct differences from primary forest. Firstly, its
floristic diversity is much lower, with more plants per species
per unit area than primary forest. Secondly, temperature and
humidity fluctuations are much greater. The belukar is highly
exposed to the elements, hence in the day it is very warm and
during the night it is very cool. It is much drier too, for the
belukar's average minimum relative humidity is 62% whereas
primary forests experience at least 76%. Thirdly, the soil is
much poorer, lacking various nutrients due to its previous uses.
Rain and other erosive agents wash away humus and organic
material as well. In short, belukar is hotter, drier, and poorer
than primary forests. Its various aspects are explored in detail
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below.

Introduction -- Plant Overview
The dominant plant on the Ridge (Sim et al, 1992; Holttum,

1954a) is Adinandra dumosa, the Tiup Tiup, which is a small
tree with reddish young leaves and small creamy white flowers.
Other common plants include Melastoma malabathricum, the
Singapore Rhododendron, that has pretty purple flowers and an
edible dark purple fruit; Ficus grossularioides, a fig with leaves
that show great variation in form, ranging from deeply lobed to
ellipsoid; Myrica esculenta, a small shrubby plant which has
leaves that are spirally arranged; Dillenia suffruticosa, Simpoh
Air (Ayer), a prominent plant that has large thick leaves, bright
yellow flowers, and bright red star-shaped fruits; and
Rhodamnia cinerea, the Silverback, so called because the
underside of its leaves are a glossy whitish colour. A commonly
seen tree that is not native but introduced is Acacia
auriculiformis, a tree with a messy looking crown and sickle-
shaped 'leaves' (actually modified stems or phylloclades) as well
as abundant sprays of yellow flowers. It is a native of northern
Australia, the Torres Straits, and southern Papua New Guinea
(Boland et al, 1990). Furthermore, there are several types of
herbaceous plants in the belukar. The most prominent would be
the species of Nepenthes, or the pitcher plants. They are
insectivorous, and trap insects and other small creatures in their
jug-like pitchers, which contain a liquid that has digestive
enzymes, acting almost like a stomach in digesting what it traps
for additional nutrients, which it needs due to the poor nutrient
content of the soil. The terrestrial orchid Bromheadia
finlaysoniana is also present, which has pinkish flowers.
Very commonly seen is the Resam, Dicranopteris linearis, a sun

loving fern that blankets large areas of bare land and prevents
other plants from establishing themselves there. Resam is
considered a harmful weed to agriculture, and it needs to be cut
flush to the ground and sprayed with lime to be stopped
(O'Hara, 1926). Notable in their absence are the epiphytes,
plants that grow on other plants without harming them (hence
not parasites). Before humans came to disturb and clear the
forest, causing the development of secondary forests, these

belukar plants were usually confined to limestone cliff forests

and other similar environments which have conditions similar to
those found in belukar land. (Corlett, 1991)

Introduction -- Succession
These plants are not usually found in primary undisturbed

forest. In South East Asia, the forests are characterized by the
presence of dipterocarps, members of the family
Dipterocarpaceae, which is known for its winged seeds and good
timber. When these are cleared from the land, or when gaps
appear in the forest, the plants which emerge to quickly take
over the land are known as pioneers. As mentioned above, they
tend to grow quickly as well as flower and fruit fast. They are
also better dispersed than dipterocarps, hence pioneers can get
to the open land faster than the dipterocarps. The exposed
nature of gaps and clearings also is unsuitable for many primary
forest plants, which have adapted to the humid and shaded
climate of the understorey, that is the part of the forest covered
by the foliage canopies of trees.
Eventually, the vegetation will recover from the clearing or

disturbance, and revert to its original state. This process is
known as 'succession', so called because different types of
plants succeed each other as conditions change. Corlett
described four stages of succession on degraded land in
Singapore. In stage 1, the recently cleared and abandoned land
is invaded by herbaceous and smaller woody pioneers and there
is no distinct foliage canopy, in stage 2, the woody pioneers
form a canopy over the ground, and eventually shade out the
herbaceous pioneers, which need light for full growth. In stage
3, a transition occurs and the pioneers are slowly replaced by a
different set of species, and this culminates in stage 4, the tall
secondary forest. Previously, a distinction had been made
between the so-called low and tall secondary forests, the former
being shorter than 10 metres, and the latter being taller. (Hill,
1977) However, this separation is rather arbitrary. Stages 1 and
2 also appear to correspond with the old concepts of belukar
muda ('muda' is Malay for 'young') and belukar tua ('tua' is
Malay for 'old'). At present, Kent Ridge appears to be at stage 2
of Corlett's model of succession, being still dominated by the
original species of pioneers.

The 'original state', or 'climax' that the Ridge belukar should

revert to is the lowland tropical dipterocarp rainforest
(Whitemore, 1975). However, this will take an extremely long
time, as dipterocarps (as mentioned above) are very poorly
dispersed. The seeds, although winged, can only fly up to a
maximum of 100 metres (100 yards) in a very strong wind, and
according to Ridley (1930), dipterocarps take about 30 years to
reach maturity and start fruiting, hence in the most ideal case,
they would take 58666 years to cover 100 miles of land, and
this is discounting other threats to dipterocarp survival, e.g. the
need to be tall to catch drafts of fast wind, and the possibility of
the seeds being consumed by rodents. In order for the belukar
to proceed beyond stage 2, new species of plants from the older
forest need to recolonize the land. However, Kent Ridge is in the
middle of the urban jungle, and the only sources of seed for
these plants are several kilometers away in Bukit Timah and the
Central Catchment area, the former being the only primary
forest in Singapore, and the latter the most mature secondary
forest. (Corlett, 1992) Hence, in this state of isolation, the
future of Ridge vegetation is uncertain.

Introduction -- Land Use History
Adinandra belukar occurs on land that has been degraded by

agriculture and development, then subsequently abandoned. It
reflects the common pattern of historical land use in Singapore
over the years. The land of the Ridge has seen various types of
uses. Prior to 1845, the area was probably covered by
undisturbed lowland rainforest that now can only be seen in
Bukit Timah. From about 1845 to 1945, the Ridge was covered
by settlements and was used for rubber plantations. Some
rubber trees still persist on the Ridge, and Holttum (1954a)
reports seeing old and dying rubber trees along the Gap, where
Buona Vista Road cuts through the Ridge. From 1945-1959, the
plantations were largely abandoned, being unproductive after
having exhausted the soil of its nutrients, and the primary land
use was residential and military. From 1959-1970, the area
used for residential purposes increased, and from 1970 to the
present, the Ridge is largely known for housing the National
University of Singapore campus. In addition, associated with the
settlements and kampungs on the ridge were small-scale
agricultural holdings, planting vegetables and fruits, e.g. tapioca
(Manihot esculenta), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarium),
banana (Musa paradisica), etc. Hence, some of these cultivated
plants may have escaped into the Ridge vegetation.
Horticultural plants, for example the Money Plant (Epipremum
bipinnatum) are also present on the Ridge. The presence of the
human settlements also resulted in settlers collecting wood for
firewood, and this has caused some degree of damage as well.
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Introduction -- Soil Erosion
The intensive land use on the Ridge has resulted in very deep
erosion and weathering of its soil (12-25 m). As such, the
humus (organic matter) content of the soil is low, and its nature
strongly reflects the characteristics of the rocks that lie
underneath. The rocks on Kent Ridge are from three
formations: the Kallang, Tekong, and Jurong formations (Public
Utilities Board, 1976). These are mostly sandstone and
mudstone formations, and so the soils they form are mostly
sediment that is deficient in many forms of plant nutrients. The
soil is known to be deficient in potassium (K) and calcium (Ca)
(Lee, 1995); hence Ridge plants have to be well adapted to
grow under such conditions. The evidence for the deep erosion
of the soil is the numerous boulders that can be seen in several
places along Kent Ridge Road. While there is leaf litter present,
the humus layer is much thinner compared to primary forest,
and even more so in areas covered by grass. Organic matter on
the ground acts as a 'sponge' to absorb water when the rain
comes, (Holttum, 1954b) so without it, the water holding
capacity of the soil is reduced. Kent Ridge soil exhibits high
surface runoff and a compact nature. (Sim, 1991; Mudaliar,
1984) Therefore, water is not absorbed and retained well by the
soil, instead flowing off; in addition, the soil is poorly aerated.
Together with the higher soil temperature, due to the greater
light penetration to the surface compared with primary forests,
this causes the environment to be drier than primary forest,
hence pioneer belukar plants have to be adapted to lower water
availability. Ironically, while the open nature of the canopy
causes higher rainfall penetration to the ground, this results in
erosion of the soil that eventually causes the water deficiency.
The acidity of the soil is also high, and this can decrease the
solubility and hence availability of macronutrients, in particular
nitrogen and phosphorus, while increasing the solubility of toxic
substances like aluminum. Therefore, only plants that can
tolerate this can survive. The relative absence of legumes
(members of the family Leguminosae [Fabaceae]), except for
the exotic Acacia, means that they cannot carry out their
nitrogen fixing function for the soil.

