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The Magazine of the Singapore Botanic Gardens · Volume 46 · February 2016 · ISSN 0129-1688

10 A botanical expedition to Laos

5 Frank Kingdon-Ward: 18 The Holttum orchids, and 25 Celebrating Singapore ‘The last of the great plant the need for conservation in Plant Names hunters’ of heritage plants Volume 46 · February 2016

1 Message from the Director Nigel P. Taylor 5 18 2525

Articles Regular Features

Cover Editors Singapore Botanic Gardens Image taken Ada Davis, Nigel P. Taylor 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 at Wat Phu, National Parks Board a UNESCO World Production Managers Heritage Site Ada Davis, Christina Soh [email protected] in Champasak, www.sbg.org.sg during 'A botanical Design www.nparks.gov.sg expedition to Laos'. Newmen LLC (Photo credit: Logan Tan) www.newmen.info

Opposite page The entrance to the new Downtown Line MRT station at Botanic Gardens.(Photo credit: Benjamin Aw) Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Volume 46 · February 2016 Message from the Director 1 Message from the Director Nigel P. Taylor 5 18 25

Articles Regular Features

2 Mohammed Noor Bin Jumaat 25 From the Taxonomy Corner 38 Around the Gardens (1940–2015) Celebrating Singapore in Plant Renewal of ties between sister Low Yee Wen Names gardens David J. Middleton, Nura Abdul Karim 3 Keith Hillier (1929–2015) Ho Boon Chuan Nigel P. Taylor 39 What's Blooming 28 Staff Publications Mythical Medusa in the form of 4 Descendants of Lawrence Niven, Publications by Gardens' an orchid... the Gardens' first manager staff in 2015 Nura Abdul Karim, Nigel P. Taylor David Lim 30 From Education Outreach 5 Frank Kingdon-Ward: 'The last of 'Herbarium on Stage' – a 40 Book Review the great plant hunters' collaboration between the A Garden of Medicinal Plants: Hubert Kurzweil Singapore Botanic Gardens, Book 2 French Embassy of Singapore Nura Abdul Karim 10 A botanical expedition to Laos and Klorane Institute Michele Rodda, Logan Tan Steffi Loe 41 Key Visitors to the Gardens July–December 2015 14 Saving native gingers in the tissue 32 Beyond the Gardens culture lab A three-part training he Botanic Gardens’ motto is ‘Con- of Southeast Asia]) – including both young Botanical exploration or plant hunting, Koh Teng Seah, programme on tropical Back From the Archives T necting plants and people’ and this and older participants and supported by Jana Leong-Škorničková bryophytes and Cover Vegetable plots in the Gardens issue demonstrates our role well, diverse partnerships. But, arguably, the on countries and habitats that are known pteridophytes during the Japanese Occupation through individuals and institutional part- most important area where our motto is to be poorly understood, such as in Laos, 18 The Holttum orchids, and the need of Southeast Asia Christina Soh nerships. We learn of the important contri- applied concerns the conservation of rare where we are partnered with the Pha Tad for conservation of heritage plants Ho Boon Chuan plant species, where our knowledge of Ke Botanic Garden at Luang Prabang (see John Elliott tributes to the lives of the late Mohammed laboratory techniques and tropical forest 36 Around the Gardens Noor and Keith Hillier, a pioneer volunteer ecology can be used to repair some of the the data that are eventually published by 22 Rediscovery and reintroduction of NParks signs a Memorandum- at the Gardens, both of whom passed away damage mankind has meted out to Mother our researchers and 2015 was a bumper Robiquetia spathulata in Singapore of-Understanding with the Royal in 2015. On two separate occasions last year Nature in the past (see pages 14–17 [Saving year, both in quantity and quality, with Yam Tim Wing, Peter Ang, Botanic Gardens, Kew we were visited by the proud descendants native gingers in the tissue culture lab] Felicia Tay Nigel P. Taylor of the Gardens’ original designer, Lawrence and 22–24 [Rediscovery and reintroduc- of papers in some of the world’s top jour- Niven, as reported on page 4. VIP visits tion of Robiquetia spathulata]). And it is nals, not to mention a clutch of new books from the director of the Royal Botanic not only Mother Nature that needs help, (pages 28–29). Gardens, Kew (UK) and Vice-Governor for from John Elliott, representing our part- of Miyazaki Prefecture (Japan) were part ner, the Orchid Society of South East Asia, Wishing our readers a green and pleasant Cover Editors Singapore Botanic Gardens of institutional agreemen ts, the former we learn that some of the outstanding orchid 2016, when public access to the Gardens Image taken Ada Davis, Nigel P. Taylor 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 newly signed, the latter celebrating 50 years hybrids created since the Gardens’ former will be even easier for some, as the Down- at Wat Phu, National Parks Board of collaboration between the Gardens and director, Eric Holttum, started Singapore’s town Line MRT station, which opened on a UNESCO World Production Managers the Aoshima Sub-Tropical Botanic Garden orchid success, may have been allowed to 27 December 2015, will bring a new wave Heritage Site Ada Davis, Christina Soh [email protected] (see pages 36–38). Training programmes go extinct in horticulture (pages 18–21). of Singaporean heart-landers to our Bukit in Champasak, www.sbg.org.sg are another area where plants and people Timah Core. during 'A botanical Design www.nparks.gov.sg get connected – some are delivered here Plant heritage is never far from the pages expedition to Laos'. Newmen LLC on site at the Gardens, others at various of this magazine and in this issue we can (Photo credit: Logan Tan) www.newmen.info locations in the Southeast Asian region (see enjoy reading about how vegetables were pages 30–31 [‘Herbarium on Stage’] and grown at the Gardens during the Japanese Opposite page 32–35 [A three-part training programme occupation of WWII and the last of the The entrance to the new Downtown Line MRT station at Botanic Gardens.(Photo credit: Benjamin Aw) on tropical bryophytes and pteridophytes great plant hunters, Frank Kingdon-Ward. Nigel P. Taylor

1 Article

Noor in the SING Herbarium. (Photo credit: Low Yee Wen)

used to ride a motorcycle to work, but stopped riding eight years ago, following his doctor’s advice. His favourite bike was the Vespa, which he owned at one point in time. Noor was an excellent musician, and he played the drums in a band with a few of his friends. It was through jamming sessions and music that he met the love of his life, Madam Zuliah bte Daud. Noor was also a good cook and among his favourite recipes were Cantonese-style dishes.

At home, Noor was a dedicated husband and father who valued strong family bonding, a principal that he handed down to his children and grandchildren. At work, he was a gentleman with a warm heart. Noor was always ready to take on nearly any assignment given to him. He was also the herbarium’s handy MOHAMMED man, fixing everything that needed mi- nor attention. Every year without fail, Noor would invite all the herbarium staff NOOR BIN JUMAAT to his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house, where home-cooked food was served, (1940–2015) mostly prepared by Madam Zuliah and crafted by him. When the atmosphere in the herbarium was dull, especially on Mondays, he would crack witty jokes to cheer everyone up.

Noor is survived by his wife, Madam ohammed Noor bin Jumaat, provides plant collecting records of all Zuliah bte Daud, two sons, two daugh- M fondly known as Noor, passed botanists active in the Malesian region, ters, two granddaughters, four grand- away peacefully at the age of 75 which encompasses Singapore, Bru- sons, two great-granddaughters, and on 19 July 2015, after a bout of illness. nei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, three great-grandsons. He retired from the Singapore Botanic Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Gardens in April 2013 (see Gardenwise 41, Timor-Leste. The database serves as Low Yee Wen page 23). The Botanic Gardens was his an important reference for botanical Herbarium first and sole employer for 54 years. research in Malesia. He was 18 when initially employed as a labourer to look after the living Noor was born on 14 Feb 1940 and grew collections, then became a plant col- up in a Malay kampung at the famed lector attached to the herbarium to Lorong Engku Aman in Geylang Serai. support taxonomic research activi- His father was of Sumatran origin and ties, and was later redesignated as a worked at a fish market in Singapore. park ranger based at the Bukit Timah Noor had eight siblings, and he was Nature Reserve. Noor was finally trans- the sixth child of the family. A fluent ferred back to the herbarium in 1993, speaker of Malay and English, Noor also where he worked until his retirement. mastered a little Cantonese, a Chinese His role as a plant collector earned him dialect originating from Guangdong recognition among tropical botanists, Province in China. From his youth he and he was included in the Cyclopae- was taught by his parents to be an early Special thanks to Norshahid bin Mohd dia of Malesian Collectors published riser. Hence, he would leave for work Noor, son of the late Mohammed Noor, as part of the Flora Malesiana series. before sunrise, and arrived at the her- for providing most of the information This database is accessible online, and barium at around 6 am every day. Noor published here.

2 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Mr Hillier receiving a token of appreciation from the Gardens’ director, Dr Nigel Taylor, for his service as one of our pioneering volunteers.

society were great and much appreciated. Keith took volunteerism to a new level and set a good example for all of us to follow. I hope we will continue to celebrate his life T for years to come! The writer is grateful to Dr Yap Swee Cheng, a volunteer guide with NParks and the Bo- tanic Gardens, for her account of Keith Hillier as a Singaporean pioneer in her book The stories of our Pioneers – An Extraordi- nary Ordinary Story (Pagesetters Services Pte Ltd, 2015, ISBN 978-981-09-6433-7), published as a contribution to SG50.

