LEOPARD BUTTERFLY

The Leopard Butterfly is frequently spotted near the Irrigation Pond area. In fact, I just found them on the Oncoba spinosa plant although I couldn't be sure if they were laying their eggs on this plant.

Other insects spotted in this area included the dragonfly and the day flying moth.

ONCOBA SPINOSA

The Oncoba spinosa recovered from the drastic pruning and was bushy once again.

I forgot there was another struggling Oncoba spinosa close by. I wonder what was the difference that attributed to the different growth other than the possibility that the latter was not a good healthy specimen to start with.

ONCOBA SPINOSA

Remember the Oncoba spinosa I posted earlier?

The new leaf flushes are reddish-orange and were fast developing on this plant at the Pasir Panjang Road entrance. But what I wanted to highlight is not merely the lovely coloured leaves.

Anyone who has handled this plant before would likely get a rude shock if they do not know about this plant. Unless they are very observant, the unwary person would never expect to grab onto the nasty looking spines along the branches and get pricked by them. That is where the specific epithet derives its name from.

So this plant with beautiful flowers really knows how to protect itself.

ONCOBA SPINOSA

This spiny shrub or small tree from the Flacourtiaceae Family is known as Snuff-box Tree or Fried Egg Tree. The common name is so cute. Fried Egg Tree? It is more like sunny side up!

Anyway, it was planted near the Pasir Panjang Road entrance of HortPark.

Don't be deceived by the appearance of this plant. It has long spines along its branches that would prick you when you least expect it. This solo plant was recently pruned and the reddish new leaf flushes were out.

Check out the attached link to find out more information about this plant.

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