Melastoma malabathricum - Singapore rhododendron

One of the plants which is native to Singapore is the Melastoma malabathricum or Singapore rhododendron. It is found throughout Singapore, usually growing wildly along roadsides and in particular, wastelands. I chanced upon these growing in the garden at my new house. There were possibly various species but the more common ones had pink and white blooms. I like how it grows into this dense and compact shrub which makes it ideal as a potted plant. In fact, this plant has medicinal qualities, which explains why AMK nursery is selling them at the herb section.

An article by Wilson Wong of GreenCultures 20 August 2008 is reproduced below:-

Melastoma malabathricum, commonly known as the Singapore Rhododendron, is a flowering shrub that can be found growing locally in wastelands. As a result, it is not surprising to know that most Singaporeans regarded it as a weed and this plant is seldom considered as a candidate for planting a home garden. The Singapore Rhododendron belongs to the Melastoma family, Melastomaceae. It is alternatively known by its Malay name, Sendudok.

Although the name “Singapore Rhododendron” may make M. malabathricum sound as if it can only be found here, the plant, in fact, has a wide
distribution around this part of the world. It has been reported to be found growing wild in the Indian Ocean Islands, throughout South and South-East Asia, China, Taiwan, Australia and the South Pacific Ocean.

For those who have seen M. malabathricum before, they would have noticed that it is a showy plant that seems to be perpetually in flower, even under
challenging environmental conditions encountered in wasteland, where the sun is glaring and nutrients and water are lacking. It deserves more attention and can be a potential fuss-free flowering ornamental plant to grow in the garden. A shrub that usually grows to about 1 m, the reddish stems and leaves of M. malabathricum are rough to the touch as they are covered with fine bristles. Each leaf is long and narrow and pointed at both ends. It has 3 distinct ribs and the fine bristles can be found only along on the ribs located on the leaf’s underside.

The attractive flowers produced by M. malabathricum, measuring up to 7 cm in diameter, are produced in a cluster at the tip of each shoot. Each flower
has five petals and the most common flower colour is deep mauve. Occurring less commonly is the white flowered cultivar that is known as M. malabathricum ‘Alba’.

The flowers are interesting as they have two types of stamens – the anthers of five outer stamens, arranged in an outer ring are larger, curved and
violet in colour while the remaining five located in an inner ring are straight and yellow in colour.

Fruits of M. malabathricum are technically classified as berries and when they are ripe, they break open irregularly to reveal the soft, dark purple, sweet
but rather astringent-tasting pulp and numerous orange seeds. The seeds are tasteless and can be eaten and they stain the tongue black. The name
“melastoma” is Greek for "black mouth", a name appreciated by generations of children who have eaten the berries.

Melastoma malabathricum has medicinal properties particularly the white flowered form and is a pretty candidate to grow in a tropical medicinal garden. It
is a well-known herb where its leaves, shoots and roots are prepared in various ways and used to treat stomachache and diarrhoea. The roots and leaves of the M. malabathricum are applied to lesions and wounds to help with the healing process and also in the treatment of haemorrhoids.

This beautiful, medicinal shrub may sometimes be confused with the Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tormentosa), which is another medicinal plant. Both shrubs
have leaves that have three prominent ribs and are rough to feel. They can be easily distinguished easily as the leaves of the Rose Myrtle end with a blunt tip whereas those of M. malabathricum are pointed.

To add to the confusion, the fruits of both shrubs have a ring of persistent calyx lobes. The fruits of the Rose Myrtle are larger and when they are ripe, the
fruits turn greyish purple in colour. On the other hand, the fruits of M. malabathricum are usually smaller in size and when they are ripe, the fruit’s rind
is reddish brown or green in colour.

The flowers of M. malabathricum are also larger than those of the Rose Myrtle and can be told apart from the latter’s via the appearance of the anthers.
Melastoma malabathricum has ten distinct anthers whereas those of the Rose Myrtle are far more numerous and fine. Only the flowers of the Rose Myrtle
change colour with age – they are pink when freshly open and fade to almost white.