The Gardens’ volunteers celebrated Keith’s life at Ridley Hall on 5 December 2015, in the presence of his widow Mei Ling and Keith remained in the shipping industry un- son, Trevor. KEITH til his retirement, at which point he became a shipping consultant. He was active in this Nigel P. Taylor area and travelled regularly in Southeast Director of the Gardens HILLIER Asia until 80 years of age. After his formal retirement Keith took up various hobbies, (1929–2015) all of which were connected with his desire to learn new things, especially those relating to nature and the outdoor life. By 2000 he was already volunteering for NParks at the OUR TREES Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Of earthly beauties, first are trees, Timah Nature Reserve, where he suggested Unparalleled by effigies. the recruitment of volunteer guides to the Home to squirrels, birds and bees, eith Hillier, who passed away in CEO of NParks, Dr Kiat Tan, who agreed. Residing in their sheltered lees. October 2015, was a model human Later he came to volunteer in this capacity K Tembusus standing mighty, tall, being and a pioneer volunteer of at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and at their architecture best of all; the National Parks Board (NParks), in- Fort Canning Park. While he often acted One would think they’ll never fall, cluding the Singapore Botanic Gardens. as a guide, it was his enthusiasm as the Scarcely any I recall. volunteer guide coordinator that helped Keith was born into his British family in grow the volunteer movement. Rain trees’ canopies wide-spread, Their leaves are intricately wed, 1929 and grew up with an obsession for So sun or moon are put to bed, railways. Leaving school at 15 years of age, I first met Keith in the Gardens in 2012, And even sky has mostly fled. he became a station master on the Great when I discovered he shared with me an Western Railway, but was not allowed to interest in the Gardens’ history. We often Man doth manufactures make, drive the trains he loved. Later he was exchanged notes on heritage details and I Every one its own name-sake. Nature spurns conformity; called up for National Service and posted recall that he was sometimes interviewed Uniquely different is each tree. to Singapore, where he enjoyed the warm by the media on his interests. Keith was climate. He eventually took up a job in a loyal volunteer guide who gave pleasure Sit entranced within the shade, the shipping industry, which involved and insights to many Gardens’ visitors, Muse awhile how things are made, travelling to various eastern countries, whether in regard to its history, the Rain Man with all his modern aid, Still cannot make a single blade. and was at times stationed in Port Klang, Forest, orchids, medicinal plants or edi- Singapore and Penang. His wife Mei Ling bles. It would be hard to find someone so Keith Hillier was from Penang, and they were married genuinely friendly and kind. In fact, there in 1956. He made Singapore his long term was not a bad bone in his body and he This poem was kindly provided by home, and became a citizen of Singapore was never known to say anything negative Trevor Hillier and is included here in tribute to his father. in 1983. His son, Trevor, is a well-known about anyone or anything. We have lost a landscape architect based in Bali. very special person whose contributions to

3 Article

Descendants of Lawrence Niven, the Gardens’ first manager

ast year the Gardens received two important visits from three persons L descended from the Gardens’ first manager, Lawrence Niven. His life and works, so far as they are known, were recorded previously in Gardenwise 41: 2–3, 2013. First, on 21 July 2015, Margaret Thompson (from Sydney) and Jennifer Coffey (from New Zealand) visited the Gardens with their respective husbands, Alan and John. As part of a tour led by Dr David Middleton, deputy director and head of research and conservation, they were shown Burkill Hall where Niven was the first occupant. Margaret and Jennifer

Margaret Thompson and Jennifer Coffey with friends and family in front of the Bandstand gazebo. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

are the great-great granddaughters of Law- of the Niven family did not know of each rence Niven. Second, on 16 October 2015, other! As it happened, following his trip Philip Duffy (from Edinburgh) arrived to Singapore, Philip travelled to Austra- at the Gardens, carrying a family tree lia, where he was able to meet up with drawn up by his grandmother, which Margaret and family. Here we publish proclaimed him to be Niven’s great-great- photographs of these special VIP visitors. great grandson. Interestingly, when Philip was interviewed by the Gardens’ director, Nigel P. Taylor it was discovered that these two branches Director of the Gardens

The descendants of Lawrence Niven pose in front of his picture in the SING Herbarium: (top image) Jennifer Coffey, shown on the left, and Margaret Thompson, on the right, during their visit in July; (bottom image) Philip Duffy during his visit in October. (Photo credits: Benjamin Aw) Jennifer and Margaret on tour with Dr David Middleton. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

4 Article Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Frank Kingdon-Ward: ‘The last of the great plant hunters’

Frank (Francis) Kingdon-Ward (1885–1958) was an eminent plant Kingdon-Ward’s life collector and explorer in the mountains of south-western China, Francis Kingdon Ward was born near north-eastern India and northern Myanmar, having collected and Manchester, UK, on 6 November 1885 catalogued over 23,000 plants for gardens in western countries as (later he was better known as Frank well as for British herbaria. His achievements have earned him Kingdon-Ward under which name he also published most of his books). He the title ‘The last of the great plant hunters’ (Lyte 1989). grew up in the English countryside, surrounded by gardens, fields and wood- lands. In his early childhood he went on long walks with his sister Winifred and later with his close friend Kenneth Ward (no relation). Already at this time his good sense of mapping the route and describing everything he saw was appar- ent – something that became so important in his later life. From an early age he had a strong desire for the exploration of the unknown. After Frank’s father died unexpectedly in 1906, his college activities came to an abrupt end and he was forced to find paid work. He embarked on a trip to Shanghai, China, to take up a teaching post at Shanghai Public School, although his ultimate aim was a career as a plant hunter in Asia. On the way he stopped over at Singapore, where he gained his first experience in a tropical rainforest (Bukit Timah). During the school holi- days, Frank travelled from Shanghai to explore parts of Java and Borneo which further cemented his interest in tropical Asian botany.

After only two years at Shanghai Public School, Frank joined an American-led zoological expedition to search for new species of mammals in south-western China. He discovered two new species of vole (a kind of rodent) and a shrew, and also managed to collect a few herbarium specimens of plants which he sent to Cambridge. This expedition was followed by a short period of teaching in Shanghai but it was not long until

Frank Kingdon-Ward during one of his expeditions. Reproduced with permission from the Royal Geographical Society, London.

5 Article

Frank received another offer to collect It is perhaps little wonder that Frank re- Examples of plants bearing plants in western China, this time for the ceived several awards for his achievements, F. Kingdon-Ward’s name Liverpool-based seed firm ‘Bees Seeds’ including the Royal Geographical Society’s to add to their catalogue of new introduc- Founder’s Medal and the Royal Scottish Asteraceae − genus Wardaster tions, and he immediately accepted this Geographical Society’s Livingstone Medal. Gentianaceae − genus Kingdon-wardia offer. This was the start of a long career Awards were also received from the Royal in exploring, mapping and surveying Horticultural Society and the Massachusetts previously uncharted territories while Horticultural Society. Aceraceae − Acer wardii at the same time collecting vast num- Araliaceae − Aralia kingdon-wardii bers of botanical specimens in a region Throughout his life Frank considered him- Ericaceae − Rhododendron wardii where he would spend much of his future self primarily an explorer and thought of Ericaceae − Vaccinium kingdon-wardii life and which he later affectionately plant collecting and book-writing mainly Liliaceae − Lilium wardii called ‘his country’. This remote corner as a means to fund further expeditions. Orchidaceae − Paphiopedilum wardii of central Asia comprises south-western He was very modest and patient, and had Rosaceae − Cotoneaster wardii China (including south-eastern Tibet), a rather sharp sense of humour. Frank had Rosaceae − Prunus kingdonwardii north-eastern India (Assam) and what a critical eye for detail, which helped him Theaceae − Camellia wardii was then called northern Burma (now immensely during his explorations. He was Zingiberaceae − Roscoea wardii Myanmar). physically very strong, and had remarkable energy and endurance. During one of the expeditions Frank got news of the First World War and Frank was married twice. His first wife repeatedly tried to go to the front to Florinda Norman-Thompson, with whom Some of the plant species fight the Germans, but never succeeded. he had two girls Martha and Pleione, was described by F. Kingdon-Ward He joined the Indian army and was post- not interested in his travels but wanted a ed to Victoria Point (known today as steady and substantial household income • Aquifoliaceae Ilex nothofagifolia Kawthaung) which is the southernmost which Frank obviously could not pro- Kingdon-Ward point of Burma. There he still did not vide, and this was probably one of the • Ericaceae Rhododendron see any active military service. In 1916 reasons for their divorce in 1937. While in cerasiflorum Kingdon-Ward Frank was posted to Mesopotamia (Iraq), India in 1947 Frank married Jean Mack- • Ericaceae Rhododendron chrysolepis and later ended the war with the rank lin and remained married to her until his Hutch. & Kingdon-Ward of a captain. Immediately after the war, death. She liked his adventurous spirit and • Ericaceae Rhododendron formosum Frank returned to exploring and headed accompanied him on several expeditions. Kingdon-Ward for the ‘triangle’, a vast uncharted region Jean helped with the work during their • Ericaceae Rhododendron regale in northern Burma. The second major travels and wrote a book about one of her Balf.f. & Kingdon-Ward interruption of his exploration career was trips with Frank. • Ericaceae Rhododendron World War II. Although he was in Burma seinghkuense Kingdon-Ward at the time of the Japanese invasion, he At the age of 71 years Frank climbed • Papaveraceae Meconopsis horridula managed to escape to India. During the Mount Victoria (also known as Natma Kingdon-Ward war years Frank trained British forces Taung) in western Burma, which at 3,035 • Papaveraceae Meconopsis impedita in jungle-survival techniques. After the metres above sea level is the highest moun- Prain var. rubra Kingdon-Ward war his thorough knowledge of the area tain of the country outside of its Himala- • Primulaceae Primula burmanica proved very helpful to the United States yan region in northernmost Kachin State. Balf.f. & Kingdon-Ward to locate downed aircraft in China, Bur- During this expedition in 1956 he was still • Primulaceae Primula gentianoides ma and India. discovering new plant species. Frank died W.W. Sm. & Kingdon-Ward

Frank Kingdon-Ward’s major expeditions Western China Western Tibet) and (Yunnan Burma Northern Tibet and Yunnan (Tibet) Tsangpo Burma Northern and Assam (Assam) Hills Mishmi Indochina and Burma Burma Northern Tibet and Assam Tibet and Burma Northern northern Burma and Assam Manipur and Assam Tibet and Assam Burma Northern Burma) (western Chin Hills

1909 1911 1913 1914 1919 1921 1922 1924 1926 1928 1929 1930 1933 1935 1937 1938 1946 1948 1949 1950 1953 1956

6 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Tsangpo Gorge (Tibet). Photograph taken by F. Kingdon-Ward in 1924. Reproduced with permission from the Royal Geographical Society, London.

the world. Most of his trips involved long train and steam boat journeys as well as mule treks.

During his expeditions he accumulated vast numbers of herbarium specimens, seeds and bulbs. Frank’s collections were sent to different gardens and herbaria in Britain (particularly the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Ness Botanic Gardens, Rowallane Garden, Highdown Gardens and Mount Stewart), and some material also ended up in gardens in the north-eastern parts of the United States. Many of his plants turned out to be new to science and were subsequently described by him or by other botanists. Some plants had been collected before, but Frank was the first to introduce them to western gardens, such as Rhododendron wardii, Meconopsis betonicifolia, Primula florindae, Gaultheria wardii, Lilium wardii and L. mackliniae.