Introduction -- Exotics
There are many exotic plants that have invaded the Ridge
belukar. Many of these are pan-tropical weeds of the
Compositae (Asteraceae), as well as alien grasses and sedges
that have been introduced. This might be due to Kent Ridge
being enveloped in an urban area, and since Singapore was,
and still is, a busy trading port, many of these may have
followed traders in from overseas. Woody alien plants are also
present. The most prominent of these, and also the most
successful, is Acacia auriculiformis, the Wattle, which is a native
of northern Australia, the Torres Straits, and southern Papua
New Guinea. It was brought to this region as a horticultural
plant and also as a source of timber, and Nicholson (1965) calls
it "...a very useful tree, especially for replanting waste areas...."
Hill (1977) notes that it was planted in Kent Ridge itself along
the Gap. The tree was also used as a wayside tree by the
government before being abandoned because of its excessively
vigorous growth and rapid dispersal. Other trees along Kent
Ridge Road are also possibly planted as wayside trees, for
example Adenanthera pavonina, the Saga tree, as well as
Causuarina equisetifolia, which is found naturally on sandy
shores. But Acacia is still the most common exotic, and this is
due to several factors. Firstly, it is well suited to the dry and
exposed environment of the belukar, and also has tough leaves
like native belukar plants. Secondly, its growth is fast, and it
matures rapidly, competing with the natives for light and
nutrients. Thirdly, being a legume, its associated root nodules
can fix nitrogen and give it an edge in growth. Fourthly, its
brightly coloured yellow aril attract birds which feed on its
numerous seeds that are produced year round and hence
disperse the plant. As can be seen, even though it is an exotic
that has evolved in a different area from this region, it shares
many characteristics and adaptations with belukar plants and
hence is able to compete favourably with them.
As mentioned above, horticultural plants and food plants have

"escaped" from peoples' gardens to grow wild on the Ridge. It
was quite surprising for the author to stumble upon a patch of

Sanseviera sp. growing wild in the shade of the belukar trees.

Epipremnum, the money plant, can also be seen climbing up
trees together with the native Smilax spp. These weeds may
compete with the native plants and smother them out, or
compete with them for nutrients, and hence reduce plant
diversity. Veldkamp (2001) complained about how tropical flora
is becoming increasingly homogenized, and in the belukar,
where plant diversity is already significantly less than primary
forest, the threat of exotics is quite great. However, the exotics
are established mostly at the edge of the forest, where human
disturbance is the greatest, and the conditions are the best for
their growth. It can be observed that even plants as successful
as Acacia still have not penetrated to the core of the belukar
forest, though in time they may.
Other foreign invaders include Mimosa pudica, the sensitive

plant, and Lantana camara, one of the top ten weeds
worldwide. With the increased exposure of the Ridge to external
influences and urbanization, the belukar will be increasingly
infiltrated by plants that 'should not be there'. At present the
belukar natives are holding their own, but the future is
somewhat uncertain. According to Mudaliar (1987), two-thirds
of belukar plant species are natives. While it compares
favourably with other forms of land use, e.g. urban green
space, residential, etc., it is much less than primary forests.

Introduction -- Plant-Animal
Interactions
Plants and animals interact in many ways, both mutually

beneficial and antagonistic. The most important ways they can
help each other are dispersal and pollination. Many examples
can be found in Ridley (1930).
Dispersal
Dispersal is important for the pioneer belukar plants to be
widely distributed and more successful in the secondary forests.
The majority of belukar plants are dispersed by animals,
especially birds and bats, which are highly mobile creatures.
Many of the plants have edible fruits, which are consumed by
the animals and then spread over a wide range when the
animals excrete the seeds in their faeces. Belukar plants tend to
flower and fruit at a young age, each fruit tends to have many
seeds. For example, Chin (1970) reports that Melastoma has
between 394-1472 seeds per fruit, while Adinandra has
between 83-189. The seeds are also very light and small, e.g.
Adinandra seeds are an average of 0.948 mg, those of Fagraea,
0.269 mg, etc. All these factors contribute to their ease of
dispersal. Compared to the dipterocarps, as mentioned above,
they make use of the mobility of animals to help them in
dispersal. Hence, they can colonize newly abandoned land with
great vigour.
Phua and Corlett (1989) report that the Lesser Short-nosed

Fruit Bat, Cynopterus brachyotis, consumes a wide variety of
fruits, including a significant number of the belukar plants, like
Adinandra, Fagraea, Vitex pinnata, etc. Cynopterus tends to fly
to the fruits, bite them from the tree, then fly away to another
place to consume the flesh of the fruit and drop the seeds
before flying back for more. Because of this behavior of the bat,
the seeds are dispersed over a wider area than they would if the
bats simply stay in place to consume the fruits.

Birds also feed on a wide variety of fruits. The Yellow Vented

Bulbul feeds on Rhodamnia, Melastoma, Cinnamomum etc.,
while the Turtle Dove feeds on Melastoma, which Ridley (1930)
said was "one of the first bushes to appear in the waste fields of
lalang grass, where the seeds are dropped by pigeons and
bulbuls." Bulbuls also tend to go after the seeds of Dillenia,
perhaps attracted by the bright red colour of the arils. The
successful exotic, Acacia auriculiformis, is also dispersed by
birds, which are attracted to its seeds by the bright yellow arils.
In fact, seeds of Melastoma germinate better after passing
through the digestive tract of a bird. (Chin, 1970)
In more mature secondary forests, monkeys are active dispersal

agents, '"attacking vigorously" the fruits of Eugenia, Passiflora,
etc. However, they are not commonly encountered on the
Ridge, though a number were sighted a few years back and
may or may not still be present. Finally, there is the interesting
case of Ploiarium alternifolium, another pioneer plant, where the
seed capsules dehisce (split) on the plant, and rain washes
them down to be dispersed.
Pollination
Pollination is carried out by many insects. Turner notes that
carpenter bees (Xylocopa latipes) can be seen pollinating
Dillenia and Melastomain Singapore. In addition, the figs, Ficus
spp. are famously pollinated by the tiny fig wasps, which lay
their eggs in the figs. The eggs then hatch and the wasps mate.
The males die and the females squeeze out of the fig to lay
their eggs, and in the process pick up pollen. When they enter
other figs to lay their eggs, they deposit the pollen and hence
pollinate the figs.
Myrmecophytes
Macaranga triloba, the Mahang, is a plant that can be found in
Adinandra belukar though more commonly in Trema belukar. It
is a myrmecophyte, literally meaning an "ant plant". Its stem is
hollow, as the pith within disintegrates just behind the meristem
(growing tip). Within the hollow, ants of the species
Crematogaster borneensis establish their colonies. Small holes

along the stem can be seen where the ants enter and exit. The
plant also provides small white food bodies for the ants to feed
on. In return, the ants protect the plant against foreign invading
insects and other small creatures. The ants also bite off the
growing tips of plants that come near the Macaranga plant,
hence preventing vines and other plants from growing over and
smothering it.