A flowering shrub that should be grown in any eco-garden, M. malabathricum is a plant that attracts many birds including the yellow vented bul
bul, flowerpeckers, doves and pigeons which consume the ripe fruits and help to disperse its seeds. Squirrels and monkeys are also fond of the fruits. The plant is the host for caterpillars of butterflies such as the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) and the Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea).

Although the plant has earned itself a “weed” status, in addition to its use in sustaining wild life, it has an important contribution to the wasteland it colonises because it helps to prevent soil erosion. Research has shown that M. malabathricum is a plant that is very efficient in absorbing aluminium ions from the ground where it is grown. Hence it has the potential to be used to remove aluminium from soils that have been contaminated with the metal.

For garden use, M. malabathricum is a full sun plant, judging from its growing habit, i.e. open wasteland. In order for the plant to grow healthily and
flower profusely, the shrub needs to be planted in a location where it can receive direct sunshine.

This flowering shrub is not fussy about soil type and M. malabathricum can also be grown in areas with clayey soil but it definitely does better in soil that
is fertile and friable. It should be noted that its roots should be consistently moist and plants should not be allowed to dry out between watering. It is a suitable candidate as a marginal plant for bogs and water gardens.

Plants should be pruned back to shape them and because of its self-seeding habit, shrubs in bloom should have their spent flowers removed
promptly, that is, dead-heading, is required to limit fruit and subsequent seed production.

Although it is a plant that is adapted to nutrient-poor conditions, M. malabathricum would definitely benefit from a regular dose of a general fertilizer
to promote healthy growth and produce a profusion of flowers. Plants can be easily propagated from seeds if they are taken from fresh, mature fruits. Alternatively, a faster way to get new plants is to grow them from stem-cuttings.

Melastoma malabathricum is seldom bothered by pests and diseases. Being a host plant for certain caterpillars, do expect some damage to the plant’s
foliage when it is the season where butterflies start to lay their eggs. The plant is the host for caterpillars of butterflies such as the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) and the Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea).

Being among the first to colonise wasteland, the plant helps prevent soil erosion and to allow regeneration of vegetation in such places.

Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi fma. chattaladae

I grow orchids, but do not consider myself a serious orchid enthusiast. For a start, I am only familiar with the more popular orchid genera; dendrobiums, vandas, cattleyas, phalaenopsis etc, but am hopeless when it coms to the full latin names of species or hybrids and can never remember, let alone rattle off names the way "some" orchid people do. Admittedly, my forte lies with bromeliads and costuses.

So Jason has been passing me some of his "prized" collection, and I keep telling him that he's taking a big risk, placing these under my care and supervision. Anyhow, one of the more rare and interesting plants he has given me is the Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi fma. chattaladae.

You can read about the story of the discovery, identification and conservation of this rare and beautiful form of Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi from this website . It is often confused with the more common Phal 'red' cornu-cervi which has been mass produced and often passed off or sold under the 'chattaladae' label.

Schaueria flavicoma - "Golden Plume"

This is a fairly new introduction to Singapore and NParks has been using these to landscape some of the parks and public spaces such as the Hort Park. Originating from Brazil, the Schaueria flavicoma or Golden Plume belongs to the Acanthaceae family of plants. It is an evergreen shrub which can grow to about 3 to 4 ft and is best grown in part shade. It requires regular moisture (dislikes dry hot weather) and prefers well-drained, neutral to slightly acid pH soil. I noticed that it doesn't flower all the time.

I transplanted some cuttings to another pot and placed them in a different area and both are flowering at the same time. As it has been raining quite substantially, bringing down the temperatures slightly, I suspect that they probably flower more readily in cooler, wetter conditions. Anyhow, they are fairly easy to grow and seem to thrive quite well on neglect. Propagation is best done through stem cuttings, just below the nodes.

variegated hebe

Hebe ‘Franciscana Variegata’ forms a fairly compact, rounded evergreen bush, about 2 ft (60 cm) high and wide. The variegated leaves are thick, oval-shaped and irregularly blotched with cream; 1.2–2 in (30–50 mm) long. The flowers are violet, fading to lilac or white.