Unlike some of his contemporaries who collected plants in this part of the world, for example George Forrest, Frank did not employ local collectors, as he wanted to see the plants in their native habitats himself and personally wanted to collect their seeds. But Frank was not merely a collector, as he also studied the plants and recorded various observations about them. He was interested in and knowledgeable about many subjects, including geography, geology, zoology, horticulture, anthropo- logy and ethnology. Large sections in his books are devoted to local people, their ways of living and their religions. He tried to learn a few of the languages of the region, such as Burmese and Tibetan, obviously at least in part for practical suddenly on 8 April 1958 at the age of 73 western Burma and north-eastern India (the reasons (to enable him to keep track of years. A few days before his death he was exact number is a matter of interpretation expenditure during his expeditions). still discussing the possibility of another as some of his travels involved prolonged expedition to northern Iran, the Caucasus stopovers in Chinese cities, and to count During his expeditions he encountered or possibly Vietnam. them as one long expedition or as two several problems and difficulties, a separate ones depends on the biographer). few of these resulting from his solitary The expeditions Getting around in those days was a major and adventurous nature. These include challenge, as modern means of transporta- near-accidents like almost falling off Over a period of nearly fifty years Frank tion like commercial air travel and efficient cliffs (he sometimes undertook daring Kingdon-Ward undertook more than 20 motorised land transport were only starting actions on mountains, despite having expeditions, collecting plants in parts of to become available, particularly in this periods of vertigo), or a huge tree falling south-eastern Tibet, Yunnan, northern and under-developed and rugged region of onto his tent (he miraculously came out

7 Article

One of F. Kingdon-Ward’s greatest finds is the lady’s slipper orchidPaphiopedilum wardii, which he A selection of F. Kingdon-Ward’s discovered in 1922 near Putao in northernmost Burma and which was subsequently named in his honour. books (Photo credit: Hubert Kurzweil) • On the Road to Tibet (1910) without major injuries). On a few oc- collected. His herbarium collections are • Land of the Blue Poppy (1913) casions he got separated from the main not only useful because they are largely expedition party, and was lost in the wild, complete and well-prepared, but also • In Farthest Burma (1921) sometimes for up to a few days. During because the accompanying labels are • Mystery Rivers of Tibet (1923) an expedition in 1950 on the border of very detailed. Two entire plant genera, Assam and Tibet, Frank and his second Wardaster and Kingdon-wardia (now • The Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges (1926) wife Jean survived one of the strongest included in the genus Swertia) were earthquakes ever recorded (9.6 on the named in his honour. In addition, • Rhododendrons Richter scale). In northern Burma he just over 110 plant species that were for Everyone (1926) contracted malaria and suffered from described based on his collections now • Plant Hunting on the Edge recurring bouts of this disease for the bear his name, either as kingdon-wardii, of the World (1930) rest of his life. On at least one occasion kingdonwardii or simply as wardii. he was forced to change his travel plans Even as late as 1995 a new species of • Plant Hunting in the Wilds (1931) due to armed conflict in the region he orchid was described from a herbarium • A Plant Hunter in Tibet (1934) was heading for. During an expedition in specimen originally collected by him and • Plant Hunter’s Paradise (1937) 1935 he was briefly arrested by Tibetans was subsequently named in his honour for entering an area that he did not have (Rhomboda wardii; Ormerod 1995, • Assam Adventure (1941) permission to access. Orchadian 11: p. 327). It should also be • Burma’s Icy Mountains (1949) noted that two plants were named after his Contributions to botany first and second wife, Primula florindae • Plant Hunter in Manipur (1952) and Lilium mackliniae, respectively. • Pilgrimage for Plants (1960) Frank Kingdon-Ward made extensive contributions to the floristic botany of Frank also described 119 plant species, the region, with many newly described either as a sole author or jointly with plant species based on specimens that he others. Most of these are in the genera

8 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Rhododendron (62), Meconopsis (11) and Primula (37). Particularly, Rhodo- dendron was close to his heart and several of his later studies focused on this genus. New plant species were mostly published in Notes from the Royal Bo- tanic Garden Edinburgh, Gardeners’ Chronicle, Acta Botanica Yunnanica and Field Notes of Rhododendrons. Howev- er, several of Frank’s new species were reclassified and placed in synonymy by later authors.

Apart from floristic contributions, Frank also undertook botanical studies in other related fields. He wrote a detailed account of the vegetation of F. Kingdon-Ward's Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges which first came out in 1926 and was later republished in Mount Victoria in Acta Horti Gothobur- 2001 (with additions by Kenneth Cox, Kenneth Storm, Jr. and Ian Baker). gensis and developed hypotheses on the evolution and classification of the genus Rhododendron. He argued republished recently. His books made Chrysoglossum ornatum, Goodyera that isolation brought about by gla- the mountains, plants and people of the viridiflora, Phaius tankervilleae, ciation is probably the cause of the region well known to the outside world. Pholidota imbricata and Spiranthes extreme diversity in the genera Primula He normally used the income generated sinensis. and Rhododendron. While in Burma, from the sale of the books to finance Frank collaborated with local botanist new expeditions, and obviously the aim Acknowledgements U Chit Ko Ko in research into forestry of his book-writing was also to share in the country. his passion for the unknown. In addition, The Royal Geographic Society, Lon- short articles about his expedition can don (UK), is thanked for supplying and Books and other publications also be found in various journals, like granting permission to reproduce two of the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Kingdon-Ward’s photographs. I am also Frank was a prolific writer. He authored Society, The Geographic Journal and grateful to my long-time collaborator 25 books which are mostly accounts of Geographical Magazine. Frank also Dr Saw Lwin, Yangon (Myanmar), for his travels; some of them have been wrote purely botanical papers. commenting on this manuscript.

Frank’s second wife Jean also wrote books, including My Hill So Strong about the great Assam earthquake. This book is also of interest as it gives in- Hubert Kurzweil sight into her husband’s lifestyle of Herbarium exploration.

The Singapore connection

Some readers may wonder if any of Kingdon-Ward’s plants also occur in Further reading Singapore. Because of major climatic differences, the plants from high-el- Lyte, C. 1989. Frank Kingdon-Ward: evation areas of Frank’s favourite The Last of the Great Plant Hunters. ‘hunting grounds’ as well as those John Murray Publishers Ltd. from the drier parts of Tibet obviously do no thrive in the humid tropical www.plantexplorers.com/explorers/biogra- climate of our own region. However, phies/kingdon-ward/ some plants from subtropical valleys frank-kingdton-ward.htm at lower elevations in northernmost Myanmar, north-eastern India and www.french4tots.co.uk/kingdon-ward/ Yunnan are very widespread in fkw-timeline.html tropical Asia and are also found in Peninsular Malaysia and Singa- www.french4tots.co.uk/kingdon-ward/ Plant Hunting in the Wilds, pore. Examples in the orchid fam- published by F. Kingdon-Ward in 1931. ily include Arundina graminifolia, www.rhododendron.org/v45n3p140.html

9 Article

A botanical expedition to Laos

THE BOLAVEN PLATEAU

aos is one of the least botanically explored countries of Southeast L Asia and only a preliminary checklist of its flora is available, published in 2007. Among the neighbouring countries, only Myanmar is nearly as poorly collected as Laos. The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been organising yearly expeditions to Laos since 2012, with the purpose of increasing our knowledge of its flora. The Gardens’ main partner in Laos is the Pha Tad Ke Botanic Garden in Luang Prabang, and a Memorandum-of-Under- standing has been recently signed between the two institutions to strengthen our collaboration. The typical habitat at the fringes of the Bolaven Plateau, with often-exposed bedrock and pockets of very thin soil. The herbaceous vegetation here was in full bloom in October and The latest botanical expedition was dominated by yellow Utricularia bifida and Spathoglottis pubescens. mounted in October/November of 2015, and included three staff from Pha Tad Ke (Jonathan Peereman, Sengtong Souvan- naphou and Oudom Soulimoungchoun), two staff from the Singapore Botanic Gar- dens (Michele Rodda and Logan Tan), and Laura Guglielmone from the Turin Botanic Garden in Italy. In the field we were accompanied by two officers from the local forestry department.

In contrast to the first three expeditions which focussed on collecting herbarium specimens in the northern part of the country, this trip explored the far south- Spathoglottis pubescens. ern part of Laos and collection targets included live plants as well as herbarium specimens. For botanical gardens, collection of live specimens is important to increase living collections as well as for botanical research. Most herbarium specimens are made from fertile plants (those in bloom or fruit), while sterile plants are not collected. However, sterile plants may turn out to be species that are new to science or rare. The collection of living material allows researchers to cultivate and monitor these plants, with the hope that one day they will produce flowers that will aid us in determining Aeginetia indica is a widespread annual parastic plant A species of Ceropegia that was found their identity. that colonises the roots of grasses. climbing on a small Ficus.

10 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Some parts of the Bolaven Plateau are covered in sparse pine forest (left). The trees of these areas are often clothed in epiphytic orchids such as Coelogyne (below left), and in the understory, Nepenthes mirabilis (below) can be found.

while many herbaceous plants may still be blooming or in fruit. For the collection of live plants, this is also an ideal period because most herbaceous plants, annual or perennial, begin their dormancy, ena- bling them to be transported easily in the form of tubers or seeds.

The Bolaven Plateau is an area of flat land located to the east of Pakse, at 1000–1400 m above sea level. The climate is moist and cool year round and ideal for the cultivation of coffee, so a large part of the plateau has been converted for agricul- tural use. However, the edges of the plateau are mainly sandstone outcrops with a lack of fertile soil and are therefore still covered in intact vegetation. These were the areas that we explored most during At least four duplicate sets were made of field information such as GPS coordi- our trip, which were only accessible by all herbarium specimens collected during nates and morphological information dirt tracks and foot-paths. We were re- the expedition. Two sets were left in Laos, (heights of plants, characteristics of warded with tracts of land with almost one to go to the National University of leaves and flower parts, etc.), and took untouched vegetation, at that time in Laos and one for Pha Tad Ke, while the photographic documentation. Back from full bloom. On the nutrient-poor sandy remaining sets were brought to Singapore the field, all collections meant for herbar- soil, the vegetation included species with where they will be incorporated into the ium specimens needed to be numbered, special environmental adaptations, such collections of the SING herbarium or tagged and pressed between newspapers. as carnivorous Utricularia, the parasit- sent to other researchers. The herbarium For the live plants, it was important to ic Aeginetia indica, and species of Bur- specimens will be particularly useful for note any field data that would enable us mannia – plants known to associate with anybody working on the Flora of Laos to cultivate them successfully, and we also mycorrhizal fungi. Between the rocky and neighbouring countries. had to check on their health daily in order outcrops the valleys presented fragments to keep them alive throughout the trip. of primary forest where a wealth of or- This expedition involved extensive col- chids, Hoya and epiphytic ferns covered lecting (up to 70 specimens each day!) The trip focussed on two areas in Cham- the branches of the trees. The forest floor that was very time consuming. The field pasak Province, the Bolaven Plateau and was also colonised by a diverse array of collection efforts required long trekking, Xe Pian National Biodiversity Conserva- plants from the Acanthaceae, Melasto- and carrying tools to collect and press tion Area. October was a good time for mataceae and Rubiaceae families, as well plants such as bags, newspaper, tags and the expedition because it is the end of as ferns. Thorny rattans (climbing palms) cutting and digging tools. Long pruning the rainy season and temperatures also and pandans made walking in this kind tools were used to obtain specimens of decrease slightly. In addition, trees and of environment more challenging but not tree species. For each plant we recorded shrubs can be expected to be in fruit, less interesting.