Introduction -- Adaptations
Strategists
According to MacArthur and Wilson's (1967) theory of island
biogeography, there are two kinds of ways which plants can
adapt and strategize to adapt to their conditions. The so called r-
strategists are herbs which are short lived, light demanding,
and have biomass mostly to produce large amounts of seeds.
On the other hand, ideal K-strategists are slow growing long-
lived trees with biomass used to produce a large stature, and
have shade tolerant seedlings, and have larger, fewer and
poorly dispersed seeds. The former is adapted to rapidly
changing environments, being able to quickly grow and disperse
its seeds so that at least some may survive to continue the
lineage, while the latter is adapted to stable, unchanging
environments. As can be seen, belukar plants are more r-
strategists. They are adapted in many ways to survive and be
more successful in the belukar environment. As mentioned
above, there are many environmental factors they have to
contend with.
Water
To deal with the low amounts of water available to them,
belukar plants have thick and small leaves, (Turner & Tan,
1991) with more dry weight per unit area than primary
rainforest plants, which, according to Whitmore (1975), tend to
have large and thin leaf laminas. Furthermore, Adinandra
belukar plants have tough and sclerophyllous leaves in
comparison with Trema belukar plants (Boo, 1996), most likely
since the latter have more water available to them in a more
humid environment. According to Chee (1987), rhizosclereids
can be found in Adinandra, and astrosclereids in Fagraea. He
also reports the texture of most belukar plants as coriaceous or
chartaceous, qualitatively confirming the tough nature of the
leaves. Having tough leaves may also be a form of protection
against animals consuming the foliage, as they would tend to
choose softer and tender leaves for consumption. (Choong et al,
1992) Furthermore, pioneer plants tend to have low resistance
to water transport (Bazzaz, 1996). Adinandra, Melastoma, and

Ploiarium also have young in-curled leaves, possibly to reduce

water loss by transpiration by creating a small zone of more
humid air around the leaves. In addition, most important
belukar species have about 2 layers of cells in the upper
palisade mesophyll layer in their leaves, except for Vitex (1)
and Fagraea (4-5). This is probably also another means of
preventing water loss through the leaves. Dicranopteris, the sun
loving fern, has a waxy cuticle layer on both sides of its fronds,
as well has having a closely arranged palisade mesophyll layer,
a tactic to save water. In addition, the stomata in Dicranopteris
fronds are sunken and surrounded by raised cells, which create
pockets of humid air around stomata to reduce water loss. The
waxy cuticle on the underside of Dicranopteris is flaky, and
hence may act as 'heat fins' to dissipate excess heat as the
plant is often in direct sunlight. (Silachart, 1995)
Growth and Photosynthesis

In order to have successful establishment and dispersal, belukar
plants mature very fast. For example, 6 day old Adinandra and
Fagraea plants already have primary roots covered in root hairs.
Macaranga spp., another common pioneer plant, produces
lateral roots when only 1-4 days old. (Chin, 1970) Fast root
growth is important to get water, which is more important for
young seedlings than mature plants. Belukar seedlings are also
light demanding, needing a lot of light for good growth. This
gives them an advantage over the shade-loving forest-floor
herbs found in the understorey of primary forests. Their rapid
growth results in the mature plants being tall and thin, almost
pole like. Hence venturing into a belukar forest is somewhat like
walking into a forest of poles. Turner et al (1994) report that
primary forest herbs are rarely found in mature secondary
forest in the Central Catchment area, perhaps due to their
aversion to such environments. They have high photosynthetic
rates, and high light saturation intensities. Their maximal
photosynthetic rates are higher than primary plants. Hence,
they can better cope with the greater light exposure in belukar,
and the high rate of photosynthesis means that the plant can
generate more biomass quickly and grow rapidly. However, the
photosynthetic apparatus of belukar plants is not very efficient,
and Boo (1996) suggests that this might be due to insufficient
nutrients being channeled to it. Interestingly, a light-demanding

plant like Dicranopteris may experience having too much light

as it tends to grow in exposed places, hence to cope with that
problem it has undulations on the surface of its fronds that
reflect of some of the incident light, reducing light intensity and
the possibility of photodamage to plant cells. (Silachart, 1995)
Nutrition
Nutritionally, the soils are deficient. Therefore, the plants which
grow in belukar need to survive on low nutrient concentrations.
In fact, high nutrient concentration may even be toxic to
belukar plants. Nepenthes spp. attempt to supplement the little
nitrogen they can get from the soil by having developed
pitchers, which are mentioned above. They digest insects and
even small animals (although some creatures can survive in the
pitchers) to give more nutrients. Their presence in belukar is a
very good indicator of the nutrient poverty of the soil. Although
legumes (except for the exotic Acacia) are not commonly found
in belukar, Myrica esculenta, a common plant on the Ridge,
forms an association with Frankia (an actinomycete) that forms
root nodules that fix nitrogen (Sim, 1991).

Introduction -- The Future
Kent Ridge is being increasingly developed. The patches of

forest remaining are being isolated and surrounded by
developments, e.g. housing, the various Institutes newly built
along the Ridge, etc. In addition, the Ridge is treated as
wasteland or a free 'dumping ground' by contractors, and piles
of building refuse can sometimes be seen along the road. Kent
Ridge is highly isolated from other natural areas, and its
increased fragmentation will lead to a manifestation of the 'edge
effect', where the edge:area ratio is high. Hence, the fronts
from which external influences can affect the Ridge will
increase. Drying winds blowing through the forest reduce its
humidity, and rainfall coming in washes away humus. Hence,
the forest is effectively being prevented from carrying out its
natural rehabilitative functions. As such, the soil and the flora of
the Ridge may permanently remain poor, exacerbated by its
distance from sources of seed for the further stages of
succession to proceed. Buildings and other structures also store
up heat during the day and release it during the night, hence
radiating heat into the forest due to its close proximity. This
affects both the plant growth and animal life.
Transects of the Ridge (Mudaliar, 1984) have shown interesting

results. Land on the Ridge is mostly urban, belukar, or
abandoned open land. Acacia can be found in belukar and
abandoned areas. Plants like Cinnamomum iners have escaped
to abandoned land too. However, most trees in belukar are
restricted to it, especially natives, notably Adinandra itself, and
have not escaped to abandoned open land. Some plants that
are not conventional belukar plants, like Durio zibethinus
(Durian), Pterocarpus indicus (Angsana) and Tabebuia sp.
(Tabebuia, an ornamental) are present there. The first is
probably from settlements and villages, the second was planted
as a wayside tree by the government, and the last can be found
in some private gardens on the Ridge. Other non-belukar plants
that can be found there are Millettia artopurpurea, Cassia spp.,
Areca catechu, and others. From the trends, it seems that most
of the belukar 'invaders' are from one of three sources:

cultivated as food in former kampungs, planted as wayside

trees by the government, or horticultural shrubs from private
gardens. Not many belukar plants are successful in colonizing
land outside the belukar, perhaps because the conditions are
different than from the original disturbances in which they first
established themselves about 50 years ago. In particular,
Nepenthes is not commonly seen outside the belukar. A possible
reason is that its pitchers are highly in demand by collectors
and the merely curious, hence it cannot grow under such
duress.
In view of the various factors involved, it would be interesting

to see how the forest on the Ridge develops in response to
them. But in spite of its invasion and admittedly poor diversity
(compared to primary forests), the belukar is still 'natural' and
has a function to play. Within the forest, away from the bustle
of the urban areas, many species of birds and animals still
survive in the heart of the city. Many species of insects and
invertebrates are also present, and require the leaf litter and
shaded conditions of the forest to survive. As mentioned above,
the birds and bats feed on the fruits of the belukar plants, and
we humans can think of this in a favourable light, as we would
rather them do so than loiter in our food centers and canteens.
But still, the Ridge should be preserved for its own sake. After
all, Holttum first described the belukar from the Ridge, and it
has historical value as well. Allowing people to recreate on the
Ridge, which is a public place after all, will give them a better
appreciation of nature, even if in a modified form.

A Guide to the Plants of Kent Ridge -- Plants
Plants
There are many different species of plants on the Ridge. This

section aims to give a simple guide to identifying some of the
more common species. Scientific Nomenclature is a brief essay
on how plants are named scientifically. The Artificial Key aids in
identifying the common tree species by easily-noticeable
characteristics. Individual Descriptions gives plant-by-plant
descriptions.
Scientific Nomenclature
Artificial Key
Individual Descriptions
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/plants.htm20/06/2007 16:54:23
Plants -- Scientific Nomeclature
The plant kingdom (Kingdom Plantae) is divided into various

divisions. The seed plants are in the Division Spermatophyta,
the ferns and fern-allies are in Division Pteridophyta, etc. Within
a division are various subdivisions. For Division
Spermatophyta, the two subdivisions are Gymnospermae and
Angiospermae. The latter are the angiosperms, the flowering
plants. The subdivisions are further divided into classes, for
Angiospermae, the classes are the Dicotylodonae and the
Monocotyledonae. The classes are further subdivided into
orders. Names of orders generally have the suffix -ales. For
example, the Rose Order is Rosales. Within each order are one
or more families. Names of families generally have the suffix -
aceae, though for historical reasons, the old names of some
important families are retained, for example, the Leguminosae
(Bean Family) is also known as Fabaceae. A family is a group of
plants which are closely related to each other. However, within
some large families may be subfamilies. These are indicated
by the suffix -oideae. For example, within the Leguminosae
(Fabaceae) are the Mimosoideae, Caesalpinoideae, and the
Papilionoideae. For very large families, the subfamilies may be
further divided into tribes, which are indicated by the suffix -
eae. For example, within the subfamily Mimosoideae is the tribe
Adenanthereae. Every plant species is given a name, known as
a binomial, because it is split into two parts: the genus (plural
genera) and the specific epithet or the species name. For
example, the saga tree is known as Adenanthera pavonina, with
Adenanthera being the genus and pavonina being the specific
epithet. Several species may fall under the same genus.
The name is in the Latin language, for various reasons. Firstly,

Latin is a 'dead' language and hence does not change, unlike
modern languages. Hence, the name can possibly remain in
place forever without the language becoming obsolete.
Secondly, the same plant can have many different names in
various parts of the world, or the same name might be applied
to many different plants. Hence, having a single universal name
will aid communication among scientists and even the layman.
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Thirdly, Latin was the language of science in Europe in the past.