The parents of this hybrid are Hebe elliptica and Hebe speciosa.

If this Hebe gets too straggly, I just cut it back as severely as guilt will allow, and it always rejuvenates successfully. Some specimens over the water race were cut to ground level, and a few months later were well on their way back to good health.

new hoyas

Got these new hoyas from Woon Leng. I don't know what they are yet but will no doubt look it up. The 1st row is a hybrid while the 2nd and 3rd are species. To-date, I have 27 different hoyas and counting. It's a slow but steady collection.

raphidophora celatocaulis - shingle plant

I received my first Raphidophora celatocaulis (pictured right) from Lyndi several months ago. It is such an easy plant to grow because I merely stick it in a pot of soil, lean it against a wall and in no time, the plant will start climbing and producing offshoots! I got the variegated Raphidophora cryptantha (pictured left) from Woon Leng during the recent SGF but it isn't as vigourous as the celatocaulis.

The Raphidophora is a genus in the family Araceae and it consists up to approximately 100 species.

You can find out more about the Raphidophora here .

Here's a quick pictorial ID guide to the various Raphidophora species.

hoya spartiodes

The Hoya spartiodes, I was told, is one of the rarest hoyas in the hoya kingdom and is therefore every hoya collector's ultimate prize. It may not look like much, but it is truly an unusual hoya. This species is found in the south of Borneo and has been recorded in Sabah and Kalimantan. Although considered a hoya, it is sometimes placed in its own genus, Absolmsia (spartiodes). This plant has no leaves and the green tips are actually the peduncles.

It is not a hoya for the beginner as it is difficult to grew and requires a lot of light and high humidity. The flowers have a citrus flower scent. The rest of the plant does not have chlorophyll - except for an occasional small leaves which are very short-lived. The tiny orange flower clusters open one night only, and has a sharp smell like burning rubber. Seeds of this plant are carried by ants to their nests, usually rotting tree trunks, from which a plant may grow, with its root balls deep within the nest. The ants provide protection and food for the plant.

hoyas (wax flower)

One of the plants I collect is the hoya or wax flower. To-date, I probably have more than 20 different species and cultivars and the numbers are continuing to grow. Just today, I bought another 3 plants from Woon Leng.

Hoya is a genus consisting of 200-300 species of tropical climbing plants belonging to the family Asclepiad and is mostly native to southern Asia, Australia and Polynesia. Hoyas are mostly evergreen climbing vines or shrubs with typically succulent leaves. One of the main characteristics of the flowers are the way in which they appear - mostly in axillary umbellate clusters at the apex of the peduncles, with repeated clusters of flowers developing sequentially on each peduncle. Each flower is about 1 cm in diameter with five thick, waxy petals. Most have flowers which are sweetly scented and produce abundant nectar. Some species are grown mainly for their attractive foliage which can range from variegated to bright red leaves particularly when grown in sunlight (i.e. Hoya obscura).

Most nurseries in Singapore sell hoyas as trailing/climbing vines in hanging pots. In the wild, they tend to be found on the trunk and branches of trees in the forest, often forming a massive vine around the trunk. Collectors would usually get their supply either directly from the supplier through online transactions or at plant sales/conventions such as the recent Singapore Garden Festival. These are usually sold as cuttings which can be rooted or unrooted.

Hoyas are probably one of the easiest plants to grow. In fact, it is one of the few plants which does best when ignored, just like Tillandsia (air plants). In terms of cultivation, it is relatively easy to grow hoyas from cuttings. Usually, try to use a cutting which has two or three leaf nodes. The leaves from the bottom node should be removed. The end of the cutting should be dusted with rooting hormone powder (available at most nurseries) before burying it in a potting mixture with good drainage. The ones in Singapore are planted in a mix of perlite, vermiculite, wood chips and sphagnum peat moss, although I have seen some potted in just normal soil. Hoyas should be watered thoroughly but it's best to let the soul completely dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly and let the soil dry out before watering again.