11 Article

WATERFALLS

Due to the high rainfall on the plateau and its shallow soils, water collects in many streams and forms majestic waterfalls at the edges of the plateau. !e plants that live at the base of waterfalls o"en have special adaptations to allow them to survive constant mist and relatively low light levels. In this environment we encountered many members of the Urticaceae, in particular Elatostema spp., a few Begonia species, and many gingers.

Habenaria rhodocheila, a small orchid commonly found in deep shade along streams.

e Xe Katarm Waterfall at the eastern edge of the Bolaven Plateau is one of the largest in the area. e deep valley at the base is colonised by vegetation adapted to grow in this very moist environment and surrounded by ne mist for most of the year.

Species of Elatostema and Impatiens are perfectly adapted to the ever-wet environment Microchirita bimaculata growing in the at the base of Pusawan waterfall. vicinity of Xe Katarm Waterfall.

12 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

XE PIAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AREA

The slow flowing river in Xe Pian National Biodiversity Conservation Area was covered by the aquatic Rotala wallichii in full bloom.

Aristolochia pothieri is a large climber in the lowlands of Xe Pian.

Elatostema repens was commonly found Drosera burmannii is a widespread carnivorous The second main site we visited was Xe growing along the trail in Xe Pian. Its male plant that we encountered while collecting in Pian National Biodiversity Conserva- flowers burst open to release a small cloud the far south of Laos, close to the border with tion Area, a large area of mostly lowland of pollen. Cambodia. forest located to the south of Bolaven Plateau and extending to the border with Cambodia. Xe Pian supports very diverse wildlife, although the vegetation in the accessible parts of the reserve is almost entirely secondary. In October it was much drier than the Bolaven Pla- teau and many plants were no longer in bloom.

Our first exploration of the south of Laos was an exciting experience that left us wanting to go back to visit the same areas in a different season to fully appreciate their incredible plant diversity.

Michele Rodda Herbarium

Logan Tan Horticulture, Operations and Development

The collecting team having lunch break along a stream in Xe Pian. (Photo credit: Sengtong Souvannaphou) All photos by Michele Rodda unless otherwise stated.

13 Article Saving native gingers in the tissue culture lab

isitors to the Singapore Botan- V ic Gardens often stop and look through the long glass windows on the ground level of Botany Centre, which offer a peak into our plant tissue culture labs. These labs are widely known for mass propagation of fabulous orchid cultivars. However, many people aren’t aware that the lab also serves as a production centre for some of Singapore’s Critically Endangered native species.

Singapore’s native gingers are one of the more charismatic plant groups which receive a helping hand from our lab. Although more than 120 species of the ginger order have been recorded from Singapore, these are mostly introduced ornamental species. Only about 26 species are considered native. Based on the latest records from the Singapore Red Data Book (2008), 11 of these species are presumed to be extinct locally, while the rest are assigned the status of Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. None of Singapore’s native gingers are considered common. In 2011, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, together with colleagues from various other divisions of the National Parks Board (NParks), embarked on an intensive conservation project to survey, monitor, propagate and re-introduce native gingers around Singapore. During the past few years, we have employed two basic approaches to propagate some of the native gingers for reintroductions.

The first approach is an ex situ method which involves collecting seeds from wild populations and cultivating them in the nursery. However, this approach can be

Ginger species that have successfully been established in the plant tissue laboratory: (top row, from left to right) Hornstedtia conica, Zingiber puberulum, Alpinia aquatica; (bottom row, from left to right) Globba leucantha, Zingiber singapurense, Hornstedtia scyphifera. (Photo credits: Jana Leong-Škorničková)

14 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016 time-intensive as it requires regular visits to wild populations in order to monitor flowering and fruiting, and of the native gingers, only a few species produce seeds in amounts significant enough to result in large stocks of plantlets. Some of those that do are still fairly difficult to cultivate, as they are, especially in the early stages, easily infected by soil-borne pathogens such as

bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacear- Cages made of fine steel mesh to protect um), soft rot (Pythium aphanidermatum) young infructescences of Hornstedtia and nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Of the conica until the seeds ripen. other native gingers, some do not seem to (Photo credit: Jana Leong-Škorničková) form seeds regularly anymore, possibly because there are insufficient individuals left in the wild to achieve cross-pollination. Some gingers produce bulbils or be used to produce hundreds or even can be propagated from stem or rhizome thousands of plantlets in a relatively short cuttings, but it often takes a long time to time period under controlled conditions. create large numbers of plantlets through propagation by vegetative means. This is For tissue culture techniques to be suc- when we apply an alternative method, in cessful, clean and healthy plant tissues vitro tissue culture or micro-propagation. are required and this is one of the major obstacles in our work. The easiest way Micro-propagation is the culture of cells, to obtain a sterile culture is to start it tissues, organs or whole plants under in from seed, in other words, sterilising the vitro aseptic (sterile) conditions in a me- surface of the seed and germinating it dium full of nutrients. This method has in the culture media. However, getting been widely used for mass propagation ripe seeds before wild animals do is not of plants. A single piece of tissue (known always an easy affair. Ginger seeds are as an explant) from the ‘parent’ plant can often covered in a tasty sour-sweet aril that attracts monkeys and rodents, and the ripening fruits must be enclosed for several weeks in small steel cages and regularly monitored to harvest them at the right time. Other than seeds, rhi- zomes, axillary buds and shoot tips can also be used for micro-propagation. Most members of the Zingiberaceae have dormant buds that are compressed in

Dr Gillian Khew cleaning stems of Zingib- er puberulum before the cloning process. (Photo credit: Jana Leong-Škorničková)

15 Article

(Left) Teng Seah and (right) Li Li in the process of cloning and transfer of cultures.(Photo credits: David Lim)

Different stages of cloning gingers: (left) a bottleneck in the process, but once we Dormant bud dormant bud, prior to beginning the cloning get a sterile tissue, the battle is half- process; (below, from left to right) a regener- won. The next step is to mass-produce ated plantlet inside a test tube, plantlets in a plantlets from the tissue. flask ready to be planted, and transplanted plants in the nursery. Fortunately, for most native gingers, in vitro mass-production is relatively easy. To date, six species have been successfully established using this method. Once the rhizome and buried underground. Plants the plantlets pass their ‘babyhood’, they that come to our lab freshly collected from need to leave their ‘5-star hotel’ – the the forest are often covered in mud, bacteria flasks where the temperature, mois- and fungi, and must be sterilised. Different ture and light levels are kept constant disinfectant methods can be used to obtain and nutrients are provided around the clean cultures, but the sterilisation process is clock. This process, called ‘hardening’, like a dance on thin ice. Too little of a disin- involves transplanting the plantlets to fectant may not be enough to kill any bacteria a soil medium and gradually, under or fungi present, and too much disinfectant controlled nursery conditions, prepares may kill the plant tissue instead. It sometimes them for life in Singapore’s forests and (Photo credit: Koh Teng Seah) takes many trials before we break through this parks. Once the plants acclimate to life

(Photo credit: Koh Teng Seah) (Photo credit: Koh Teng Seah) (Photo credit: Lily Chen)

16 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

The micro-propagation laboratory at the Botany Centre: (left) the transfer room and (right) the shaker room.(Photo credits: Winnie Wong)

in the nursery and grow to a decent size, (Left) Flasks ofGlobba leucantha cultures they are ready for the next step in their ready to be sent to the nursery for ‘hardening’. adventure – to be planted as part of our (Photo credit: Chin Li Li) reintroduction efforts. (Below left) Mdm Rasidah binte Zali from Since we started micro-propagating na- the Plant Resource Centre planting ginger tive gingers in 2011, more than 3,000 plantlets from the laboratory. (Photo credit: plantlets have been sent to the nursery Chin Li Li) for hardening. To our great joy, the first batches of our Globba leucantha lab babies, (Bottom) Flowering Globba leucantha which were acclimatised in NParks’ Pasir planted in the grounds of the Singapore Panjang Nursery and planted at the Gar- Botanic Gardens. These plants were cul- dens, have started to flower. Our NParks tured in the laboratory and acclimatised at colleagues from the Plant Info Unit of the NParks’ Pasir Panjang Nursery. (Photo credit: Horticulture and Community Gardening Koh Teng Seah) Division have also been working with our micro-propagated Globba species, and are currently trialling them for use as house plants, particularly in terraria. We have also succeeded in establishing a couple of sterile cultures of Zingiber singapurense, a newly discovered endemic native ginger. We are now in the process of mass-propagating these cultures. Once ample stock has been built up, we hope to re-introduce this endemic species into various parts of Singapore, and also make this small but charming ginger available as an ornamental plant. The laboratory is currently undergoing renovation, and we look forward to its completion, as the new lab will enable us to achieve much more in the future!

Koh Teng Seah Orchid Breeding and Conservation Biotechnology Laboratory

Jana Leong-Škorničková (Photo credit: Lily Chen) Herbarium

17 Article The Holttum orchids, and the need for conservation of heritage plants

Professor Holttum in the old herbarium, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1975. (Courtesy of Singapore Botanic Gardens Archives)

he late Richard Eric Holttum is more than any other group of plants that T well known for his contributions Holttum is well remembered locally. His to the Botanic Gardens, and to original laboratory in the Botanic Gardens gardening and local horticulture. He helped has been christened Holttum Hall. It is where to form both the Malayan Orchid Society, he first started experimenting with the then now the Orchid Society of South East Asia new Knudson method for the germination (OSSEA), and the Singapore Gardening of orchid seeds in sterile agar medium. That Society. Only two years after graduating work led to a tremendous surge in interest from Cambridge with first class honours in in orchid growing and hybridising, both Botany, he became Assistant Director of the inside the Botanic Gardens and among the Botanic Gardens, in 1922, and remained in many amateur growers locally. Eventually, it Singapore until 1954. He became Director also led to the foundation of the cut-flower of the Gardens in 1925, in succession to orchid industry. Henry Burkill, and served through the war. In 1949 he moved to become Professor of Holttum must have been proud of his orchid Botany in what was then the University of hybrids. He took the highly unusual step of Malaya in Singapore. He was botanically publishing a coloured illustration of Spatho- well regarded for his work on ferns, which glottis aurea together with examples of its 4th he continued after his retirement from the generation descendant hybrids (Spathoglottis university and his return to the UK, in 1954, Dwarf Legion) as the frontispiece to Vol 1 as an Honorary Research Fellow of the Royal of his Flora of Malaya, dealing with orchids. Botanic Gardens, Kew. Yet, it is for orchids He had many species of orchids named

18 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Frontispiece to Holttum’s Revised Flora for him by others, but also had, not just mous people (Ridleyara Fascad, Aranda of Malaya, Vol 1 Orchids, 1953. (Courtesy of a hybrid (Pararachnis Eric Holttum), but Lee Kuan Yew); or events (Aranda City Singapore Botanic Gardens Archives) an entire nothogenus (Holttumara) named of Singapore, named by John Laycock for him as well. to commemorate the charter by which Singapore was proclaimed a city); or for In addition, a number of orchid hybrids their contribution as parents (Arachnis have been named for Holttum’s wife and Maggie Oei); or in some other way no- daughters. This brings me to the central table (Oncidesa Goldiana – a ubiquitous point of this article. What is not always cut flower to this day); then we have the realised is that orchid hybrids, like or- makings of a distinguished collection. chid species, can and probably often And, indeed, in the National Orchid do go extinct. They are actually quite Garden and elsewhere, there are a num- vulnerable. And, while in theory they ber of such heritage plants. Neverthe- can be recovered by a repeat crossing less, it can be said that more could be of the parents, since the registered name done to preserve our orchid heritage, attaches to the parentage, in practice and this need can be nicely illustrated hybrid offspring are highly variable, and by the Holttum orchids. Surprisingly, treasured or exceptional cultivars, once we cannot be sure that they have all extinct, cannot be re-created. survived.