Carl von Linne, also known as Carolus Linneaus, the famous
naturalist who devised this system, first described most of the
plants known then in a monumental work, the Species
Plantarum. The book was written in Latin, and the standard set
forth in his work is followed till today. The binomial is always
italicized, the genus name is always capitalized, and the specific
epithet is not capitalized. After the binomial can be found some
abbreviations, e.g. Adenanthera pavonina L. These are the
authors or authority, the abbreviated name of the first person
who described the plant in a scientific work. For example, "L."
stands for Linneaus, "Ridl." stands for H. N. Ridley, etc. Some
plants may have been described by various authors as different
plants, hence there may be synonyms, for example, Ficus
grossularioides is also known as Ficus alba, hence it might be
written Ficus grossularioides (=F. alba).
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Plants -- Artificial Key
Artificial Key To Common Belukar Tree Species

Compound
A.
Leaves
Leaves palmate,
usually 5
B. leaflets, middle ... Vitex pinnata
leaflet largest,
spear-shaped
Leaves not
B.
palmate
Leaflets inverted
C. triangular, tree ... Caryota mitis
is a palm
Leaflets large,
oblong arranged
in two rows, 12-
14 pairs, fruit ... Arthrophyllum
C.
globose berries diversifolium
in umbels,
leaves spirally
arranged
A. Simple Leaves
Large leaves
(~30 cm
length), veins
thick and
prominent, ... Dillenia
B.
flowers yellow suffruticosa
and showy, fruit
star-shaped and
splitting open to
show red insides
Leaves generally
B.
<30 cm long
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3-5 prominent
veins running
C.
from base to
apex
Underside of
... Rhodamnia
D. leaves silvery-
cinerea
white
Underside of
D.
leaves not white
Young leaves
pink, flowers
... Cinnamomum
E. small on
iners
umbellate
inflorescence
Young leaves
not pink, leaves
narrow, purple
... Melastoma
E. flowers, fruit
malabathricum
numerous-
seeded and with
deep-purple flesh
3-5 prominent
C. veins not
present
Underside of
leaves white,
... Ficus
D. sessile fruit
grossularioides
borne on leaf
axis
Underside of
D.
leaves not white
Deeply fissured
trunk, flowers
... Fagraea
E. fragrant,
fragrans
branches
spreading
No deep fissures
E.
on trunk

Intermarginal
veins present,
F. ... Eugenia sp.
leaves coarse
and waxy
No intermarginal
F.
veins
Leaves actually
phylloclades,
sickle-shaped,
... Acacia
G. numerous small
auriculiformis
yellow flowers in
sprays among
phylloclades
Leaves not
G. sickle-shaped,
not phylloclades
Leaves spirally
H.
arranged
Leaves ~5 cm
long, fruits small
... Myrica
I. red berries
esculenta
along short
stalks
Leaves 7-10 cm
long, fruts ... Ploiarium
I.
dehiscing alternifolium
capsules
Leaves alternate
in two rows, ... Adinandra
H.
cream-coloured dumosa
small flowers

Plants -- Individual Species
Prominent characters which allow easy identification are in

bold. Descriptions are based on personal observations of living
plants on the ridge, herbarium specimens deposited at the
herbarium of the Department of Biological Sciences, National
University of Singapore (SINU), as well as several publications
(Keng, 1983,1990; Keng et al, 1998). Information on the uses
of plants are primarily from Burkill (1968), Sarawak Forestry
Department (1954), and Wee (1992). Other sources are cited in
the text. Nomenclature follows Turner, Chua, & Tan (1990).
Trees and Shrubs

Climbers
Herbs
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/species.htm20/06/2007 16:54:25
Plants -- Trees and Shrubs
By Scientific Name
Acacia auriculiformis
Adenanthera pavonina
Adinandra dumosa
Arthrophyllum diversifolium
Cinnamomum iners
Dillenia suffruiticosa
Fagraea fragrans
Ficus grossularioides
Manihot esculenta
Melastoma malabathricum
Millettia atropurpurea
Myrica esculenta
Ploiarium alternifolium
Rhodamnia cinerea
Vitex pinnata
By Common Name
Cicada Tree
Common Ivy Palm
Leban
Malay Gale
Purple Millettia
Saga tree
Silverback
Simpoh Air
Singapore Rhododendron
Tapioca
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/trees.htm (1 of 2)20/06/2007 16:54:25

Tembusu
Tiup-Tiup
Wattle
White-leafed Fig
Wild Cinnamon
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/trees.htm (2 of 2)20/06/2007 16:54:25

Wattle
Scientific Name: Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth.

Common Name: Wattle
Order: Rosales
Family: Leguminosae (Fabaceae) -- Bean Family
Subfamily: Papilionoideae -- Bean Subfamily
Description: This is a medium tree reaching up to 10-15 m tall
in open spaces, with a messy-looking crown. The leaves are
actually phylloclades (cladophylls), that is, modified lengths of
stem with the same functions as leaves. The real leaves are
evident only in young seedlings. The phylloclades are long,
thin, and sickle or crescent shaped with several parallel
veins. The flowers are small and borne in short sprays about 5-
10 cm in length, and these can be seen from the ground as they
are quite numerous. The fruit pod curls up into a spiraled
dark brown ring when dry, forcing out the small 1 cm long
ovoid black seeds attached to bright yellow or orange arils, that
birds seem to favour. It is a native of northern Australia, the
Torres Straits, and southern Papua New Guinea, and is now a
naturalized citizen of Singapore.
Use: This is one of a few Acacia spp. that succeeded in growing
in Singapore. It has been used as a timber, firewood, and for
reafforestation. Few species of Acacia are suited to the local
climate and soil, however, A. auriculiformis is quite successful
locally, and has been planted as an ornamental. Its cousin, A.
mangium, is planted for timber in Malaysia.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/acacia.htm20/06/2007 16:54:25
Saga Tree
Scientific Name: Adenanthera pavonina L.

Common Name: Saga tree
Order: Rosales
Subfamily: Mimosoideae - Mimosa Subfamily
Description: The tree was planted as a wayside tree however
some have strayed wild into the belukar on the Ridge. Leaves
are compound and pinnate. Each leaflet is about 2-3 cm across
and somewhat ovate and dark green. The flowers are not very
prominent, having white petals and yellow anthers. The fruits
are dry pods that split and curl up when ripe, twisting out
bright red seeds about 1 cm across that litter the ground
below the tree, and are often collected by children and even
adults.
Uses: The seeds have been used very often in arts and crafts,
being made into necklaces, beads, etc. The tree is a popular
wayside tree, in part also because of its seeds. A project is
underway at the Singapore Science Centre to collect 1 million
saga seeds, and the seeds collected so far can be viewed in a
large plastic tub in one of its galleries.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/adenanthera.htm20/06/2007 16:54:26
Tiup-tiup
Scientific Name: Adinandra dumosa Jack.

