monkey pot

One of my favourite trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the Monkey Pot tree or Lecythis sapucaia. I like the ones found there as they have a very impressive and very symmetrical umbrella shaped canopy. The other reason why I like this tree is the large fruits it produces. When these fruits, which are also referred to as "pots" fall, they make great decorative pieces for the home. Here is an informative write-up put up by Anthromes on his blog:-

"Monkey Pot, or Olla del Mono, is a term to describe not only L. zabucajo, but a number of other closely related species, including: Lecythis elliptica, Lecythis grandiflora, and Lecythis pisonis.

All of the Monkey Pot species are native to the humid tropical forests of northern South America, from Colombia to Brazil. They have been introduced on a small scale to a number of countries with similar climates around the world.

The trees are of varying sizes. Lecythis elliptica is smaller with spreading branches, the others can reach heights of over 35 meters, also with a spreading canopy, also about 35 meters, if not more.

There are a few old L. zabucajo trees in a stand where I collected seed, remarkably wide canopy, close to sixty feet I would say. The branches arc up and out until they almost touch the ground. Typically, one can locate an open pod and merely walk around beneath it and find seed. However, the agouti forage for nuts in these trees and will chew through the woody pod to extract them. So I had to climb up the end of a branch and hang precariously while pulling on a rope tied around a higher branch holding the fruit, then clip the 3/4 inch stem.

The fruit is a roundish and woody with a cap that pops off when it’s reached maturity. Inside are anywhere from 8 – 40 seeds (depending on the species) which fall from the woody capsule after a period of time.

Although they are little known outside their area of origin, the nuts produced by these species are among the best in the world, equal or superior in flavor to the Brazil Nut. There is a cream colored arial attached to the end of each seed. On numerous occasions I have tried it, it has a sweet licorice-like flavor although I was once told it has psychoactive properties. The tree wood is also of high quality.

The Monkey Pot species require a hot, humid climate. Deep, well drained soils are preferable. The young trees will also benefit from a shady environment in their first few years of growth.

Propagated by seeds, which will germinate in anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 months. In my experience, fresher seed will germinate faster. Initial growth is fast, a young tree can reach a meter in height in its first year. Trees are typically spaced 8 – 10 meters apart in plantations."

So far, I have managed to obtain 8 pots and have even attempted to propagate the seeds.

tarzan's tree

If you don't believe in tree spirits, you may want to think again. Ever noticed how Banyan trees are often accompanied by small Chinese altars or shrines? Ever wondered why that is so? I have heard many stories about Banyan trees and how they are inhabited by evil spirits. This myth is popular in various cultures across Asia and particularly so in Singapore, as evidenced by the number of shrines. For example, there's one at Dempsey, just next to Hacienda. There's another at Robertson Quay just across from the Robertson Blue apartments. And at Fusionopolis, there is an outdoor carpark built around a banyan tree. According to my trainer at Fitness First there, the developers had planned to chop down the tree. But for some reason, every attempt to do so was marred by tragic accidents. One worker was killed during construction of Fusionopolis while another was trapped in his bulldozer when he tried to fell the tree with it.

did some research on the internet and found this locally written article on tree spirits and secret shrines . Although it doesn't provide any answers, it is an interesting read.

By the way, the photo of this magnificent banyan tree was taken at Fort Canning Park. Judging by the size of the tree and the long roots, this tree must be more than a 100 years old.

the perfumed corridor

This is the Jane Magnolia (liliflora 'Reflorescens' x stellata). I remember seeing this for the first time in the spring of 2006 in Boston! The entire street (can't remember which one) of brownstone houses were lined with rows of both the Jane Magnolia and the more common white magnolia.

Spring is always a delightful and cheery period due to the burst of flowers which emerge from the branches of all sorts of trees. My earliest and fondest memory of spring has to be the time it snowed for the first time in my 3 years in Exeter. It was mid-March in 1998 and the beginning of spring but freak weather had caused one of the heaviest snowfalls recorded for that time of the year. The next morning, I got up at about 5:30 a.m. as I had wanted to capture the snowy landscape of the university grounds on film before it melted away. It was certainly quite a sight to see the snow and dew collect on the white apple and cherry blossoms, and the canary daffodils "emerge" from the snow. Too bad the digital camera hadn't featured yet, otherwise I would have been able to post them here.

jacaranda

Imagine a street lined with this tree in full bloom! It would be truly a sight to behold. It is strange that NPARKS has not thought about planting trees like the Jacaranda and the Cassia fistula being planted as wayside trees. So far, i've only seen the Jacaranda grown around the bandstand at SBG. The Cassia on the other hand is by far more commonly grown. However, the most commonly grown trees are still the rain tree, the Angsana, the Tembusu and occasionally, the odd palm or flame of the forest.

cassia fistula - golden showers tree

There are only that many trees which I would want to have in my garden. One of them is the Cassia fistula or Golden Showers Tree. The other is the Jacaranda.

myrica rubra - "yang mei"

Some people might find this fruit rather familiar. On the one hand, it resembles the lychee while on the other, it does look a wee bit like a round strawberry. As this tree originates from east Asia, mainly China, it is often referred to as "Yang Mei" or Chinese Bayberry. I found these at a fruit store at Ghim Moh market yesterday after my gym work-out. I remember tasting it before, although I can't exactly remember where or when. Strangely, it tastes just the way it looks, sweet and sour with a very luscious 'berry-like' texture.