Singapore has an outstanding record Dendrobium Ursula of orchid hybridization. It has created (D. lineale × D. discolor; formerly commercially successful cut flowers, D. veratrifolium × D. undulatum) many sought-after hobby plants, and it has a unique tradition of VIP orchid During the war, while Eric Holttum con- naming. Building on Holttum’s original tinued his work in the Botanic Gardens, work, Singapore breeders have registered his wife Ursula and daughters were in around 2,500 hybrids in the intervening Australia. Ursula earlier made her own years. Many of these have won awards contribution to the Botanic Gardens in locally or overseas. If we take the best the form of a sundial, which has been and most interesting of these orchids, preserved and restored and can be seen whether those of outstanding beauty today in the Gardens. Judging by the (Papilionanda Tan Hoon Siang, for bust of her daughter Deborah, she was example); or named for historical or fa- a sculptor of some talent. She was also

Ursula Holttum modelling a clay bust, possibly of her husband. (Courtesy of Deborah Holttum and Singapore Botanic Gardens Archives)

19 Article a weaver and designer of embroidery, and she published work on local cook- ery and life in Australia during the war, and in Singapore after it. Following her husband’s retirement to the UK, she designed and worked a number of pew cushions for St Anne’s Church on Kew Green. Later, in her 80s, Ursula worked a design into a replacement chair-back for the Linnean Society of London. She died in 1987.

Her orchid was named and registered in 1953 by the Botanic Gardens, when Holttum was no longer the director. It is an early example of a Singapore-registered Dendrobium hybrid (it was the 18th such hybrid, the first being in 1940), and Holttum included it in the colour plate of hybrids of Dendrobium in his Flora (published the same year, facing p. 342). However, I am unable to locate a contemporary plant or photograph of this hybrid.

Parandachnis Ursula Holttum (Pararachnis Eric Holttum × Deborah Holttum with her orchid on her 80th birthday. (Courtesy of Deborah and Philippa Holttum) Vanda Dawn Nishimura)

This hybrid was registered in 1976, by Aranda Deborah Armodachnis Catherine Syed Yusof Alsagoff, the hybrid being (Arachnis hookeriana var. luteola × (Arachnis hookeriana var. luteola × made by Kranji Orchids (Chan Swie Vanda lamellata) Armodorum sulingii) Ying). This was Yusof’s own tribute to Originally registered as Arachnis Catherine, Mrs Holttum, registered when she and Deborah Holttum was the elder Holttum as Armodorum sulingii was formerly classi- her husband visited Singapore after his daughter of two. She was married, but fied as Arachnis sulingii. retirement, and it is fitting that an or- later divorced and changed her name and chid named for her husband is one of that of her children back to Holttum by Catherine Holttum was the younger the parents. deed poll. For many years she worked in daughter of the Holttums. She studied retail, in china and glass with Waterford geography, and moved to South Africa Wedgwood in the UK, but after retirement and then to Australia. In South Africa resumed an interest in sewing, embroidery she married a British geologist, C.B. and textiles and exhibited with the King- Smith, but died in 1997 after a recur- ston Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild. rence of breast cancer. According to her She has also given time as a volunteer daughter Sylvia, Catherine also seems in woodland conservation for the last to have possessed some of the artistic 18 years. character of her mother. In the 1980s, she became an artisan within the Ban- Deborah’s orchid was the first Singapore nister Street Workshops in Fremantle, Aranda, registered by the Botanic Gardens where she created hand woven shirts, in 1945, and is an attractive flower. It has re- ties, bags and other items. mained in occasional cultivation, and when her daughter Philippa wrote to the Orchid Her orchid was registered in 1949. Ar- Society of South East Asia last year, asking modachnis Catherine appears to be no about this orchid, a spectacular photograph longer in cultivation in Singapore, and was kindly provided by David Lim of the Na- I could find no picture of it, but like tional Orchid Garden, which also had plants Dendrobium Ursula it was featured in in flower. Philippa in turn framed this orchid Holttum’s Flora, this time in a plate and presented it to her mother on her 80th of vandaceous hybrids, facing p. 618. birthday, and kindly provided a photograph Unexpectedly, it was also pictured on Parandachnis Ursula Holttum. of her mother holding the picture of her the 30-peso Cuban stamp in 1973. Cuba (Photo credit: David Lim) orchid (reproduced here with permission). has featured many orchids on its stamps,

20 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

on the Singapore 20-cent stamp, and was itself a successful parent of subsequent hybrids with 10 first generation offspring registered. In addition, the artificial genus (nothogenus) Holttumara, created by combining Arachnis, Renanthera and Vanda, itself contains nearly 50 indivi- dual registered hybrids, though none of these is named for family members, and many have been made by breeders in other countries.

If one turns to the botanical names of species, the list of orchids named for Holttum is quite a long one (and it omits four further species that are now considered synonyms in the Kew World Checklist of monocotyledons):

• Cleisostoma holttumii (Carr) Garay (1972) • Corybas holttumii J.Dransf. & G.Sm. (1986) • Crepidium holttumianum Szlach. (1995) • Gastrodia holttumii Carr (1929) • Peristylus holttumii Seidenf. Aranda Deborah Holttum. (Photo credit: David Lim) (1977) • Peristylus holttumianus Seidenf. ex Aver. (1988) including a few from the Old World (in- Pararachnis Eric Holttum • Renanthera coccinea var. holttumii cluding Arundina graminifolia, which is (Arachnis Maggie Oei × Mahyar (1988) native to Singapore and Southeast Asia Paraphalaenopsis denevei) but has become naturalised in many Originally registered as Arachnopsis Eric It would be a pity if any of the natural tropical countries in the Americas). It Holttum, since in 1950 Paraphalaenopsis species or artificial hybrids mentioned would be most remarkable if it turned was treated as Phalaenopsis for purposes in this article were to become extinct. out that one might obtain a plant of of registration. Extinction of a natural species is Armodachnis Catherine from so remote always an irreplaceable loss; but and unlikely source. This Singapore orchid is named after R.E. extinction of a hybrid is also a loss, Holttum. Registered by the Singapore perhaps not completely irreplacea- Botanic Gardens in 1950, it once featured ble, but still a matter for regret. All the hybrids mentioned in this article ought to be considered features of our orchid heritage, through their connection with a man central to Singapore’s botanical and horticultural history. Conservation efforts should be extended to hybrids as well as to species.

John Elliott First Vice-President, Orchid Society of South East Asia

References:

Holttum, R.E. (1953). A Revised Flora of Malaya. Vol 1, Orchids. Singapore: Government Printing Office. Armodachnis Catherine, better known as Arachnis Catherine, depicted on a Cuban Mohlman, K. (2003). Casting light on the postage stamp. history of the Sundial. Catherine Holttum. (Courtesy of Sylvia Smith) (Courtesy of CubaPostal.com) Gardenwise 21: 15–17.

21 Article Rediscovery and reintroduction of Robiquetia spathulata in Singapore

ingapore used to be the home S of a large number of orchid species. This diversity was due to the existence of a wide range of habitats and the favourable equatorial climate. Howev- er, as a result of development and habitat loss, more than 90% of Singapore’s 228 species of native orchids are today locally Endangered, Vulnerable, or Presumed Nationally Extinct. The Orchid Conservation Programme, which was initiated by the Gardens, works toward finding ways to conserve the germplasm of native species and increase their numbers for subsequent reintroduction into appropriate habitats in nature reserves, parks, and along roadsides. Pulau Ubin has been the site of many of our reintroductions, as the island once supported a great number of orchid species. The Gar- dens’ first director, H.N. Ridley, recorded at least three species from there himself – Bulbophyllum medusae, Renanthera elongata and the tiger orchid, Grammatophyllum speciosum. The Gardens’ herbarium records also document the presence of Corymborkis veratrifolia, Dendrobium crumenatum, Eulophia graminea, Neuwiedia veratrifolia, Phalaenopsis cornucervi, Spathogolttis plicata, Thrixspermum amplexicaule, Thrixspermum calceolus and Zeuxine clandestina on the island, and some of these species can still be found there today.

Pulau Ubin, which means ‘Granite Island’, is situated just off the northeastern corner of the main island of Singapore. The 1,020-hec- tare island is largely a series of undulating, granite hills. Much of the island’s original vegetation was cleared for the cultivation of rubber and crops like coffee, pineapple, coconut and jasmine, and for the mining of granite. Today, we can still see the remnants of old quarries, surrounded by secondary forest and grass-dominated habitats. Despite

Robiquetia spathulata was rediscovered on Pulau Ubin by Mark Lim.

22 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Robiquetia spathulata is a monopodial epiphyte with a pendulous growth habit.