Common Name: Tiup-Tiup, Semapak, Entupak, Medang Berorok
Order: Guttiferales
Family: Theaceae -- Tea Family
Description: A. dumosa is the dominant tree in belukar, and this
form of vegetation is named after it. Small to medium sized
tree, growing up to 15 metres tall, in the middle of the forest its
form appears like a long tall pole, whereas at the edge the
foliage can reach down quite close to the ground. The leaves
are reddish-pink when young. They are arranged alternately in
two rows. When mature, they are somewhat pale, oblong-
elliptic and leathery, somewhat waxy. The flowers are
small, about 1 cm across, rounded and creamy-white. Their
petals remain closed even when mature. The fruits are
berries, also about 1 cm across and the style is persistent on it.
It flowers and fruits year-round. Its wood is quite dense.
Uses: It grows well on poor soils and amid lalang (Imperata
cylindrica, a weedy grass common in abandoned land), and is
resistant to fires, although its wood is not used very often for
building permanent structures. However, it is strong and used
for house building, temporary structures, firewood, doorposts,
planking, roofing timbers, and for the bases of walls. It is
durable if kept dry.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/adinandra.htm20/06/2007 16:54:26
Common Ivy Palm
Scientific Name: Arthrophyllum diversifolium Bl. (= A.

ovalifolium Miq.)
Common Name: Common Ivy Palm
Order: Umbellales
Family: Araliaceae -- Ginseng Family
Description: Small to medium sized tree. It has large
compound leaves arranged in spirals or whorls around the
stem. The leaflets, about 20 cm long each, are numerous
and arranged in two rows, about 12-14 pairs. The stem is
covered in fine golden hairs near the growing tip that are easily
scraped off. Old leaves falling off leave leaf scars along the
branch. The flowers are green; inflorescence is an umbel,
produced near the top of the branch. The fruits are small black
berries about 1 cm across and also borne on an umbel.
Uses: Wood is of little use.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/arthrophyllum.htm20/06/2007 16:54:26
Wild Cinnamon
Scientific Name: Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Bl.

Common Name: Wild Cinnamon, Kayu Manis, Medang Tija
Order: Ranales
Family: Lauraceae -- Cinnamon Family
Description: It is a small or medium sized tree, sometimes
planted as an ornamental tree because of its pretty foliage. The
young leaves are reddish-pink and tender, while the
mature leaves are dark green. There are three veins running
from the base of the leaf. The flowers are borne in panicles and
appear creamy when young. The fruits are blue-black and
dispersed by birds.
Uses: The bark has the trade name "mesui" in Sarawak and
Brunei, and an extract of it is used medicinally and during
confinement after pregnancy.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/cinnamomum.htm20/06/2007 16:54:27
Simpoh Air
Scientific Name: Dillenia suffruiticosa (Griff.) Mart. (=Wormia

suffruticosa)
Common Name: Simpoh Air (Ayer)
Order: Guttiferales
Family: Dilleniaceae -- Dillenia Family
Description: This is a common large shrub found very often by
the edge of the forest. The leaves are very large, thick, and
waxy, from 15-35 cm long, and are elliptic to oblong with a
rounded tip, almost spoon shaped. The young leaves are quite
soft and yellowish to pale green. The veins are thick and
prominent. The flowers are bright yellow, with crinkled
petals, about 5-7 cm across. The fruits are star-shaped and
split open to reveal seeds with a red aril eaten by birds. The
fruit itself is red-purplish and quite dramatic. The flower buds
are somewhat globose and waxy on the surface.
Uses: The plant has been planted as an ornamental, most
probably for the brightly coloured flowers and fruits. It is a
hedge plant in Sarawak, and the leaves were used in the past
by hawkers to wrap food, and "collecting them provides a
lucrative trade for small boys" (Sarawak Forest Dept, 1954)
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/dillenia.htm20/06/2007 16:54:27
Tembusu
Scientific Name: Fagraea fragrans Roxb.

Common Name: Tembusu
Order: Gentianales
Family: Loganiaceae -- Tembusu Family
Description: A medium-sized tree of quite tall stature and large
spread, with elliptic leaves from 5-13 cm long, flowers are small
(about 2 cm across), creamy white turning to yellow, and
famously fragrant. The berry is orange, round, and about 8 mm
across. The bark is dark brown, somewhat roughish and with
deeply fissured trunk, its most well known characteristic after
the fragrant flowers. The branches tend to bend down low
and run parallel to the ground somewhat, and YC Wee joked
that this was all the better for pontianaks to sit on and whistle
to the interesting looking young men walking below.
Uses: It is used for timber and local medicine. A variety
formerly known as F. gigantea that grows primarily in primary
forests is the ironwood (different from Mesua ferrea the Ceylon
Ironwood). Planting this tree can suppress lalang, formerly a
very pesky weed in open areas. Its wood is very hard, heavy,
wet, and durable. It is planted as a wayside tree sometimes. Its
wood is used for building houses and bridges, especially useful
for constructing rafters. The leaves and twigs are used in a
decoction taken for dysentery, while a decoction of the bark is
taken for malaria.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/fagraea.htm20/06/2007 16:54:27
White-Leafed Fig
Scientific Name: Ficus grossularioides Burm. f. (= F. alba Reinw.

ex. Bl.)
Common Name: White-leafed Fig
Order: Urticales
Family: Moraceae -- Fig Family
Description: This is either a small tree or a shrub. The leaves
are distinctively coloured white on the underside, while the
top side is dark green. They have a long stalk, and exhibit a
variety of forms, ranging from elliptic to 3 or 5-lobed. Its
margin is toothed. The underside is somewhat velvety, whereas
the top is covered in fine, short and stiff hairs that give it a
'sticky' texture when one runs a finger across. The figs (fruits/
flowers) are borne along the leaf axils and are about 1.5 cm
across and globose, from yellow ripening to maroon or
deep red. All parts of the plant exude a milky white sap when
cut.
Uses: Very young stem tips are eaten in salads, while leaves
are fed to horses as a replacement for grass. A leaf decoction is
taken for kidney complaints while the latex contains a wax.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/ficus.htm20/06/2007 16:54:28
Tapioca
Scientific Name: Manihot esculenta L.

Common Name: Tapioca
Order: Geraniales
Family: Euphorbiaceae -- Rubber Family
Description: A small plant growing to about 2 m. Usually with a
single thin woody stem, covered in leaf-scars at the lower parts
from leaves that have fallen off. Leaves are simple but
deeply palmately lobed, with pronounced drip-tips at the end
of every leaflet. The petioles (leaf stalks) are long, much longer
than the leaf itself, and the leaves are spirally arranged around
the stem. Petioles are coloured reddish. Fruits are not often
seen, the roots are starchy. A close relative M. glaziovii is the
Ceara rubber tree, formerly cultivated for its milky latex, used
as a rubber substitute, however it was later found unsuitable.
M. glaziovii has larger leaves as well as green petiole, in
contrast with M. esculenta.
Uses: The starchy roots are used for food. It is dried and
processed to make flour or cooked and eaten.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/manihot.htm20/06/2007 16:54:28
Singapore Rhododendron
Scientific Name: Melastoma malabathricum L.

Common Name: Singapore Rhododendron, Senduduk
(Sendudok)
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae -- Senduduk Family
Description: It is a small shrub, that has tiny scales on its
branches and petioles. The leaves are narrow and lanceolate,
about 5-10 cm long, usually with 3 prominent veins running
from the base. The flowers are light pink-purple, with
elbowed anthers surrounding the style, and are borne in
clustered inflorescences. The fruit is interesting, a sort of pod,
usually about 1.5 cm long, which is covered in small bumps and
topped with a persistent calyx. The greenish pod splits open
halfway and flips over to reveal a fleshy deep purple structure
studded with numerous (about a thousand) tiny seeds, and is
usually 5-sectioned.
Uses: Reafforestation. The astringent fruits and sour leaves are
eaten. Fleshy parts are astringent, and have medicinal uses.
The leaves and shoot ends are used with mangosteen bark and
husks in a decoction for diarrhoea. Shoots are used for
puerperal infection. Leaves are used in a local cure-all tonic.
Root decoction is used in a post-childbirth medicine (ubat
meroyan). Dry powdered leaves are sprinkled on wounds. Roots
are used as a toothache mouthwash. Black dye is obtained from
fruits. Ashes are used as a mordant for other dyes. Wood is too
small to be useful, however. The flowers are used as
ornamentation during weddings. Silk worms feed on its foliage,
which are also used for dysentery medicine. The fruit is edible,
somewhat sweet and tart, leaving a purple stain on one's mouth
and clothing. Birds and bats feed on them and disperse the tiny
seeds in their droppings, and ants have been observed feeding
on the fruits too.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/melastoma.htm20/06/2007 16:54:28
Purple Millettia
Scientific Name: Millettia atropurpurea (Wall.) Benth.

