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plants text index | photo
index
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| mangroves |
| Mangrove
wax plant Hoya sp. Family Apocynaceae updated Nov 10 Where seen? These climbers with tough succulent leaves and beautiful wax-like flowers are sometimes seen in our mangroves. Here, they can sometimes drape thickly. According to Hsuan Keng, they used to be common including H. coronaria "common near the sea" at Serangoon, Changi, Kranji, Pulau Tekong, Ulu Berih; H. diversifolia "often densely covering trees" in Jurong, Chua Chu Kang, Kranji and Serangoon; H. verticillata (previously known as H. parasitica or H. ridleyi) "often near the sea" at Changi, Chua Chu Kang, Tuas, Krani and Pulau Tekong. With the loss of our mangroves, however, these plants are now less commonly seen. Features: Though not all Hoyas are vines, those in our mangroves are climbing twining vines. Leaves thick and succulent. Flowers emerge in a cluster. Fruits are long, thin and bean-like which split open when ripe to release fluffy wind-dispersed seeds. A milky sap oozes out of cuts in the plant. Human uses: According to Burkill, uses include the latex to stimulate digestion. According to Hugh Tan, the poisonous latex is used in Malaysia to ease painful catfish stings, in hot baths to treat rheumatism and to cure coughs and asthma. Status and threats: Many of our hoyas are listed in the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. The mangrove Hoya diversifolia is listed as 'Critically Endangered'. |
 Chek Jawa, Feb 02 |
 Fruits. Chek Jawa, May 03 |
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Links
References
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Singapore University Press. 222 pp.|
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