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plants text index | photo
index
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| mangroves |
| Kachang-kachang
Aegiceras corniculatum Family Myrsinaceae updated May 11 Where seen? A rare shrub. According to Ng, it was found in various northern sites and Pulau Unum. According to Hsuan Keng, it was found in mangroves including Tuas, Changi, Lim Chu Kang and Pulau Ubin. According to Davison, it is found on Pulau Unum, Sungei Khatib Bongsu, Sungei Mandai, Pasir Ris Park, Lim Chu Kang and the Western Catchment. Elsewhere, it is characteristic of the outer, seaward fringe of mangroves and usually appears as an isolated shrub, never forming a conspicuous part of the community. According to Burkill, it likes light and is never found under the shade of mangroves. Instead being 'abundant' on mud above the high water mark. According to Giersen, it tolerant of a wide range of salinity, soil and light conditions and most commonly found in back mangroves that are inundated by the normal high tide, in sandy substrates. It is found from India to New Guinea and common in the mangroves of Malaya. According to Tomlinson, it is widely distributed from Sri Lanka to South China through the Malay archipelago to Polynesia and northeastern Australia to New South Wales. Features: Shrub or low tree growing to 6m tall, but in Singapore it usually grows up to only 1-2m tall.Leaves (4-8cm) thick, leathery dark green glossy above, paler below with prominent reddish midrib below. The leaves are arranged in spirals. Flowers white or pale pink and fragrant, appearing in a ball-like cluster of 10-20. They are rich in nectar. According to Tomlinson, from the structure of the flowers and the fact that these produce nectar and a fragrance, the plant seems to be pollinated by insects. But there are no records of flower visitors. The fruits and seeds are well adapted to water dispersal. Fruit long (5-8cm) cylindrical with pointed tip, usually curved. They resemble long beans, tiny bananas or horns and are light green to pink. 'Corniculatus' means 'with little horns' while the Malay name 'Kachang' means 'bean'. Another Malay name for it is 'Kuku Lang Laut' which means 'Claw of the Sea Eagle'. Each fruit contains a single elongated seed which undergoes cyptovivipary, i.e., it germinates while on the parent tree, but does not emerge through the fruit wall until the propagule falls off. Bark fissured with numerous lenticels. Roots running along the soil surface. Human Uses: According to Burkill, the bark is used as a 'fish poison', i.e., to stun fish and scoop them up. He identifies the toxin as a saponin. The seeds also contain the same poison. The leaves were eaten by poor people in the Moluccas raw or cooked, while women wore the scented flowers in their hair. According to Giersen, the wood is used to make charcoal. The flowers are probably an important source of nectar for local honey industries. Status and threats: This plant is listed as 'Endangered' in the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. It is threatened by habitat loss and oil spills. |
 Kranji Nature Trail, Apr 11  Flower buds. Kranji Nature Trail, Apr 11 |
 Alternating leaves. Kranji Nature Trail, Apr 11 |
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 Kranji Nature Trail, May 11 |
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 Kranji Nature Trail, Apr 11 
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 Kranji Nature Trail, Apr 11 
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 Kranji Nature Trail, Jun 11 
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 Kranji Nature Trail, Jun 11 
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 Kranji Nature Trail, Jun 11 
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Links
References
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Singapore University Press. 222 pp.|
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