SG50 SITE

the Lecythis with the pots

It was the first time I explored the landscape area outside the SG50 exhibition site and I discovered some interesting stuff.

There were a few Lecythis ollaria (Common Name: Monkey Pot Tree) trees in that area and one of them was with a lot of monkey pots!

I was also pleasantly surprised to find a raised bed of Alpinia purpurata under full sun. Although the leaves were not a dark green, but they look relatively healthy and carried numerous red inflorescences.

Alpinia under full sun

beautiful bed of red inflorescences

Ficus with fruits

HORNBILL TOPIARY AT WEB OF LIFE

The Tillandsias were flowering again and the bird looked amazing!

FICUS PSEUDOPALMA

This interesting Ficus tree is known as the Philippine Fig, Dracaena Fig or Palm-Leaf Fig. I have not pruned it for some time now and finally it is looking real big and nice!

The long wavy leaves are arranged spirally around the branch, giving it rosette appearance. It is definitely one of the rarer Fig trees that I come across.

a 2.5 m height specimen

the glossy wavy leaves are really unique

the fresh and over-ripened fruit

the leaf scars

remnants of a bunch of fruit without the leaves

FICUS

I cannot remember what is the botanical name of this Ficus with interesting fig fruit that looked like an inflorescence.

FICUS TREES

For a while, we thought the topmost branch of this Ficus at the Supertree Grove died but fortunately, it started sprouting new leaves and finally the tree is back to its original condition.

For the Ficus religiosa, the new leaf flushes always appear pinkish and they are just so lovely.

Ficus religiosa with a Buddha statue

pinkish new leaf flushes

FICUS

With the recent hot weather, this Ficus produced copious amounts of figs along its branches.

What is incredibly unique about this genus is the fruit it produces is also an enclosed inflorescence known as the syconium, which contains the flowers within. They have an unparalleled mutually beneficial relationship with fig wasps, which are the only pollinators known for this genus.

FICUS

The Ficus adventitious roots look like split ends of hair. When the downward growing aerial roots are pruned, it is interesting how the ends start to grow sideways and even upwards to defy gravity. Are there any conditioners that can get them to grow normally again, I wonder?

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