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Heritage Trees
About
the Scheme
Majestic mature trees are the natural heritage
of Singapore and serve as important green landmarks of our Tropical
Garden City. They help to create a sense of permanence and identity
to the place we live. It takes decades
and in some cases, more than hundreds of years for these trees to
mature gracefully in our landscape.
As Singapore progresses, there is a danger of
losing these mature trees. In view of this concern, the Heritage
Trees Scheme was announced on 17 Aug 2001 with the objectives to
conserve and to educate the community on the importance of protecting
our mature trees.
In support of this initiative, a Heritage Trees
Fund was established by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited (HSBC), with an initial donation of $125,000.
The Fund is used to implement a conservation programme to safeguard
our Heritage Trees and to promote appreciation of our natural heritage.
Some of these programme initiatives include installation of lightning
conductors, interpretive signages, and putting in place a nomination
scheme for the community.
Heritage Trees In The Gardens
Eleven trees in the Singapore Botanic Gardens were selected
as National heritage trees in August 2002. The trees are in the
table below:
|
| |
S/no |
Species |
Location |
Girth
Size (m) |
Height
(m) |
1. |
|
Lawn J |
4.8 |
24 |
2. |
|
Lawn C (within
redevelopment site of Tanglin Core) |
6.8 |
24 |
3. |
|
Lawn O |
6.2 |
43 |
4. |
|
along edge
of footpath, Palm Valley |
7.8 |
42 |
5. |
|
Lawn F |
4.7 |
32 |
6. |
|
within National
Orchid Garden |
5.4 |
32 |
7. |
|
Liane Road |
6.5 |
47 |
8. |
|
Lawn E |
5.27 |
32 |
9. |
|
within National
Orchid Garden |
5.2 |
32 |
10. |
|
in front of
Visitor Centre |
5.0 |
32 |
|
| |
1.
Adenanthera pavonina
Family : Leguminosae
Common name : Saga
Origin : Southeast China and India
Saga is a medium sized tree, which grows to about 20m tall.
It has a round uneven spreading crown. Hardy and fast growing,
it is decidous but sheds its leaves fully leaving a bare crown.Flowers
are small and star shaped, occurring in clusters and are light
creamy yellow to orange , with a sweet fragrant smell. The tree
flowers twice a year. Seeds are usually bright red, shiny and
slightly heart shaped and are uniform in weight. [Top]
2.
Calophyllum inophyllum
Family : Guttiferea
Common name : Penaga laut, Indian laurel, Laurel wood.
Origin : Coasts of Northern Australia, SEA and islands
of Indian and Pacific oceans
A costal tree, the calophyllum inophyllum, is a slow growing,
long lived evergreen tree. The tree can grow up to 30m in height
with a large, spreading dense crown. Flowers are, small, white
with a yellow center occurring in bunches. They have a sweet
fragrance and open in the middle of the night to be pollinated
by insects. [Top]
3. Ceiba
pentandra
Family : Bombaceae
Common name : Kapok, White silk cotton tree
Origin : West Africa, tropical America, India and SEA
This gigantic, deciduous large tree has tiered and horizontal
branches giving it an open, thin pagoda shaped crown. It sheds
its leaves periodically. It is fast growing and reaches a height
of up to 45m. The inconspicuous flowers are light yellow , whitish
or pink with a milky smell. Fruits are in the form of green capsules
which appear 3 months after flowering. [Top]
4.&8.
Fagraea fragrans
Family : Loganiaceae
Common name : Tembusu
Origin : Singapore , Peninsula Malaysia, and throughout Burma
Indonesia and the Pacific islands
A tall and impressive tree. It is hardy but slow growing. The
long lived, evergreen tembusu can grow up to 25m. The large
crown of fine light green leaves provides excellent shade. When
mature its crown assumes an irregular shape with several large
branches.The light green leaves are simple and oval shaped with
a leaf tip. The creamy white flowers turn yellow with age.
Flowers are very fragrant especially in the evening. [Top]
5. Millettia
atropurpurea
Family : Leguminosae
Common name : Tulang Daing, Purple milletia
Origin : Malaysia
A beautiful tall evergreen tree with a dense, dome-like crown.
Leaves are a simple, pinnate compound, with narrowly oblong
pointed leaflets. The young leaves are edible with flowers that
are inconspicuous. Mounted with dark red petals and purple sepals,
it has a rather unpleasant smell.
[Top]
6.&9.
Sindora walichii
Family : Leguminosae
Common Name : Sepetir
Origin : Indo malesia, Africa. Malaya
This tall tree has a columnar trunk, and a spreading flat top
crown. The pods are with thorns that has medicinal capabilities.
The wood is light yellow and hard enough to be used for building
houses. [Top]
7.
Terminalia subspathulata
Family : Compositae
CommonName : Jelawai,Malayan terminalia
Origin : West Malaysia
A gigantic tree which grows up to 50m in height. It posseses spreading buttresses with
a wide conical, narrowly flat topped crown. The leaves are small, ovovate, bluish
green underneath and set spirally in rosettes. Fruits are flat and winged.
Flowers are small and inconspicuous.[Top]
10.
Samanea saman
Family : Leguminosae
Common Name : Rain tree, pukul lima
Origin : Tropical America introduced to Singapore 1876
A lofty tree with spreading umbrella shaped crown. The raintree
is fast growing and can reach a height of 25m with a crown spreading
just as wide. The leaves are twice pinnate compound with oval
shaped leaflets which have the habit of folding at night or
during rainy periods. The pink flowers, with white stamens grow
in clusters. [Top]
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