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plants text index | photo
index
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| mangroves |
| Teruntum
putih Lumnitzera racemosa Family Combretaceae updated Feb 11 Where seen? This pretty plant with plasticky leaves and tiny white flowers is sometimes seen in our mangroves. It is found in the back mangroves, preferring sandy or hard mud areas. Also on shores and waterways with freshwater influence. It can tolerate more saline conditions than Teruntum merah (Lumnitzera littorea). There are some large old trees at Kranji Nature Trail. Features: Shrubs or tree up to 8m tall. Leaves (2-10cm) spatula-shaped with oval ends, scalloped edge and a small notch at the tip, thick and fleshy, arranged in a spiral. Flowers small (1-2cm) in bunches, white with five tiny petals. The flowers are weakly scented and produce lots of nectar. According to Tomlinson, this species appear to be pollinated by day-active wasps, bees, butterflies and months. The small fruits are ribbed, fibrous and float, and dispersed by water. Each fruit contains one seed. Bark reddish-brown and fissured. Has no pneumatophores. Sometimes mistaken for Chengam (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea) which has its leaves arranged in a spiral. According to Giesen, although occurring throughout Malaysia and Indonesia, L. littorea and L. racemosa practically exclude each other in habitat and have never been collected in exactly the same stand. The exact cause of this different ecological behaviour is not yet known. Human uses: According to Burkill, the timber has similar properties as that of Teruntum merah (Lumnitzera littorea) but because it is a smaller plant it is less useful. Status and threats: It is listed as 'Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. |
 Pulau Ubin, Aug 09  |
 Pulau Semakau, Mar 09 |
 Pulau Ubin, Aug 03 |
 Pulau Ubin, Aug 03 |
 Pulau Semakau, Dec 08 |
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 Pulau Ubin, Jan 09 |
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 A very tall old tree! Kranji Nature Trail, Feb 11 |
 Fissured bark. Kranji Nature Trail, Feb 11 |
 Kranji Nature Trail, Feb 11 
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 Mandai, Mar 11 |
 Mandai, Mar 11 |
 Pasir Ris Park, Mar 11 
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Links
References
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Singapore University Press. 222 pp.|
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