The rachis is covered in numerous small flowers, only about 10 of which are fully The inflorescences grow up to 30 cm long and hang downward. open at any one time.

the changes to the island over the years, some men is the holotype of the species and arranged in two rows, and spaced 2 to 3 very interesting and pretty orchid species still is held in the Gardens’ SING herbarium. cm apart along the stem. The 30 cm long reside there, including Eulophia graminea, This species, which was formerly named flower spikes hang downward, and several Neuwiedia veratrifolia, Thrixspermum am- Saccolabium densiflorum, is distributed flowers may be produced simultaneously plexicaule and Vanilla griffithii. from Sikkim eastward through Indochina along the stem, although only about 10 to Hainan, and southwards to Sumatra, are fully open at any one time. The flowers In 2006, a native orchid thought no Java, Borneo and Halmahera. In Malaysia, are slightly cup-shaped, with sepals and longer to exist in Singapore was redis- it is found in lowland areas. petals that are yellow with brownish-red covered on Pulau Ubin. Mark Lim, a blotches, and a light cream-yellow lip park ranger with NParks, found a spec- Robiquetia spathulata is a relatively large and column. imen of Robiquetia spathulata growing monopodial epiphyte, growing up to 1 on a Vitex pinnata tree. This species had m long with a pendulous growth hab- Following its discovery, the Pulau Ubin previously only been documented once it and stems that turn up at their ends. specimen was closely monitored for in Singapore, by Ridley, who collected it The numerous thick and leathery leaves flowering and fruiting. Although it did at Dalvey Road in 1892. Ridley’s speci- are about 18 cm long by 4.5 cm wide, produce flowers, the plant did not form

23 Article

Cloned plantlets in the micro-propagation Preparing to plant healthy plantlets at Zhenghua Nature Park. laboratory.

capsules naturally, either due to a lack of pollinators, or because the plant is sexu- ally self-incompatible (i.e., isn’t capable of forming capsules via self-pollination). Subsequently, the plant was cloned in the Gardens’ micro-propagation laboratory to provide stock for reintroductions around the island.

From 2012 to 2015, more than 900 plantlets of Robiquetia spathulata were planted at Pulau Ubin and numerous other locations, including Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Na- ture Reserve, Fort Canning Park, Pasir Ris Park and Upper Peirce Reservoir. So far, more than 90% of the reintroduced Dr Yam Tim Wing with a reintroduced plant at Central Catchment Nature Reserve. plants have survived, displaying strong

root systems and healthy leaves. We were and thick leathery leaves which enable it very happy in 2015 when some of the plants to conserve water. The recent abnormal even flowered. weather conditions are raising concerns about the pace of climate change in the The high survival rate of the plants, along region, and we are especially targeting with their proven ability to withstand ex- species that can survive extreme weather tremes of wind and sunlight in a multitude conditions as part of our reintroduction of microclimates, indicate that Robiquetia efforts; in this respect, Robiquetia spathu- spathulata is a suitable choice for reintro- lata is an excellent choice. duction into Singapore’s urban environment. During the extreme droughts of Yam Tim Wing 2014 and 2015, we worked with staff from Peter Ang NParks’ Streetscape division and various Felicia Tay park managers to monitor the plants, and Orchid Breeding and Conservation were pleased to observe that the plants not Biotechnology Laboratory Planting Robiquetia spathulata in the only survived, but thrived. The species canopy of a tree at Pulau Ubin. has an extensive and fleshy root system All photos by Yam Tim Wing

24 Feature · From the Taxonomy Corner Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Celebrating Singapore in Plant Names

we have just marked the 50th As anniversary of Singapore’s independence it seems like an opportune time to write about how Singapore has been celebrated in the names of wild plants. The scientific name of a plant species consists of two parts which form the so-called binomial. The first part of the binomial refers to the genus, the second part to the species. For example Kopsia singapurensis is one of 23 species in the genus Kopsia. Kopsia singapurensis. (Photo credit: Xin Yi Ng)

25 Feature · From the Taxonomy Corner

If you see a plant with the species epithet (i.e., the second part of the binomial) in the form of singaporensis, singapurensis, singaporeana or singaporiana (and grammatical variants of these ending in –e, –us or –um) then it is safe to as- sume that it was named after Singapore and likely that the specimens used to describe these species were collected in Singapore. Arguably the most well-known of these is the above-mentioned Kopsia singapurensis, the flowers of which revel in the national colours of white and red. This is, however, a happy coincidence as it was first described in 1923 by Henry Ridley, long before the national flag was designed. Kopsia singapurensis is only one of around 43 species of flowering plants, ferns and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) that have been named after Singapore, although, as we will explain later, this is fewer than the names that exist and more than the number of species which currently carry Singapore Durio singaporensis. (Photo credit: Paul Leong) in their names. such as Habenaria singapurensis, shrubs Nathaniel Wallich, the Danish botanist There is a wide range of plant species such as Glochidion singaporense, climb- who spent several months in Singapore in named after Singapore, from the large ers such as Strophanthus singaporianus, 1822, named several species after Singapore tree Durio singaporensis, which can grow and epiphytes such as Bulbophyllum and published them in his monumental to almost 40 m tall, to the tiny moss singaporeanum and Ceratolejeunea Numerical list of dried specimens of plants Splachnobryum temasekensis (bearing an singapurensis. In almost all cases the reason in the Museum of the Honourable East India earlier name for the island – Temasek), the plant was named after Singapore was not Company. However, as he provided no which stands merely a few millimetres that the plant had a particular cultural con- descriptions, these names were not validly from the ground. The list of species also nection to the people of Singapore, but rath- published by him (see the Taxonomy includes ferns such as Tectaria singaporiana er that the plant was first discovered here Corner article in Gardenwise 43 to learn and Cephalomanes singaporianum, palms and, usually, that it was believed to occur why). Some were, however, validated such as Pinanga singaporensis, ground herbs only on the island at the time of publication. by other authors who gave the credit to Wallich. It would appear that the first species to be validly published and named after Singapore was the fern Aspidium singaporianum in 1827. This species was published by Sir William J. Hooker & Robert K. Greville who credited the name to Wallich. Many species named after Singapore have been moved around through different genera, including Aspidium singaporianum, and when they move to new genera they take their name with them. Therefore, there are many more names celebrating Singapore than actual species. For example, Aspidium singaporianum is now correctly called Tectaria singaporiana but has also previously been known as Dryopteris singaporiana, Nephrodium singaporianum and Podopeltis singaporiana. One would hope that Tectaria singaporiana is where it will now stay!

The author most fond of naming species after Singapore was our very own Henry Ridley, the first Director of Singapore Tectaria singaporiana. (Photo credit: Thamarat Phutthai) Botanic Gardens from 1888–1912. He named 12 species singapurensis or

26 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

and Borneo. At the same time, species originally described from elsewhere often bring their geographical names with them to Singapore (e.g., Freycinetia sumatrana).

Not all species named after Singapore have stood the test of time. Under the rules governing the correct name for a plant, generally speaking the earliest published name has priority. Sometimes these Singaporean species turn out to be the same as earlier described species from elsewhere. Occasionally these other names also celebrate the place from where they were first described. An example is Smilax singaporensis which is now correctly called Smilax luzonensis, i.e., from the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Only around 26 species of plant are still recognised as species named after Singapore (including the one named after Temasek). Some species have retained their Singaporean name but no longer at the rank of species. An example is Passiflora singaporiana which has been moved to a different genus and reduced to the rank of variety as Adenia macrophylla var. singaporiana. The status of some species still requires further research to ascertain whether its Singaporean name will remain. For some of these, different authors disagree as to its status. For example, Magnolia singapurensis has been recognised at species level and as a variety of another two Magnolia species. Gordonia singaporeana. (Photo credit: Xin Yi Ng) Sadly, some species named after Singapore singaporensis, of which eight are still cur- are no longer to be found here. Three or- rently recognised as distinct species with chids with Singapore still in their name, one of these epithets. Dendrobium singaporense, Habenaria singapurensis and Neuwiedia zollingeri var. A large majority of the species named af- singapureana, are presumed to be ter Singapore were published long ago. extinct in the country, while others, Only two species have been named after such as Strophanthus singaporianus and Singapore since it became independent Pinanga singaporensis have not been in 1965, the moss Splachnobryum found in Singapore for a very long time. temasekensis in 2004 and the ginger At the same time, some species previously Zingiber singapurense in 2014, the latter thought to be extinct in Singapore have highlighted in Gardenwise 44. These two been rediscovered, such as the orchid species are, rather counter-intuitively, also Bulbophyllum singaporeanum and the herb the only species named after Singapore that Ophiorrhiza singaporensis. As we continue are now found exclusively in the country. to explore our forests we can but hope Because exploration of Singapore’s forests that, like Bulbophyllum singaporeanum and began rather early compared to explora- Ophiorrhiza singapurensis, the ‘lost’ species tion of many of the neighbouring regions of special significance to Singapore will be of what is now Malaysia, Indonesia and rediscovered. other parts of Southeast Asia, species first found here were later found to also occur further afield. But these species continue to carry the name of Singapore with them. Dendrobium singaporense. David J. Middleton Tectaria singaporiana, for example, is found (Photo credit: Yam Tim Wing) Ho Boon Chuan in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra Herbarium