Common Name: Purple Millettia
Order: Rosales
Subfamily: Papilionoideae -- Bean Subfamily
Description: This is a large tree that can reach heights up to 40
m. It has been planted as a wayside tree by the government.
Leaves are simple palmate compound, and dark green.
However, being borne quite high up, they are not really
noticeable, additionally since the crown is dense and cylindrical.
Flowers are purple and asymmetrical, occurring in
inflorescences borne at the ends of branches. However, its most
noticeable part is the fruit. The fruits are typical legumes, dry
oblong pods about 10-15 cm long that split open into two
halves revealing a large (~7 cm) oval seed. These (pod and
seed) litter the ground near the tree.
Uses: Planted wayside tree.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/millettia.htm20/06/2007 16:54:29
Malay Gale
Scientific Name: Myrica esculenta Buch-Ham. (=M. farquhariana

Wall.)
Common Name: Malay Gale, Telur Cicak (Telor Chichak)
Order: Amentiferae
Family: Myricaceae -- Gale Family
Description: Small tree about 5-10 m tall, very branched. The
leaves are dark green and oblanceolate, from 5-9 cm long. The
margin is serrate or entire. The fruit is a small globose drupe,
about 2-3 mm across, turning black from red in pretty sprays
about 10 long borne along the leaf axis. The leaves are
arranged spirally and quite densely too. Young leaves are a
tender reddish pink and gradually turn green from the base
up.
Uses: The timber is small and close-grained but rarely used.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/myrica.htm20/06/2007 16:54:29
Cicada Tree
Scientific Name: Ploiarium alternifolium Melchior (=Archytaea

vahlii Choisy)
Common Name: Cicada tree, Riang-Riang
Order: Guttiferales
Family: Bonnetiaceae or Theaceae -- Tea Family
Description: Common small to medium sized tree. Leaves are
narrow, ratio of length to breadth about 5:1, length of leaf
about 7-10 cm long. Leaves quite densely and spirally
arranged along branches, which bear leaf scars of old
leaves that have fallen off. Flowers small, borne on the ends of
flowering branches, about 1.5-2 cm across, with five contorted
petals and numerous stamens. Fruit 2 cm long, dehisces
(splits) vertically from bottom to reveal numerous seeds.
Uses: -
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/ploiarium.htm20/06/2007 16:54:29
Silverback
Scientific Name: Rhodamnia cinerea Jack (=R. trinervia Bl.)

Common Name: Silverback, Mempoyan
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae -- Clove Family
Description: Small tree. It has oblong leaves about 7-10 cm
long, with three prominent veins running from petiole to tip
(the origin of the synonym), underside of leaf whitish or
silvery, the origin of its common name. Its flowers are small
and white and clustered in the leaf axils. The berries are red
ripening to black, small, about 0.75 cm across, and contain
small seeds dispersed by birds.
Uses: Hard wood is used for small objects. Whitish, tough and
durable, and charcoal is mde from it. Wood tar is produced from
it too, and used to blacken teeth. Leaves and roots are used for
a decoction taken after childbirth and for stomach aches.
Pounded shoots are used as a poultice for scalds. The fruit is
edible and used in a decoction for treating gums. The bark is
used as a black dye, as well as for tanning fishing nets.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/rhodamnia.htm20/06/2007 16:54:30
Leban
Scientific Name: Vitex pinnata L. (=V. pubescens Vahl)

Common Name: Leban
Order: Tubiflorae
Family: Verbenaceae -- Teak Family
Description: The most distinguishing features of this small to
medium tree are the leaves. The leaves are palmately
compound, that is they are compound with the leaflets
arranged like the fingers around the palm of one's hand. The
one in the middle is usually the largest and prominent while
those at the sides are somewhat smaller. Each leaflet is spear
shaped. The total length of the leaf varies from about 10-15 cm.
Young leaves are a pretty golden-green colour with yellow
venation, and soft and tender to the touch. The flowers are
purple-bluish, and fruits are globose and black.
Uses: For reafforestation. It is a common commercial wood that
is heavy and used for agricultural implements, bridges, house
posts, and boats. A bark decoction is used for stomach ache and
post-childbirth medicine (ubat meroyan). Leaves are used for
fever and wound poultices, while bark scrapings are also applied
to wounds and as a charm for convulsions. Burkill relates the
interesting story of how the bark shavings are burnt so that
their smell can be used to mask the smell of burning Datura sp.,
the latter of which was used by thieves to knock out their
victims.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/vitex.htm20/06/2007 16:54:30
Plants -- Climbers
Cissus hastata
Epipremnum pinnatum cv. aureum
Gynocthodes sublanceolata
Nepenthes spp.
Smilax spp.
Tetracera indica
Tinospora crispa
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/climber.htm20/06/2007 16:54:30
Cissus hastata
Scientific Name: Cissus hastata Miq. (=Vitis hastata Miq.)

Common Name: -
Order: Sapindales
Family: Vitaceae
Subfamiliy: Vitoideae
Description: A common climber that can be seen scrambling
around trees close to the staircase leading from building S1.
The leaves are light green, about 7-10 cm long, and are
lanceolate (spear-shaped) with a pointed apex, but with a
cordate (heart-shaped) base. They also possess small teeth
at the points where the veins meet the leaf margin. The flowers
are borne in bunches, with each bunch only about 1 cm across,
they are not very conspicuous. The most easily noticed part of
the plant is the reddish or orange tendrils borne opposite the
leaves. The stem is somewhat rigid with striations running down
it.
Uses: -
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/cissus.htm20/06/2007 16:54:31
Money Plant
Scientific Name: Epipremnum pinnatum cv. aureum

Common Name: Money Plant
Order: Arales
Family: Araceae -- Aroid Family
Description: A horticultural climber cultivated for its foliage. This
cultivar has variegated leaves, partially green and partially
white, although in insufficient light they may be entirely green.
Leaves heart-shaped (cordate) and size can vary from 5 cm
to 20 cm or more. Flexible stem with adventitious (i.e. borne
along above- ground part of stem or leaves) roots borne along
it. Does not flower often. Can be seen creeping up some trees
together with Tetracera, Smilax, and other natives.
Uses: Horticultural climber
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/epipremnum.htm20/06/2007 16:54:31
Gynocthodes sublanceolata
Scientific Name: Gynocthodes sublanceolata Miq.

Common Name: -
Order: Rubiales
Family: Rubiaceae -- Coffee Family
Description: A slender woody climber that has thin and
leathery leaves, about 5 cm in length. Typically like the
Rubiaceae, the leaves are opposite and in pairs, with the fruits,
that are bluish-black globose drupes about 1 cm across,
borne at the same nodes in clusters of about 3-5 or more. It
climbs on trees and shrubs, twining through the foliage, no
tendrils.
Uses: -
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Pitcher Plants
Scientific Name: Nepenthes spp.

Common Name: Pitcher plants, Periok Kera, Zhu Long Cao
Order: Sarraceniales
Family: Nepenthaceae -- Pitcher Plant Family
Description: Terrestrial herbs or climbers, leaves with prominent
central veins often with tendrils emanating from the apex of the
leaf. Pitchers, which are jug-like structures, actually
modified leaves, borne on the ends of tendrils coming form long
leaf blades, various shapes can be observed, e.g. hipped, egg-
like, urn-like, etc. The opening of the pitcher is topped with
a lid, underneath which are found nectar-secreting glands,
known as nectarines. These attract insects and other prey which
feed on the nectarines then slide down the waxy walls of the
pitcher into the pitcher proper. Within is a watery liquid
containing digestive enzymes secreted from pit-like glands
lining the inner surface of the lower part of the pitcher. These
digest insects that fall in, in order to obtain additional nutrients.
Pitcher shapes on the same plant differ, being distinguishable
into lower pitchers, generally more squat and speckled and with
fringed wings, upper pitchers, generally more slender, less
speckled and without wings, and intermediate pitchers, which
are somewhere in between. In N. ampullaria, upper pitchers are
rarely expressed. On the ridge, three species (N. ampullaria, N.
gracilis, and N. rafflesiana) and two hybrids (N. x trichocarpa
and N. x hookerana) can be found. Flowers are borne on
racemes, separated into male and female flowers, generally
four-petalled and inconspicuous.
Uses: Nepenthes species are popular as ornamentals, adorning
many houses and flats. However, one should not collect them
from the wild, as that will reduce populations and eventually
lead to their demise. They can be purchased from reputable
nurseries, where they are cultivated. Cultivated varieties are
generally prettier than wild ones, another reason not to pick
them from the Ridge. The pitchers themselves are used to make
an interesting dish. Rice is stuffed into the washed pitcher, tied
up, and cooked. The long twining tendrils have also been used
as a sort of twine. (Shivas, 1984) Roots are boiled and made
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into a poultice for treating stomach ache and dysentery, while a

stem decoction is taken for fevers.
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Smilax
Scientific Name: Smilax spp.

Common Name: -
Order: Liliflorae
Family: Smilaceae
Description: This plant is a common climber, with ovate-
lanceolate leaves, each about 15-20 cm long bearing about 5
prominent veins that run from base to apex. Stem covered in
numerous short golden hairs. Tendrils present. Fruits are
small berries bearing two stony seeds each, and flowers small
on an umbellate inflorescence about 1.5 cm across.
Uses: -
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Tetracera indica
Scientific Name: Tetracera indica (Christm. & Panz.) Merr.