Hoyas prefer bright sunlight as opposed to direct sun. As they are true tropicals, they prefer high humidity. They are generally light feeders and do not require too much fertiliser.

Commonly associated with Hoyas are its relative, the Dischidias . There are about 80 known species which all grow as epiphytes and are native to tropical areas of China, India and most areas of Indo-China. Dischidia are closely aligned with the sister genus Hoya. Unlike Hoya, the genus Dischidia, is poorly known and has not been studied as closely.

Most Dischidia grow in arboreal ant nests of different species and some have developed a symbiotic relationship where the plant has developed modified leaves to either provide housing or storage. Of these there are two types of modification to the leaves. Three species develop bullate leaves which are hollow root-filled structures. These are Dischidia complex Griff, Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr. and Dischidia vidalii Becc. Both produce normal leaves in addition to the bullate leaves. These bullate leaves are formed when the outer margins of a leaf stop growing while the center of the leaf continues to grow. As time progresses the leaf margins curl under to close the gap which creates a small hole. A number of species develop imbricate leaves which hold tightly to the growing surface. The underside of the leaf has a space which is filled with roots that the ants take advantage of.

Hoyas and dischidias are available in most nurseries across Singapore, though some have a lot more than others. A good starting place for hoyas would be World Farm at Bah Soon Pah road. Collectors would usually go to Woon Leng as they do have quite a large collection of hoyas. For the ultra rare species, one would need to either import them or procure them from other private collectors. Some of the rarer hoyas I have are the Hoya imbricata, Hoya retusa and the holy grail of hoyas, the Hoya spartiodes.

For more information on hoyas, do check out Tipol Ruangaksorn's website . He is a serious collector of hoyas with some 250 different ones in his collection. His website contains a very comprehensive list of hoyas species and hybrids which serves as a very good ID guide. I also chanced upon a hoya blog and although defunct, it still is an interesting read with lovely photos of hoyas.

If you want to order hoyas online, you can check out this website which ships from Florida to anywhere in the world.

For hoya care, check out Molly's Tropical Plants .

For more general reading, here are some other online resources:-

a. the Hoya Page
b. Dischidia

microsorum thailandicum - metallic blue fern

I got this rare little gem of a fern at the recent garden festival from Ooi Leng Sun Orchids who hail from Penang, Malaysia. Jason pointed out that the fern exhibits a iridescent cobalt blue metallic sheen, especially when it gets wet.

This is a true tropical, requiring heat and high humidity. It is one of the more unusual ferns in existence due to its amazing cobalt blue sheen which no other fern has. The species shows the best colour with moderate to bright light but it can also thrive in very dim light since it exists in nature as an understory plant. It is found mainly in Thailand and Cambodia and is usually found as an epiphyte growing on trees or as a lithophyte growing on limestone.

If grown well, the fern will maintain the metallic blue coloration at all times. It needs to be watered regularly so that the roots doesn't dry out and fertilise regularly with diluted orchid fertiliser.

You can find out more about this fern from Steve Luca's website The Exotic Rainforest .

gradual demise of the world's mangroves

CNN ran a story today, about how mangroves are disappearing by up to four times faster than the world's land-based forests. A study commissioned by the U.N. Environmental Program (UNEP) reports that one fifth (around 35,500 square kilometers) of the world's mangroves -- forests straddling both land and sea -- have been lost since 1980.

"Although the study reports that annual destruction has slowed to 0.7 percent a year, the authors of the "World Atlas of Mangroves" report warn that continued coastal destruction and shrimp farming could cause financial and ecologic havoc.Studies estimate mangroves generate between U.S.$2000 to $9000 per hectare annually from fishing -- much more than the aquaculture, agriculture and tourism, which the U.N. says are the biggest drivers of mangrove loss.

Achim Steiner, U.N. Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, U.N. Environment Program (UNEP), said in a statement: "This atlas brings our attention onto mangroves and puts them up front and central, plotting where they are, describing where they have been lost, and underlining the immense costs those losses have had for people as well as nature."

