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A lizard and a tree

Oak trees in MacRitchie


Lithocarpus sp.
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

These are the acorns of a Lithocarpus sp. MacRitchie, 11 Mar 2005. “That Oak-trees (Quercus, Lithocarpus) occur in Malaya often comes as a surprise because our ideas on the nature and distribution of plants are sadly distorted through ignorance of tropical botany”, Corner (199 8) in Wayside trees of Malaya.

Ref:
Corner, E.J.H. (1988). Wayside Trees of Malaya.Vol 1. The Malayan Nature Society, KL, Malaysia

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | 1 Comment

Malayan Chestnut


Castanopsis inermis
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

Castanopsis inermis Fagaceae (Oak Family). The local name for chestnuts is Berangan. BTNR, 20 Jun 2005.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Seraya


Shorea ?curtisii
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

This is probably Shorea curtisii, Dipterocarpaceae, as it has three wings and the size of the mature fruit (centre) seems right. It fruits every 5-10 years after severe drought. The last masting event for Singapore was thought to be 6 years ago. The fruits littered the forest floor. BTNR, 20 June 2005.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Cat’s claws


Caesalpinia sumatrana
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

Caesalpinia sumatrana, Caesalpinioideae/Leguminosae. 20 Jun 2005, BTNR. A climber with prickles set on top of woody knobs along its length.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Hopea odorata in the Botanic Gardens


Hopea odorata
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

15 June 2005. Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Chengal pasir trees in the Gardens in the evening. The fruits are shown one blog away.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

“Thottea” see you there


Thottea grandiflora
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

Thottea grandiflora Aristolochiaceae. MacRtichie, 11 June 2005.

A nature watch article by Goh Si Guim (1999) mentions it as “caterpillar foodplant for two locally rare butterflies.”

Ref:
Goh SG (1999) Naturewatch. Vol 7 No 3 Sep-Dec 1999. URL: http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/pub/naturewatch/text/a073d.htm

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Hopea odorata in the Botanic Gardens

The chengal pasir fruits in Botanic Gardens, 15 Jun 2005.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Bat-lily begins… and ends


Tacca intergrifolia
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

Tacca intergrifolia inflorescence in Macritchie (18 Mar 2005) and fruits in BTNR (20 June 2005). Almost all the individuals encountered in BTNR had fruits.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Ten men in my hand


Ixonanthes reticulata
Originally uploaded by lekowala.

20 June 2005. BTNR Ixonanthes reticulata Erythroxylaceae. Ten men is the english vernacular given to the tree which gives this fruit (a capsule). Malay name is Inggi burong, Nyiran burong or Pagar anak. Using Corner’s Wayside trees, I keyed it down to I. reticulata. The other species is I. icosandra. Parts of the capsule still green, have been dropping from the treetops; perhaps the birds are getting at the seeds hence the malay vernacular. The persistent sepals and petals are resinous sticky as described by Corner (1998).

Ref:
Corner, E.J.H. (1988). Wayside Trees of Malaya.Vol 1. The Malayan Nature Society, KL, Malaysia. p 255-256.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | No Comments

Wild mangosteen



Originally uploaded by lekowala.

20 June BTNR. Garcinia sp. Guttiferae. Felt and smelt like mangosteen.

June 22, 2005 Posted by lekowala | Uncategorized | | 2 Comments