Green Wave 2015
Information Kit
Tree Selection
Green Wave 2015 Information Kit
No.
Size of Tree
Small: <15 m
Medium: 15 – 25 m
Large: >25 m
Scientific Name
Common Name
Cynometra ramiflora
Katong Laut
Large
Cyrtophyllum fragrans
Tembusu
Large
Gnetum gnemon
Belinjau
Medium
4.
Melaleuca cajuputi
Gelam,
Paper Bark Tree,
Tea Tree
Large
5.
Podocarpus
polystachyus
Sea Teak
Medium – Large
6.
Spondias cytherea
Kedongdong,
Great Hog Plum
Small
1.
2.
3.
(Synonym: Fagraea fragrans)
Plant Care Requirements and Plant
Use/Characteristics
*For returning Green Wave participants, please select a tree from the list above.
Key to Symbols
Tree
Prefers full sun
Prefers semi-shade
Requires lots of water
Requires moderate water
Requires little water
Attracts birds
Native species of
Singapore
Foliage plant
Herbs and spices
Ornamental flowers
Fragrant plant
Drought tolerant
Fruits and vegetables
Suitable for seaside
planting
Wayside tree
Bonsai or potted plant
Species represented in
Heritage Tree Register
References
National Parks Board. (2010). Flora Fauna Web. Retrieved 2012, from Flora Fauna Web: florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/.
Tee, S.P. et al. (Editors) 2009. Trees of Our Garden City: A Guide to the Common Trees of Singapore. National Parks Board,
Singapore.
E.J.H Corner. 1998. Wayside Trees of Malaya (Third edition). United Selangor Press, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tree Collection
Details
Dates for collection: 12 to 14 May 2015
Collection timing: 9.30am to 3pm
Location for collection:
100K Pasir Panjang Road S(118526), Pasir Panjang Nursery
(Refer to the map below for directions on how to get there)
Contact persons upon arrival:
 Haidir – 91197043
 Brendon – 97826591
 Paul – 97992062
Enter via Pasir Panjang Road heading towards City/Sentosa
Tree Information
1
Cynometra ramiflora
Common Names:
Katong Laut
Size:
Large (Up to 26 m)
Distributed in India and Southeast Asia, this
tree is also native to Singapore. Locally, it is
classified as critically endangered. Its dark
brown, heavy and hard timber is used to
make doorposts or for construction. This
tree is also sometimes cultivated as an
ornamental tree and is fairly common in
parks.
Brown, scaly fruit pods
Tree crown is round and
umbrella-shaped
Alternate, smooth
leaves
2
Cyrtophyllum fragrans
(Synonym: Fagraea fragrans)
Common names:
Tembusu
Size:
Large (Up to 40 m)
The creamy white flowers turn
yellow and light orange with age
A highly valued native tree of Singapore, this
beautiful, long-lived tree is often planted in parks
and along roadsides with large verges. The
Tembusu is also an important source of timber as it
is long-lasting and resistant to termites. It is used in
various construction projects, such as bridges,
boats and panelling. In Singapore, large wooden
chopping boards used by hawkers are sometimes
made from Tembusu timber. The back of the
Singapore five-dollar note features a Tembusu
Heritage Tree found in the Singapore Botanic
Gardens.
The fruits are attractive red berries
Visit a Heritage Tree
There are several Tembusu Heritage Trees in
Singapore (including the iconic tree featured on the
Singapore five-dollar note) which have lived for
more than 100 years.
This Tembusu Heritage Tree located
in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is
featured on the Singapore five-dollar
note
3
Gnetum gnemon
Common names:
Belinjau
Size:
Medium (Up to 22 m)
This tree is native to Singapore. It grows in
rainforests, on rocky islands, along riverbanks and
headlands, and up to an altitude of 1,200 m. It has
clusters of flowers that grow at the junction of the
stem. The seeds are oval and the kernel of the
seed is used to make the popular belinjau
crackers. The tree’s roots are used as an antidote
for poison and as a medicine for malaria. Its young
leaves, flowering shoots and fruits are edible when
cooked. The inner bark provides a fibre, which is
made into string bags known as bilum, and is used
by villagers in Papua New Guinea.
Gnetum gnemon has a narrow, conical
to column-like crown
Clusters of flowers grow at the
junction of the stem
The kernels of Belinjau seeds are
made into crackers
4
Melaleuca cajuputi
Common names:
Gelam, Paper Bark Tree, Tea Tree
Size:
Large (Up to 40 m)
This tree is native to Singapore. In fact, Kampong
Glam was named after the Gelam trees that grew
in the area (kampong is Malay for village). The tree
has a distinct papery bark and medicinal
properties. Cajeput essential oil, extracted from its
leaves and twigs, is one of the main ingredients in
ointments such as Tiger Balm. The flowers are
often visited by the Olive-backed Sunbird and
Crimson Sunbird for their nectar.
Large, tall tree with a fairly wide and
dense crown
Densely-flowered single spike
5
Podocarpus polystachyus
Common names:
Sea Teak
Size:
Medium to Large (Up to 40 m)
Sea Teak t
A non-flowering, cone-producing coniferous tree,
the Sea Teak is native to the rocky coasts and
back mangroves of Singapore and is locally
endangered, with less than 50 wild specimens left.
However, it is still sufficiently common outside of
Singapore and is an important source of softwood
timber – also called Podo Wood or Podocarp
timber – and is used for interior work, beams,
framing, furniture and oars. Its seed is green upon
maturity, with fleshy bright to dark red receptacles,
which are eaten by birds and bats.
Medium to large tree with a broadly
conical to dome-shaped crown
Seed with a red receptacle
6
Spondias cytherea
Common names:
Kedongdong, Great Hog Plum
Size:
Small (9 to 12 m, grows up to 2 m when grown in a
pot/container)
A relatively small fruit tree native to Indochina,
Malesia and Polynesia,its pulp is crisp and soursweet, with a pineapple-like fragrance. The fruits
are edible, ripen from green to golden-yellow and
are a rich source of vitamin C. The ripe fruits are
eaten raw or cooked and made into a juice. They
are also used in the Malay dish, rojak. The unripe
fruits are used to make jellies, pickles or to flavour
soups and stews. The acidic young leaves can be
eaten raw, steamed or cooked with meat.
Small fruit tree with elliptic leaflets
Small white flowers
Fruits are used in rojak, jellies &
pickles