27 Feature · Staff Publications Publications by Gardens’ Staff in 2015

BOOKS Benedict, J.C., Smith, S.Y., Kurzweil, H. & Lwin, S. (2015). Leong-Škorničková, J., Šída, Merckx, V.S.F.T. [& 54 other au- Collinson, M.E., Leong- An interesting albino form of O., Záveská, E. & Marhold, K. thors, including Thomas, D.C.] Škorničková, J., Specht, C.D., Bulbophyllum ornatissimum (2015). History of infrageneric (2015). Evolution of endemism Ho, B.C., Tan, B.C. & Luong, Fife, J.L., Marone, F., Xiao, from northern Myanmar. Ma- classification, typification of on a young tropical mountain. T.T. (2015). Guide to the X. & Parkinson, D. (2015). layan Orchid Review 49: 57–59. supraspecific names and out- Nature 524: 347–350. Bryophytes in the Limestone Evolutionary significance of standing transfers. Taxon 64(2): Glass House of the Queen Sirikit seed structure in Alpinioideae 362–373. Botanic Garden. ACB Field Kurzweil, H. & Lwin, S. Middleton, D.J. (2015). (BOOK (Zingiberaceae). Botanical Guide Series No. 1. (Fernando, (2015). New orchid records for REVIEW) Forest Trees of Journal of the Linnean Society E.S., Miwa, H., & Pollisco Jr., Myanmar, including the first Li, P.-S., Thomas, D.C. & Southern Thailand. Gardens’ Bul- 178: 441–466. letin, Singapore 67(2): 409–410. F.A., editors) ASEAN Centre record of the genus Stereosan- Saunders, R.M.K. (2015). for Biodiversity & the Japan – dra. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore Phylogenetic reconstruction, ASEAN Integration Fund. Los Benedict, J.C., Smith, S.Y., 67(1): 107‒122. morphological diversification Middleton, D.J. (2015). A Baños, Philippines. Collinson, M.E., Leong- and generic delimitation of new species of Gyrocheilos Disepalum (Annonaceae). Škorničková, J., Specht, C.D., Kurzweil, H., Suksathan, P. & (Gesneriaceae) from Vietnam. Fife, J.L., Marone, F., Xiao, X. & PLOS ONE 10(12): e0143481 Edinburgh Journal of Botany Leong-Škorničková, J. & Tripetch, P. (2015). Satyrium Parkinson, D. (2015). Utility of 72(2): 235–238. Newman, M.F. (2015). Gingers nepalense (Orchidaceae) newly seed morphology and anatomy Lindsay, S. & Middleton, D.J. of Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam. recorded in Thailand. Thai and its utility in recognizing (2015). The clarification and National Parks Board, Singa- Journal of Botany 7: 59–64. Middleton, D.J. (2015). From subfamilies and tribes of Zin- synonymisation of two taxa pore. the Taxonomy Corner: Current giberaceae. American Journal of of Vittaria from Peninsular taxonomic publications. Kurzweil, H. & Tripetch, Botany 102: 1814–1841. Malaysia and a new combina- Gardenwise 45: 33–34. Van Balgooy, M.M.J., Low, P. (2015). A new species of tion in Haplopteris (Pteridaceae Y.W. & Wong, K.M. (2015). Peristylus (Orchidaceae) from Bransgrove, K. & Middleton, subfam. Vittarioideae). Gardens’ Spot-Characters for the southern Thailand. Thai Forest Middleton, D. (2015). From the D.J. (2015). A revision of Bulletin, Singapore 67(1): 39–43. Identification of Malesian Seed Taxonomy Corner: ‘Pre-Lin- Epithema (Gesneriaceae). Bulletin (Botany) 43: 24–29. Plants: A Guide. Kota Kinabalu: naean’ literature – really old Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore Loe, S. & Jamal, M.T. (2015). Natural History Publications books don’t matter do they? 67(1): 159–229. Lee, S. (2015). Beyond the Gar- From Education Outreach: (Borneo). Gardenwise 44: 29–30. dens: The 7th Annual Global Writer-in-the-Gardens Resi- Plants meeting in Panamá. The Brazil Flora Group [Zappi, dency Programme. Gardenwise Middleton, D. & Kurzweil, H. Wong, K.M. & Chan, C.L. Gardenwise 44: 38. D.C. et al. (>400 authors inclu- 45: 38–39. (2015). Beyond the Gardens: (2015). Kinabalu. The Natural ding Taylor, N.P.)] (2015). The 16th Flora of Thailand History, Ecology and Biodiversity Growing knowledge: an Lee, S. (2015). Research Low, Y.W. (2015). Book conference at the Royal Botanic of a World Heritage Mountain. overview of Seed Plant diversity Fellows: Botanical Research Fel- Reviews: Two new books on the Gardens, Kew, September 2014. Natural History Publications in Brazil. Rodriguésia 66(4): lows in the Gardens 2014–2015. plants of Hong Kong. Garden- Gardenwise 44: 39. (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu. 1–29. doi: 10.1590/2175- Gardenwise 45: 35–36 wise 44: 40. 7860201566411. Middleton, D.J., Nishii, K. & Wong, K.M., Joffre, A.A., Low, L e o n g , P. , Athen, P., Lua, H.K., Low, Y.W. (2015). Prismatomer- Möller, M. (2015). Chayamaritia Y. W. & Muhammad Ariffin, Chen, J., Tan, H.T.W. & Wong, Teo, S. (2015). The enigmatic is khoonmengiana, a new name (Gesneriaceae: Didymocarpoi- A.K. (2015). Rainforest Plants K.M. (2015). A revision of Cantley’s Memecylon. for the Peninsular Malaysian deae), a new genus from South- and Flowers of Brunei Darus- Timonius (Rubiaceae) in Gardenwise 44: 10–14. Coffea malayana (Rubiaceae). east Asia. Plant Systematics and salam. Brunei Darussalam: Kinabalu Park, Borneo, with Plant Ecology and Evolution Evolution 301(7): 1947–1966. Forestry Dept., Ministry of notes on typification and spe- 148(1): 134–138. Industry & Primary Resources. Leong-Škorničková, J. (2015). cies distinction. Plant Ecology (BOOK REVIEW) Flowering Middleton, D. J. & Puglisi, C. and Evolution 148(3): 420–430. Plants of the Western Ghats. Low, Y.W. (2015). Wild Plants (2015). (2405) Proposal to con- BOOK CHAPTERS Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore of Malesia: Elusive mycohetero- serve the name Chirita hamosa Goettsch, B., Hilton-Taylor, 67(1): 251–252. trophic angiosperms from the (Microchirita hamosa) (Gesne- Ho, B.C. (2015). Marchantio- C., Cruz-Piñón, G., Duffy, J.P., rainforests of Brunei. Garden- riaceae) with a conserved type. phyta; Bryophyta. In: Chua, Frances, A., Hernández, H.M., Leong-Škorničková, J. (2015). wise 45: 31–32. Taxon 64: 1328–1329. M.A.H. (ed.), Temasekia, 50 Inger, R., Pollock, C., Schipper, A ginger for Singapore. Garden- Plants and Animals Native to J., Superina, M., Taylor, N.P. [& wise 44: 17–20. Low, Y.W., Joffre, A.A. & Middleton, D.J., Sangvirotjana- Singapore (Pp. 15–16). Lee 70+ other authors] (2015). High Muhammad Ariffin, A.K. pat, S.& La-ongsri, W. (2015). Kong Chian Natural History proportion of cactus species A new species of Petrocodon Leong–Škorničková, J. (2015). (2015) Novitates Bruneienses, Museum, Singapore. threatened with extinction. 2. A remarkable new species (Gesneriaceae) from Thailand. Hanguana in Singapore demys- Nature Plants 1: 1–7, Article of Begonia sect. Petermannia Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) tified! Gardenwise 45: 24–29. ARTICLES number: 15142. doi:10.1038/ (Begoniaceae) from Brunei 43: 15–17. nplants.2015.142. Darussalum. Gardens’ Bulletin, Ardi, W.H. & Thomas, D.C. Leong-Škorničková, J. & Singapore 67(1): 61–68. Moonlight, P.W., Richardson, (2015). Studies on Begonia Ho, B.C., Luong, T.T., Tan, Boyce, P.C. (2015). Hanguana J.E., Tebbitt, M.C., Thomas, in Singapore demystified: an (Begoniaceae) of the Moluccas B.C. & Dinh, N.H. (2015). Low, Y.W., L e o n g , P. , Wong, D.C., Hollands, R. & Hughes, M. II: A New Species from Seram, Additional new and noteworthy overview with descriptions of K.M., Tee, S.P., Singh, R., Tay, (2015). Continental-scale diversi- Indonesia. Gardens’ Bulletin, moss (Bryophyta) records from three new species and a new M. (2015). Margaritaria indica fication patterns in a mega-di- Singapore 67(2): 297–303. Vietnam and Laos. Bryophyte record. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singa- – a rare tree newly recorded verse genus: the biogeography of Diversity and Evolution 37: pore 67(1): 1–28. for Singapore. Gardenwise 44: Neotropical Begonia. Journal of Bai, L., Leong-Škorničková, J. 1–11. 15–16. Biogeography 42(6): 1137–1149. & Xia, N.H. (2015). Taxonomic Leong-Škorničková, J., Ly, N.S. studies on Zingiber (Zingib- Joffre, A.A., Muhammad Arif- & Nguyễn, Q.B. (2015). Curcu- Lưu, H.T., Leong-Škorničková, Nura, A.K. (2015). What’s eraceae) in China I: Zingiber fin, A.K., Low, Y.W. & Wong, ma arida and C. sahuynhensis, J., Nguyễn, L.X.B., Đỗ, C.T. & Blooming: Alluring but foul kerrii and the synonomy of Z. K.M. (2015). Novitates Bru- two new species from subgen. Hoàng, T.T. (2015). Newmania – Bulbophyllum graveolens. menghaiense and Z. stipitatum. neienses, 1. A background to Ecomata (Zingiberaceae) from sessilanthera (Zingiberaceae): Gardenwise 44: 34–35. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore the botanical survey of Brunei Vietnam. Phytotaxa 192(3): a new species from Vietnam. 67(1): 129–142. Darussalam, and a new species 181–189. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore Nura, A.K. (2015). What’s of Jarandersonia (Malvaceae). 67(1): 351–355. Blooming: Hot pink bells Bai, L., Leong-Škorničková, J. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore Leong-Škorničková, J., – Tecomanthe dendrophila. & Xia, N.H. (2015). Taxonomic 67(1): 51–60. Nguyễn, Q.B., Trần H.Đ.,Šída, Maslin, B.R. (2015). Synoptic Gardenwise 44: 33. studies on Zingiber (Zingibe- O., Rybková, R. & Trương, overview of Acacia sensu lato raceae) in China II: Zingiber Khew, G.S. & Lim, D. (2015). B.V. (2015). Nine new Zingiber (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) Nura, A.K. (2015). Around the tenuifolium, a new species from Singapore events of 2015 and species (Zingiberaceae) from in East and Southeast Asia. Gardens: SBG welcomes palm Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa their orchid hybrids. Malayan Vietnam. Phytotaxa 219(3): Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore and bamboo experts. Garden- 227(1): 92–98. Orchid Review 49: 5–7. 201–220. 67(1): 231–250. wise 44: 28.

