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mangroves
Kempudang baran
Cassine viburnifolia

Family Celastraceae

updated Jan 2013
Where seen? This very rare plant can be seen from the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve mangrove boardwalk. According to Hsuan Keng, it was found on sandy beaches including Kranji, Katong and Pulau Brani. Elsewhere it is also uncommon or rare, and was found in wet coastal communities and has been recorded in mangroves, back mangroves and along tidal rivers. From the Andaman Islands through the Malay Peninsula to northern Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi. It was known as Elaeodendron subrotundum.

Features: A shrub or small tree (to 8m tall).


Leaves (5-7cm) thick leathery with scalloped edges, arranged opposite one another.

Flowers tiny (0.2-0.3cm), in loose clusters with a four tiny white petals.

Fruit small teardrop shaped (about 1cm) with one seed, ripening yellow. The corky berry is adapted to water dispersal.


Human uses: According to Giersen, the husk of the fruit is said to be used to stupefy fish. It is also used as firewood.

Status and threats: This plant is listed as 'Critically Endangered' in the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. It is threatened by habitat loss and oil spills.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sep 09

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 09

Leaves with scalloped edges.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sep 09

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 09

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 11

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sep 09

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 11

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sep 09

Kempudang baran on Singapore shores

Photos of Kempudang baran for free download from wildsingapore flickr

Distribution in Singapore on this wildsingapore flickr map

Links

  • Cassine viburnifolia on The Total Vascular Flora of Singapore Online: photos and fact sheet.
  • Cassine viburnifolia on the NParks Flora and Fauna website: photos and fact sheet.
  • Giesen, Wim and Stephan Wulffraat, Max Zieren and Liesbeth Scholten. 2006. Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia (PDF online downloadable). RAP publication 2006/07 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Bangkok.

References

  • Hsuan Keng, S.C. Chin and H. T. W. Tan. 1990, The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore University Press. 222 pp.
  • Tomlinson, P. B., 1986. The Botany of Mangroves Cambridge University Press. USA. 419 pp.
  • Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
  • Burkill, I. H., 1993. A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. 3rd printing. Publication Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-1240; volume 2: 1241-2444.
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