I've kept a couple of seeds with the intention of planting them. However, I doubt our climate will be suitable for the cultivation of these plants. Still, no harm trying!

Kapok Tree

I chanced upon this magnificent sight near one of the entrances to SBG's eco-garden at Cluny Park road. This is the Kapok Tree or the Silk Cotton Tree. In fact, it was the plumes of "cotton" which got my attention. Initially, I wasn't sure if this was the Kapok Tree as I had expected to be much taller and majestic, like the towering one found in the main section of SBG. This was a much smaller, shorter tree with its crown closer to the ground. Perhaps it'll take many more years before it reaches a height of 150ft or more.

Found this write up on the internet and decided to post it here:-

"The Kapok tree is an emergent tree of the tropical rainforests, and is often described as majestic. It can grow to a height of 150 feet or more, towering over other trees in the rainforest. Originally a native to South America it now has spread to the primary rainforests of West Africa, and the Southeast Asian rainforests of the Malay Peninsula, and the Indonesian archipelago.

The straight trunks are cylindrical, smooth and gray in color, and can reach a diameter of 9 feet. Large spines protrude from the trunk to discourage damage to the trunk. Thin, plank type buttresses stabilize the giant and can extend to 30 feet. The wood is a pinkish white to ashy brown in color, with a

straight grain. The branches grow in horizontal tiers, and spread widely.

The crown has an open umbrella shape. Many plants and animals grow and live in the branches of the kapok tree. Birds nest in it, and mammals use the huge branches as highways. Frogs breed in the pools of water that collect in the bromeliads.

Kapoks are drought deciduous. This means they shed most or all of their leaves during the tropical dry season. The dry season occurs during the northern hemisphere winter. The leaves are palmate and compound. The 5-9 leaflets are 7-8 cm long and 1-3.5 cm wide. Flowers usually open before the leaves appear, and are clustered on small, new branches. The 5 petals of a flower are about 2.5 cm long and are a creamy white or pale pink in color. Their odor is unpleasan, but is probably meant to attract the bats that pollinate them. The brown seeds are round like peas and are found in pods. The pods are woody, smooth and pendulous, with a light green color. They will burst open while still on the tree after the leaves have fallen. Inside a whitish cotton like fiber surrounds the brown seeds. These are born away on the wind. Most emergent trees will have wind borne seeds because they rise above the stagnant air of the rainforest and can take advantage of the breezes which blow there. Fruit bearing plants close to the forest floor rely on animals to eat and disperse their seeds, which will fall to the ground when ripe, and which are normally covered with a thick, appetizing pulp.

In many places the straight trunks of the kapok tree are used to make dugout canoes. The white, fluffy seed covering is used in pillows and mattresses. Since it is buoyant and water resistant it is often used in flotation devices and padding. The seeds, leaves, bark and resin have been used to treat dysentery, fever, asthma, and kidney disease. In Mayan myths the kapok tree was sacred. They believed that the souls of the dead would climb up into the branches which reached into heaven.

The kapok tree is widely spread around the world and occupies an important niche in the ecosystem of a rainforest. Emergent trees like the kapok rise above the canopy of the rainforest and provide a home for plants dependent on sunlight. Their branches provide a habitat for countless epiphytes, which provide food and shelter for many types or animals. They allow animals to move around the rainforest without coming down to the ground. Monkeys who venture out to the tops of emergent trees are easy prey for eagles.

There is no status on the kapok tree. Its timber is desirable because of the great length of its trunks, the beautiful color of its wood, and its straight grain. People of the rainforest have many uses for the kapok tree. As with many desirable things, too many people may want to exploit the kapok tree and put its future in jeopardy."



Also, I found these amazing infrared photos of the same tree taken by someone who's profile is Elf-Y on Flickr.

Cochlospermum religiosum - Buttercup tree

Also known as the yellow silk cotton tree, the Buttercup Tree is native to India, Burma and Thailand. It is a small tree growing upto 7.5 m. The bark is smooth and pale grey. It is sparsely clothed with leaves and sheds them at the height of the flowering season. The leaves appear at the tips of the branches and are palmately lobed. The flowers of the Buttercup tree are the most conspicuous part of the tree. They are large, growing upto about 10 cm, buttercup shaped and bright yellow. The stamens are orange. The flowering season is between February and April, particularly after the leaves are shed. The fruits are brown and oval shaped. They come in the form of a capsule made up of five segments. The capsule splits open to release the seeds which are embedded in the silky cotton contained within. This silky cotton is said to induce sleep when stuffed into pillows. The botanical name has the following meaning - Cochlospermum because the seed resembles a snail. Religiosum because the flowers are used as temple offerings.

You can find a few trees growing at SBG's eco-garden and it appears to bloom during the months of February and March. I managed to collect some seeds which I hope to propagate some time.

the Saraca

"there are hundreds of tree blessed with the fragrance of flowers and fruits but none is so charming to look at as the asoka tree which has, besides the unique privilege of producing flowers by worshipping the feet to the women" - Kalidasa