DORSTENIA

The Dorstenia (Family: Moraceae) is a diverse group of plants with unusual flowers and the one I photographed here should be a Dorstenia turneraefolia.

Sometimes I find it very strange that I can suddenly remember some of these obscure plant names but forget some of the common ones. I guess this is a sign of aging.

STREBLUS ELONGATUS

Commonly known as the Tempinis Tree (Family: Moraceae), this is the tree that gave the town Tampines its name.

When the leaves are plucked, the broken surface exudes a white sap, which is characteristic of plants from this family. The leaf is also interesting in that the veins are yellowish and the base is asymmetrical.

The inflorescence is a down-hanging catkin, made up of many small male flowers and a few female flowers. Upon pollination, the female flower develops into a round fruit that turns red when ripened and are eaten by birds, squirrels and so on.

RAFFLES HOTEL

I was at Raffles Hotel and saw this poor Artocarpus altilis (common name: Breadfruit; Family: Moraceae) tree. It was pruned beyond recognition. At that moment, it reminded me of the presentation I heard on the development of weak branches after tree branches were drastically topped.

Whilst I do not know the reason for the drastic crown reduction, I can only worry for the hotel. A consolation for me was the sight of a small water fountain, that is reminiscent of a bird bath, and the lush greenery with beautiful texture behind it.

A link on the tree is attached here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit

FICUS RELIGIOSA

The Ficus religiosa (Family: Moraceae) along Pasir Panjang Road is fruiting now. I had to resist the temptation to taste the red fruits because I wasn't sure if it is edible.

FICUS LYRATA

I have never noticed the fruits of the Ficus lyrata (common name: Fiddle-Leaf Fig; Family: Moraceae) before this and I saw them at the Riverwalk Galleria across Boat Quay. Look at the big, hard, leathery, glossy leaves and the typical fig fruits.

As a sapling, this slow-growing tree is often used as an indoor plant. 2 links are shown below for reference:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_lyrata
2. http://www.houseofplants.co.uk/Ficus_lyrata_Fiddle_leaf_fig.htm

DORSTENIA

This is an unknown plant to me. It is anyone's guess on the identity.

NB on 24 Dec 12: I believe this is a Dorstenia elata (Family: Moraceae). Surprisingly, it is from the same family as the figs. There is another D. contrajerva which I love more because of its beautiful lobed leaves.

FICUS RELIGIOSA

The Ficus religiosa, from the Moraceae Family, along Pasir Panjang Road fruited. I have never paid attention and seen the fruits before, so imagine my delight when I saw these few fruits on this tree.

A link on this interesting Family is attached below for reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moraceae

FICUS GLOBOSA

This Ficus globosa was growing on the trunk and branches of the huge Calophyllum inophyllum tree outside the Botany Centre of Singapore Botanic Gardens.

This climber from the Moraceae Family was fruiting and the orange fruits looked so refreshingly beautiful.

The plant is in fact a host of the Striped Blue Crow butterfly (scientific name: Euploea mulciber mulciber).

FICUS AURICULATA

I posted about this Ficus before but did not show the fruits. So here they are.

Do you know the fruits are edible? Anyway, 2 links are attached below:

1. http://www.natureproducts.net/Forest_Products/Ficus/Ficus_auriculata.html
2. http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=FICUS_AURICULATA

FICUS AURICULATA

This is one of the more beautiful big-leaved fig trees with a low spreading form. Also known by its synonym Ficus roxburghii (Elephant Ear Fig Tree, Giant Indian Fig), the new leaf flushes start off as reddish-orange in colour, then gradually turn a light lime to medium green as it ages.

The naturally shiny leaves are so textural in colour and feel that the tree never fails to steal the limelight from other smaller plants around it.

Apparently, it can grow rather big and the fruits it produce are edible and interestingly patterned. A link is attached below:

http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Ficus_auriculata.htm