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plants text index | photo
index
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| coastal plants |
| Delek
air Memecylon edule Family Melastomaceae updated Aug 09 Where seen? This tree with beautiful blue flowers is rare. There are several on the rocky cliffsides of Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin. Elsewhere, it is common on sandy and rocky shores. The Malay name for the Memecylon trees is 'Nipis Kulit' which means 'thin skin' refering to their thin bark. Features: A small tree (3-6m tall). Leaves (8-12cm) are so leathery the veins are hard to see, does not produce a latex. Flowers small, bright blue, many in a cluster. The flowers are said to be very fragrant. Fruit globular, green ripening to pinkish then black. Bark greyish brown, finely ridged and fissured. Human uses: According to Burkill, the wood is very hard and heavy and good for house posts, rafters. It is an excellent fuel and makes good charcoal. After cutting, the stump coppices well. The fruit is said to be 'just edible'. In India, the leaves were used for a yellow dye. The leaves are part of a 'decoction of considerable reputation' in India for the treatment of gonorrhoea. The bark is used to poultice bruises. Status and threats: It is listed as 'Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. |
 Chek Jawa, Jun 02  Chek Jawa, Apr 07 |
 Chek Jawa, Oct 04  |
 Chek Jawa, Jul 08  |
 Chek Jawa, Jul 08  |
 Chek Jawa, Oct 09  Leaves dip in seawater at high tide. |
 Chek Jawa, Oct 09 |
 Chek Jawa, Dec 09 |
 Sentosa, Apr 10 |
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References
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Singapore University Press. 222 pp.|
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