Common Name: -
Order: Guttiferales
Family: Dilleniaceae -- Dillenia Family
Description: It is a twining climber without tendrils that has
ovate-lanceolate leaves, with toothed margins and about 5-12
cm long. Flowers are pinkish and numerous.
Uses: According to Keng (1990), the stems of this species can
supply clear drinking water in times of emergency.
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Tinospora crispa
Scientific Name: Tinospora crispa Miers ex Hook. f. & Thorns.

Common Name: -
Order: Ranales
Family: Menispermaceae
Description: A climbing liane, stem flexible when young turning
woody when old, with knobs that get increasingly closely
spaced and prominent as the stem ages. Leaves borne
alternately along stem, Can be seen climbing up some trees
towards the Tropical Marine Science Institute side of the Ridge,
however probably a cultivated plant that has escaped. Flowers
not conspicuous.
Uses: The family Menispermaceae is known for its medicinal
properties, Coiled and dried sections of the Tinospora stems can
sometimes be found for sale in Chinese medicinal shops. (KS
Chua, pers. comm.)
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Plants -- Herbs
By Scientific Name
Bromheadia finlaysoniana
Clidermia hirta
Dicranopteris linearis
Lantana camara
Lycopodium spp.
By Common Name
Clubmoss
Lantana
Resam
Senduduk paksa
Seraman
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Seraman
Scientific Name: Bromheadia finlaysoniana (Lindl.) Rchb. f.

Common Name: Seraman
Order: Orchidales
Family: Orchidaceae -- Orchid Family
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Description: A terrestrial orchid with monopodial growth. Stem
grows up to 1.5 m tall, slender, bearing two rows of leathery
leaves spaced widely apart and arranged alternately.
Inflorescence about 10 cm long, with "characteristic zig-
zag" (Tan and Hew, 1993) arrangement of flowers. Flowers
about 7 cm across, slender petals white tinged with purple,
inside of lip veined purple. Can be found in belukar, however it
is often mistaken for 'just another weed' as its flowers do not
last very long and are not very showy.
Uses: -
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Senduduk Paksa
Scientific Name: Clidermia hirta D. Don.

Common Name: Senduduk paksa
Order: Mrytales
Family: Melastomataceae -- Senduduk Family
Description: Common weed, a shrub growing up to 2 m tall.
Leaves characteristically pubescent (hairy), as is the stem,
giving the plant a soft furry, albeit annoying, feel when touched.
Leaves have five prominent veins, and are ovate-lanceolate,
about 5-15 cm across. Flowers are white, small (~1 cm across).
Fruits green maturing to purple-black, also covered in spiny-
looking stiff hairs, calyx of flowers persistent.
Uses: -
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header
Scientific Name: Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.) Underw.

(=Gleichenia linearis)
Common Name: Resam, "Bracken Fern"
Division: Pteridophyta -- Ferns and Fern allies
Description: A scrambling fern that easily forms near-
impenetrable thickets at the forest edges. The plant is well
known as a weedy pest and is difficult to eradicate. Rhizomes
(creeping stem) are long and slender, creeping close to the
ground and spreading out very rapidly. The fronds are
pinnatifid, that is they are lobed deeply so as to appear almost
pinnately compound. The plant tends to grow outwards for a
while before the growing tip splits into two and the plant
branches into two new directions. Repeating this process over
and over again, it is easy to see how the Resam establishes
itself over such a wide area. It tends to grow in sunny
places, though direct sunlight on the rhizomes may kill it.
Dicranopteris is not the true Bracken, though often called such.
Bracken is Pteridium aquilinium, more common in the
temperate countries and poisonous to livestock.
Uses: The leaves are applied as a poultice to control fever, while
the plant is used in Indonesia to expel intestinal worms.
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Lantana
Scientific Name: Lantana camara L.

Common Name: Lantana, Bunga tahi ayam
Order: Tubiflorae
Family: Verbenaceae -- Teak Family
Description: A small bushy plant. Leaves 3-5 cm long,
lanceolate with toothed margin. Flowers small, about 0.5 cm
across, generally borne in a group on an umbellate
inflorescence. The flowers give off an unpleasant smell,
which some people say reminds them of chicken droppings.
However, after having smelt both, this author considers the
Lantana to smell somewhat better. Colours of flowers range
from white, to orange-yellow, to pink-purple. Spines borne
along the stem. One of the top ten worst weeds in the tropics.
Uses: A decoction is used for leprosy and scabies in China, while
it is used as a stimulant and to expel intestinal worms in
Indochina, and is applied to cuts and swellings in South East
Asia.
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Clubmoss
Scientific Name: Lycopodium spp.

Common Name: Clubmoss
Division: Pteridophyta -- Ferns and Fern allies
Description: A small herb that is common on muddy ground.
The vegetative parts look like small bottle brushes, about 0.75
cm across, and superficially resembles the branchlets of
Araucaria columnaris, having numerous closely packed and
small (~0.5 cm long) spike-like protrusions arranged along a
central axis, and every spike is elbowed upwards at its (the
spike's) middle. The texture is waxy and feels springy to the
touch. Fertile branches bear a cone-like structure on erect
stalks that contain spores.
Uses: It is used for burns, dysentery, hepatitis, rheumatism,
sore eyes, trauma, beri-beri, skin eruptions, coughs, chest pain,
etc.
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/pasirpanjang/ridgeplants/lycopodium.htm20/06/2007 16:54:39
A Guide to the Plants of Kent Ridge -- References
References
Allen, B.M. (1971), Some Common Trees of Malaysia and

Singapore, Eastern Universities Press, Singapore, 90pp.
Bazzaz, F.A. (1983), 'Dynamics of wet tropical forests and their

species strategies', in Physiological Ecology of Plants of the Wet
Tropics: Tasks for Vegetation Science 12, p.233-243, Dr W.
Junk Publishers, The Hague.
Bazzaz, F.A. (1996), Plants in changing environments: Linking

physiological, population and community ecology, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 320pp.
Bazzaz, F.A. and Carlson, R.W. (1982), 'Photosynthetic

acclimatization to variability in the light environment of early
and late successional plants', Oecologia, 54: 313-316.
Bjorkman, O. and Holmgren, P. (1963), 'Adaptability of the

photosynthetic apparatus to light intensity in ecotypes of the
exposed and shaded habitats', Physiologia Plantarum, 16: 889-
914.
Bodegom, S.; Pelser, P.B. and Kessler, P.J.A. (1999), Seedlings

of secondary forest tree species of East Kalimantan, Indonesia,
MOFEC-Tropenbos-Kalimantan Project, Balikpapan.
Boland, D.J.; Pinyopusarerk, K.; McDonald, M.W.; Jovanovic, T.

and Booth, T.H. (1990), 'The habitat of Acacia auriculiformis
and probable factors associated with its distribution', J. Trop.
Forest Sci., 3(2): 159-180.
Boo, C.M. (1995), A study of secondary forest in Singapore, B.

Sc. Hons. dissertation, Department of Botany, National
University of Singapore.
Boswell, A.B.S. (1926), 'Some observations concerning natural

regeneration in inland forests', in Proceedings of the Forest
Conference 1926, p.68-69, Federated Malay States, Kuala
Lumpur.
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Brokow, N.V.L. (1985), 'Gap phase regeneration in a tropical

forest', Ecology, 66: 682-687.
Burkill, I.H. (1968), A Dictionary of the Economic Products of

the Malay Peninsula (Vols. I and II), Ministry of Agriculture
Publication Unit, Kuala Lumpur.
Chapin, F.S. III; Vitousek, P.M. and van Cleve, K. (1986), 'The
nature of nutrient limitation in plant communities', Amer.
Naturalist, 127(1): 48-58.
Chee, C.Y. (1987), External Morphology and Anatomy of Leaves

of Woody Angiosperms on Kent Ridge, B.Sc. Hons. dissertation,
Department of Botany, National University of Singapore, 129pp.
Chia, L.S.; Rahman, A.; and Tay, D.B.H. (1991), The

biophysical environment of Singapore, Singapore University
Press, Kent Ridge, 218pp.
Chin, S.C. (1970), Studies in Establishment of Some Species in

Adinandra Belukar, B.Sc. Hons. dissertation, Department of
Botany, University of Singapore, 45pp.
Choong, M.F.; Lucas, P.W.; Ong, S.Y.; Pereira, B.P.; Tan, H.T.
W. and Turner, I.M. (1992), 'Leaf fracture toughness and
sclerophylly: Their correlations and ecological implications', The
New Phytologist, 121: 597-610.
Chuang, S.H. ed. (1973), Animal Life and Nature in Singapore,

Singapore University Press, Singapore.
Corlett R.T. (1991), 'Plant succession on degraded land in

Singapore', J. Trop. Forest. Sci., 4(2): 151-161.
Cousens, J.T. (1965), 'Some reflections on the nature of

Malayan lowland rainforest', Malay. Forester, 28: 122-127.
Evans, J.R.; van Caemmerer, S. and Adams W.W. III (1988),

Ecology of Photosynthesis in Sun and Shade, CSIRO, Australia,
358pp.
Foo, T.S. (1985), A Guide to the Wildflowers of Singapore,

Singapore Science Centre, Singapore, 160pp.

