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plants text index | photo
index
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| mangroves | Sonneratia in general |
| Perepat
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Mangrove apple Sonneratia alba Family Sonneratiaceae updated Aug 09 Where seen? This large and beautiful tree is commonly seen, usually on the seaward side of the mangroves. It is considered the most widely distributed Sonneratia species. A pioneer species, it colonises newly formed sandy mud flats in sheltered estuaries and coastal areas. It is intolerant to long periods of exposure to freshwater. Another local name for it was 'Bedada'. Features: Tree 3-15m tall. Leaves nearly circular (5-12.5cm) tapering at the base, thick and leathery. Young leaves are pale green with faint tinge of pink at the leaf 'tip'. The leaves are arranged opposite one another. Flowers large with 6 petals, white, narrow and often inconspicuous. With many long white stamens forming a powder-puff shape. Sepals red on the inside. Fruit somewhat pear-shaped. The tips of the calyx lobes bend back towards the stalk. Seeds white, flattened, tiny, buoyant (due to air-filled tissues in the seed). Bark cream to light grey, finely fissured. Thick underground cable roots spread out from the trunk. These bear sturdy conical pneumatophores (about 25cm tall). But the tree may lack pnematophores if it grows on a solid substrate. According to Giesen, the flowers are pollinated by hawk-moths, birds and fruit-eating bats. Fireflies congregate on the trees at night. Human uses: According to Burkill, it is used as firewood, but not when other trees are available. The timber is used in some places, but not valued in other places. The fruits are eaten when "quite ripe" by the Malays and in Java, and used to flavour fish in the Moluccas. The leaves are also eaten raw and cooked. According to Giesen, the fruits are sour but edible. The fruits are used in a compress to check haemorrhaging. The timber is used for boats and houses in Indonesia, as well as bridge and wharf construction. Also for interior work including furniture, musical instruments but requires bronze nails. The Papuans make corks and floats out of the bouyant pneumatophores. Heritage Tree: There are two Perepat trees with Heritage Tree status. They are at Pulau Ubin, near House No. 1 one with a girth of 5m and height 14m, another with a girth 4.25m and height 16m. |
 Pasir Ris, May 09  |
 Chek Jawa, Jul 07 |
 Chek Jawa, Mar 09 |
 Pulau Semakau, Dec 08 |
 Pulau Semakau, Jan 09  |
 Pulau Semakau, Jan 09 
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 Pulau Semakau, Jan 09 |
 Chek Jawa, Mar 09 |
 Lim Chu Kang, Apr 09 |
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 Young leaf pale green with pink blush at tips. Kranji Canal, Mar 09 |
 Opened fruit on the shore. Pulau Hantu, Apr 09 |
 Pasir Ris Park, Sep 09 |
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References
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Singapore University Press. 222 pp.|
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