CALOPHYLLUM & FICUS

Recently, I was at the Singapore Botanic Garden's Botany Centre and was assaulted by an overpowering fragrance when I exited from one of the rooms.


So I retraced my steps and saw this majestic Calophyllum inophyllum in bloom. The tree was covered with clusters of flowers and the scent was radiating from them. This is the oldest specimen of this tree species that I have ever seen and I am glad that this tree was not affected by the redevelopment works years ago when they upgraded this part of the gardens.


What is interesting was also the epiphytic Ficus aurantiaca that was growing abundantly on the tree trunk and branches of the Calophyllum. The leaves of this Ficus is very different from the tree and it is always a delight to see the clumps of orange fruits hanging on the branches throughout the tree. A link on this Ficus is shown here:


http://www.florasingapura.com/Ficus_aurantiacea.php

CALOPHYLLUM SOULATTRI

The Calophyllum soulattri, from the Family Clusiaceae, at HortPark's Flora Stitches were producing new leaf flushes of red recently. It is a tree that is worth introducing into the landscape to give some colour.

CALOPHYLLUM SOULATTRI

I was finally able to take some decent photos of the ripe fruits of the Calophyllum soulattri with this new camera. The berries were bluish-purple although I dared not try to taste them. I wonder if they are sweet?

CALOPHYLLUM SOULATTRI

These are the fruits of the Calophyllum soulattri that I posted previously.

CALOPHYLLUM SOULATTRI

Actually, some of the trees along Cluny Road flowers rather frequently.

These are the flowers of the native coastal Calophyllum soulattri (synonym: Calophyllum wallichianum) from the Family Clusiaceae (Guttiferae). The new leaf flushes are pinkish and turn green over time.

A link is attached below on this tree:

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/calophyllum/soulattri.htm