Mangroves cover around 150,000 square kilometers and are found in 123 countries worldwide. The biggest concentration (21 percent) of the world's mangroves is in Indonesia, with Brazil home to around nine percent and Australia, seven percent.
Mark Spalding, lead author of the report and senior marine scientist with The Nature Conservancy, told CNN: "The value of mangroves has been hugely overlooked. Mangroves are incredibly valuable, left standing."

Preserving the environmental diversity of mangroves is essential to maintaining what Spalding calls "the real hard dollar values" for the people who live near them and depend on their survival.Apart from providing a degree of coastal protection for communities -- there is evidence that mangroves reduced the impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 -- mangroves are also of vital economic importance to locals.

"There are a lot of fish that depend on mangroves - mud crabs, oysters, mussels - and there are also a lot of fish that don't seem to be connected to the mangroves but actually are. These fishing industries employ a lot of people," Spalding said.

The U.N. estimates that mangrove-related species support 30 percent of all fish catch and almost 100 percent of shrimp catch in southeast Asian countries. Mangroves and associated habitats in Queensland, Australia, are thought to support 75 percent of commercial fisheries species.

The forestry aspect of mangroves is also important economically. The wood is dense, rot and termite resistant, Spalding says, making it good for use as timber or as charcoal, among the best in the world, he said. "It's highly productive so you can continue to harvest it, which is rare," Spalding said.
It's taken Spalding five years to piece together the "World Atlas of Mangroves," and despite the findings, he remains positive that mangroves can be preserved.

"My sense is that we can turn this around into a good story," Spalding said. "Knowing what we know now, mangroves can be restored and help us fight climate change," he said. They are incredibly resilient ecosystems, which aren't bothered by increasing temperatures, he said.

"These are habitats that are going to be around with us if we just look after them and the economic benefits will just accrue. There has been sustainable use of mangroves in Bangladesh and other parts of Asia for over a century."

botanical artist

I appreciate botanical art. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of people who specialise in this discipline, at least not in Singapore.

Most of the botanicals I see are prints of old pieces painted many years ago. In fact, most of the better ones are now in the archives, having been painted from as far back as the 1700s. It was little wonder then, that I got very excited when I chanced upon Anna Lu at the Singapore Garden Festival in 2008. Back then, most of the popular pieces on zingiberacae were snapped up by NParks for their archives. I ended up with 6 pieces consisting mainly orchids, irises and some seeds.

Anna exhibited again during the recent Singapore Garden Festival. Due to severe austerity measures, I had to stop myself from getting overboard. Although she did paint musas and etlingeras, they were rather expensive. So, I ended up getting just one painting on periwinkles, much like the one featured here, which she donated to the Cancer Society in London.

Anna was born in Singapore and studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore) in the late 1950’s. Although Anna is a trained Fine Artist she has always been interested in botanical painting. She started exhibiting her botanical work in London at the RHS shows in 1999-2004 and was awarded 3 silver-gilt and 2 silver medals. She also exhibited at the Society of Botanical Artists shows.

In 1999, she was invited to take part in the ‘Watercolour Challenge’ broadcast on UK television. She painted flowers in one of the Chelsea Flower Show exhibition gardens.In 2004 she enrolled on the one-year botanical painting course at the Chelsea Physic Garden directed by Anne Marie Evans, and in 2005 was awarded a Diploma (Merit) in Botanical Painting.

Anna is also a member of The Society of Floral Painters.

purchases from garden festival

I got quite a few plants during the Singapore Garden Festival. Woon Leng brought in some pretty unusual hoyas which you do not normally see in other nurseries. Jason tells me that they have loads more at their nursery in Choa Chu Kang. I guess that's reason enough for me to make another trip there in the not too distant future.

I also bought my first, well, first three Amorphophallus plants. I've read about them before but knew little. They're not plants for everyone as they are probably more suited for the avid collector because these go dormat for a period of time. Only collectors would find this acceptable.