Gilliland, H.B. (1956), On classifying vegetation, Inaugural

lecture, University of Malaya.
Gilliland, H.B. (1958), 'Plant communities on Singapore island',

Gardens' Bull., 17(1): 82-90.
Gilliland, H.B. (1962), Common Malayan plants, University of

Malaya Press, Kuala Lumpur.
Hill, R.D. (1977), 'The vegetation of Singapore: a first

approximation', Sing. J. Trop. Geog., 45: 26-34.
Holttum, R.E. (1954a), 'Adinandra belukar', Malay. J. Trop.

Geog., 3: 27-32.
Holttum, R.E. (1954b), Plant life in Malaya, Longmans Green,

London.
Johnson, D.S. (1964), An introduction to the natural history of

Singapore, Rayirath, Singapore.
Jolivet, P. (1996), Ants and Plants: An Example of Coevolution,

enlarged ed., Backhuys, Leiden, 303pp.
Keng, H. (1983), Orders and Families of Malayan Seed Plants,

3rd ed., Singapore University Press, Kent Ridge.
Keng, H. (1990), Concise flora of Singapore vol. 1, Singapore

University Press, Kent Ridge.
Keng, H; Chin, S.C.; Tan, H.T.W. (1998), Concise flora of

Singapore, vol. 2, Singapore University Press, Kent Ridge.
Lee, F.L. (1996), Photosynthetic reponses of ferns to light, B.Sc.

Hons. dissertation, School of Biological Sciences, National
Lee, S.C. (1994), Fine root production in Adinandra belukar and

coastal hill dipterocarp forest in Singapore, B.Sc. Hons.
dissertation, Department of Botany, National University of
Singapore.
MacArthur, R.H. and Wilson, E.O. (1967), The Theory of Island

Biogeography, Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Miles, J. (1979), Outline studies in ecology: Vegetation

dynamics, Chapman & Hall, London.
Muhammad Jabil (1959), Contribution to the autecology of

Adinandra dumosa and Wormia suffruticosa of secondary
(belukar) vegetation on Singapore island, B.Sc. Hons.
dissertation, Department of Botany, University of Malaya,
Singapore.
Muladiar, Letchimi (1984), Vegetation on Kent Ridge, B.Sc.

Hons. dissertation, Department of Geography, National
Nicholson, D.I. (1965), 'A note on Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn.

ex. Benth. in Sabah', Malay. Forester, 28: 243-244.
O'Hara, V. (1926), 'Eradication of resam', in Proceedings of the

Forest Conference 1926, Federated Malay States, Kuala
Lumpur.
Polunin, I. (1987), Plants and flowers of Singapore, Times

Editions, Singapore.
Phua, P.B. and Corlett, R.T. (1989), 'Seed dispersal by the

Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis,
Pteropodidae, Megachiroptera)', Malay. Nat. J., 42(4): 251-256.
Public Works Department (PUB) (1976), Geology of the Republic

of Singapore, Public Works Department, Singapore, 79pp.
Richards, P.W. (1952), The tropical rain forest, Cambridge

University Press, Cambridge.
Ridley, H.N. (1930), The dispersal of plants throughout the

world, L. Reeve, London.
Sandrasegaran, K. (1971), Stocking and yield of Tiup-tiup

(Adinandra dumosa Jack.) in Johore, Malaysia: Research
Pamphlet No. 60, Malaysia Forestry Department.
Sarawak Forest Department (SFD) (1954), Trees and Timbers

of Sarawak and Brunei: Leaflets Nos. 1-45, Sarawak Forest
Department, Sarawak.

Shivas, R.G. (1984), Pitcher Plants of Malaysia and Singapore,

Maruzen, Singapore, 58pp.
Silachart, L. (1995), Studies on Tropical Sun and Shade Ferns,

B.Sc. Hons. dissertation, Department of Botany, National
University of Singapore, 89pp.
Sim, J.W.S. (1991), Some Studies on Adinandra Belukar, B.Sc.

Hons. dissertation, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Sim, J.W.S.; Tan, H.T.W. and Turner, I.M. (1992), 'Adinandra

belukar: an anthropogenic heath forest in Singapore', Vegetatio,
102: 125-137.
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forest sites', Malay. Forester, 2: 107-117.
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National University of Singapore, 98pp.
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gaps in a tropical forest, PhD thesis,.
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the seedlings of two tropical woody pioneer species', Trop.
Ecol., 32(1): 24-29.
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forest, Cambridge University Press, New York.
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the native and naturalized vascular plants of the Republic of
Singapore', J. Sing. Natl. Acad. Sci., 18 & 19: 58-88.
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analysis leaf structure and nutrient status of a Malaysian heath
community', Biotropica, 27(1): 2-12.
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from cut shoots of Malaysian heathland shrubs', J. Sing. Natl.
Acad. Sci., 22-24: 1-5.
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in tree leaf form in four tropical forest types on Pulau Ubin,

Singapore', J. Vegetation Sci., 2: 691-698.
Turner, I.M. and Tan, H.T.W. (1992), 'Ecological impact of alien

plant species in Singapore', Pacific Science, 46: 389-390.
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between herb layer and canopy composition in a tropical rain
forest successional mosaic in Singapore', J. Trop. Ecol., 12: 843-
851.
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Ahmad and Wee, Y.C. (1992), 'A botanical survey of Pulau
Ubin', Gardens Bull. Sing., 44(2): 51-71.
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Nat. J., 55(1&2): 187-195.
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Proceedings of the International Conference on Tropical
Biodiversity, p.528-533, Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur.
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Science Centre, Singapore, 160pp.
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Singapore, 190pp.
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Life in Urban Singapore, 1st ed., Singapore University Press,
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Clarendon Press, Oxford, 282pp.
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Forest. Records, 23(2 pt 3): 73L-7/44.

Dicranopteris Linearis Common Name in Malaysia

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A Guide to the Plants of Kent Ridge

A Guide to the Plants of Kent Ridge

Welcome! This page is intended to be an online resource for the

There is an interesting variety of plant life on Kent Ridge. This

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

Introduction -- Adinandra belukar

The type of vegetation found on the Ridge is known as

Adinandra belukar was first qualitatively described by Holttum

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Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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Introduction -- Plant Overview

The dominant plant on the Ridge (Sim et al, 1992; Holttum,

Very commonly seen is the Resam, Dicranopteris linearis, a sun

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belukar plants were usually confined to limestone cliff forests

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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These plants are not usually found in primary undisturbed

Eventually, the vegetation will recover from the clearing or

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The 'original state', or 'climax' that the Ridge belukar should

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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Introduction -- Land Use History

Adinandra belukar occurs on land that has been degraded by

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

Introduction -- Soil Erosion

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As mentioned above, horticultural plants and food plants have

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Sanseviera sp. growing wild in the shade of the belukar trees.

Other foreign invaders include Mimosa pudica, the sensitive

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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Plants and animals interact in many ways, both mutually

Phua and Corlett (1989) report that the Lesser Short-nosed

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Birds also feed on a wide variety of fruits. The Yellow Vented

In more mature secondary forests, monkeys are active dispersal

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Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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Ploiarium also have young in-curled leaves, possibly to reduce

Growth and Photosynthesis

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plant like Dicranopteris may experience having too much light

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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Introduction -- The Future

Kent Ridge is being increasingly developed. The patches of

Transects of the Ridge (Mudaliar, 1984) have shown interesting

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cultivated as food in former kampungs, planted as wayside

In view of the various factors involved, it would be interesting

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

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There are many different species of plants on the Ridge. This

Main | Introduction | Plants | References

Plants -- Scientific Nomeclature

The plant kingdom (Kingdom Plantae) is divided into various