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Nura, A.K. (2015). Around the deae) a new record for the Sin- Taylor, N.P., Lim, D., Davis, Wong, K.M. & Razafiman- Plant Diversity, Purwokerto, Gardens: The sharing of know- gapore flora. Gardens’ Bulletin, A. (2015). Garden festivals and dimbison, S. (2015). A new Indonesia, August 2015. ledge... Gardenwise 44: 27. Singapore 67(1): 29–33. the heritage of the Gardens. combination and a new name Gardenwise 44: 2–5. in Gynochthodes (Rubiaceae). Fér, T., Schmickl, R., Záveská, Nura, A.K. (2015). Around the Rodda, M., Simonsson Juhone- Reinwardtia 14(2): 295–296. E., Pospíšilová, M., Leong- Gardens: Strengthening ties with we, N. & Lamb, A. (2015). Thomas, D.C. (2015). (BOOK Škorničková, J., Šída, O., Vietnam. Gardenwise 45: 30. Hoya fauziana (Apocynaceae: REVIEW). A Guide to Wong, K.M. & Rodda, M. Poulsen, A.D., Newman, M.F., Asclepiadoideae), a new species Begonias of Borneo. Gardens’ (2015). (BOOK REVIEW) Flora Kress, W.J. Conquest of ginger Nura, A.K. & Lim, D. (2015). from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Bulletin, Singapore 67(2): of Cambodia, Laos and Viet- paradise: phylogenomics of What’s Blooming: Dracula Webbia (epublished) doi:10.108 407–408. nam: Fasc. 33: Apocynaceae; the family Zingiberaceae orchids, vampires without a 0/00837792.2015.1043764 Fasc. 34: Polygalaceae; Fasc. 35: using Hyb-Seq approach. 7th bite…. Gardenwise 45: 37. Thomas, D.C., Chatrou, L.W., Solanaceae. Gardens’ Bulletin, International Symposium on Rodda, M., Tran, T.B. & Stull, G.W., Johnson, D.M., Singapore 67(2): 411–414. the Family Zingiberaceae, Papworth, S.K., Nghiem, Nguyễn, Q.B. (2015). Hoya Harris, D.J., Thongpairoj, U. Chiang Mai, Thailand, T.P.L., Chimalakonda, D., tamdaoensis (Apocynaceae, & Saunders, R.M.K. (2015). Wong, K.M., Sugau, J.B. & Low, August 2015. Posa, M.R.C., Wijedasa, L.S., Asclepiadoideae), a new species The historical origins of Y. W. (2015). Adonidia drans- Bickford, D. and Carrasco, from Vietnam. Phytotaxa palaeotropical intercontinental fieldii, a threatened new palm Gowda, V. & Leong- L.R. (2015). Quantifying the 217(3): 288–292. disjunctions in the pantropi- from Sabah, Borneo. Palms Škorničková, J. Pollination role of online news in linking cal flowering plant family 59(1): 5–14. ecology of Asian gingers: a conservation research to Face- Smith, S.Y., Collinson, Annonaceae. Perspectives in review of reproductive choices book and Twitter. Conservation M.E., Benedict, J.C., Leong- Plant Ecology, Evolution and Yam, T.W. (2015). The 17th and pollination strategies. Biology 29(3): 825–833. Škorničková, J., Marone, F. & Systematics 17(1): 1–16. European Orchid Conference 7th International Symposium Parkinson, D. (2015). Revision and Show – a Post-Conference on the Family Zingiberaceae, Parnell, J.A.N., Pilla, F. & The of putative Alpinia (Zingibera- Triboun, P. & Middleton, D.J. Tour. Malayan Orchid Review Chiang Mai, Thailand, ceae) fossils from the Paleogene Thai Biogeography Group (2015). Three new species of 49: 38–39. August 2015. and Neogene of western Europe. [comprising 48 authors Paraboea (Gesneriaceae) from Palaeontographica Abteilung including Merklinger, F. & Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin Yam, T.W. (2015). Conser- Hlavatá, K., Leong- B-Palaophytologie: 293: 101–123. Middleton, D.J.] (2015). A (Botany) 43: 18–23. vation and reintroduction of Škorničková, J., Záveská, E., re-examination of the life and Cymbidium finlaysonianum Šída, O. & Fér, T. Genome work of A.F.G. Kerr and of his Soh, C. (2015). From the in Singapore. Malayan Orchid Van der Ent, A., Repin, R., size evolution in the genus colleagues and friends. Thai Archives: The iconic Bandstand. Review 49: 48–52. Sugau, J. & Wong, K.M. Elettariopsis (Zingiberaceae). Forest Bulletin (Botany) 43: Gardenwise 44: Back cover. (2015). Plant diversity and 7th International Symposium 111–131. ecology of ultramafic outcrops Yam, T.W. (2015). A spotlight on the Family Zingiberaceae, Soh, C. (2015). From the in Sabah (Malaysia). Aus- on Coelogyne rochussenii, a Chiang Mai, Thailand, August Pei, N.-C., Kress, W.J., Chen, Archives: Through a glass nega- tralian Journal of Botany 63: recently rediscovered Singapore 2015. tive. Gardenwise 45: back cover. B.-F., Erickson, D.L., Wong, 204–215. native. Gardenwise 44: 23–26. K.M., Zhang, J.-L., Ye, W.-H., Middleton, D.J. Floristic Huang, Z.-L. & Zhang, D-X. Tan, S. & Wo n g , W. (2015). Van der Ent, A. & Wong, K.M. Ye, W., Gradstein, S.R., Shaw, studies in Cambodia, Laos and (2015). Phylogenetic and From Education Outreach: (2015). Range extension of A.J., Shaw, B., Ho, B.C. Vietnam. Conference ‘Botani- climatic constraints drive Continued effort in knowledge Christisonia scortechinii from Schäfer-Verwimp, A., Pócs, T., cal Research in Tropical Asia’, flowering phenological pat- sharing. Gardenwise 44: 36–37. Heinrichs, J. & Zhu, R.L. (2015). mainland Southeast Asia into Vientiane, Laos, terns in a subtropical nature Phylogeny and classification of Borneo, and notes on the dis- December 2015. reserve. Journal of Plant Lejeuneaceae subtribe Cheilole- Tang, C.C., Thomas, D.C., tinction between Aeginetia and Ecology 8(2): 187–196. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2015). jeuneinae (Marchantiophyta) Christisonia (Orobanchaceae). Salvi, A., Smith, S.Y., Benedict, Molecular and morphological based on nuclear and plastid Botanical Studies 56: 28. J.C., Leong-Škorničková, J. Puglisi, C., Suddee, S., data supporting phylogenetic molecular markers. Crypto- & Specht, C.D. Re-examining Triboun, P. & Middleton, reconstruction of the genus gamie Bryologie 36(4): 313–333. Zingiberales fossils using leaf D.J. (2015). A new species of Goniothalamus (Annonaceae), Wong, K.M. (2015). Schizos- Paraboea (Gesneriaceae) from including a reassessment of tachyum kuisingii, a new POSTERS venation. Botany 2015 (BSA), Thailand. Gardens’ Bulletin, previous infrageneric classifica- species of bamboo (Poaceae: Alberta, Canada, Singapore 67(1): 101–106. tions. Data in Brief 4: 410–421. Bambusoideae) from Peninsu- July 2015. lar Malaysia. Gardens’ Bulletin, Bai, L., Leong-Škorničková, J., Xia, N.H. Taxonomic studies Singapore 67(2): 267–274. Souvannakhoummane, K., Rahayu, S., Meve, U. & Rod- Tang, C.C., Thomas, D.C., on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) Leong-Škorničková, J. & da, M. (2015). Hoya undulata & Saunders, R.M.K. (2015). in China. 7th International (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoi- Molecular phylogenetics of the Wong, K.M. (2015). Studies Symposium on the Family Lamxay, V. The taxonomic deae), a new myrmecophytic species-rich angiosperm genus in Southeast Asian Melastoma Zingiberaceae, Chiang Mai, diversity of the genus Zingiber species from Borneo, and Goniothalamus (Annonaceae) (Melastomataceae), 1. Morpho- Thailand, August 2015. in Lao PDR. 7th International typification of H. darwinii. inferred from nine chloro- logical variation in Melastoma Symposium on the Family malabathricum and notes on Zingiberaceae, Chiang Mai, Garden’s Bulletin, Singapore plast DNA regions: correlated Duong, B.H. Luong, T.T., Ho, rheophytic taxa and interspe- Thailand, August 2015. 67(1): 85–94. evolutionary changes in B.C. Mosses Along Trekking cific hybridisation in the genus. fruit morphology. Molecular Trail Towards Langbian Sum- Raskoti, B.B. & Kurzweil, H. Phylogenetics and Evolution 92: Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore mit, Bidoup-Nui Ba National Thomas, D.C., Kidner, C., (2015). Odontochilus nandae 124–139. 67(2): 387–401. Park, Vietnam. Conference Hughes, M., Moonlight, P., (Orchidaceae, Cranichideae- ‘Botanical Research in Tropical Nurul, H. & Lens, F. First Goodyerinae), a new species Tay, S., He, J. & Yam, T.W. Wong, K.M. & Diep, M.H. Asia’, Vientiane, Laos, Decem- steps in investigating growth from Nepal. Phytotaxa (2015). Photosynthetic Light (2015). Bambusa gurgandii, ber 2015. habit evolution in Begonia 233(3): 293–297. Utilization Efficiency, Water a new species of bamboo (Begoniaceae). International Relations and Leaf Growth of (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Záveská, E., Mandáková, T., Symposium of Asian Begonia Rodda, M. (2015). Early C3 and CAM Tropical Orchids Viet Nam. Candollea 70(2) Fér, T., Šída, O., Marhold, K. & and Limestone Plant Research, photographic views of the under Natural Conditions. 211–218. Leong-Škorničková, J. Insight National Taiwan University, gardens and its surroundings. American Journal of Plant into enigmatic evoulutionary Taipei, Taiwan, Gardenwise 45: 12–17. Sciences 6(18): 2949–2959. Wong, K.M. & Low, Y.W. history of Siliquamomum (Zin- April 2015. (2015). Novitates Bruneienses, giberaceae: Alpinioideae) using Rodda, M. (2015). A new typi- Taylor, N.P. (2015). An old ti- 3. Eight new woody plants in multigene phylogeny approach Yam T.W. Native Orchids of fication of Hoya zollingeriana ger caged. Gardenwise 45: 8–11. the Brunei flora, including five and cytogenetics. 7th Inter- Singapore. European Orchid (Apocynaceae, Asclepia- new species. Gardens’ Bulletin, national Symposium on the Conference, London, UK, doideae). Gardens’ Bulletin, Taylor, N.P. (2015). Tropical Singapore 67(1): 69–84. Family Zingiberaceae, Chiang April 2015. Singapore 67(2): 305–307. Splendour – Singapore’s first in- Mai, Thailand, August 2015. ternational exhibition of botani- Wong, K.M., Low, Y.W., Záveská, E., Fér, T., Šída, Rodda, M. (2015). Two new cal art. Gardenwise 45: 18–23. Muhammad Ariffin, A.K. & PRESENTATIONS O., Marhold, K. & Leong- species of Hoya R.Br. (Apocyna- Joffre, A.A. (2015). Novitates Škorničková, J. Phylogeny ceae, Asclepiadoideae) from Taylor, N.P. (2015). The UNES- Bruneienses, 4. New records in Ardi, W.H., Thomas, D.C. & and taxonomy of polyploid Borneo. Phytokeys 53: 83–93. CO journey. Gardenwise 45: 2–5. the Araliaceae, Araucariaceae, Hughes, M. Studies on Begonia genus Curcuma L.: progress of Arecaceae, Fagaceae, Musaceae (Begoniaceae) of the Moluccas last decade. 7th International Rodda, M., Lee, D. & Mishak, Taylor, N.P. (2015). Which and Thymelaeaceae. Gardens’ III: Reinstatement of two Be- Symposium on the Family S. (2015). Dischidia acutifolia kind of building is Burkill Hall? Bulletin, Singapore 67(2): gonia muricata synonyms. 5th Zingiberaceae, Chiang Mai, (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoi- Gardenwise 44: 6–9. 275–287. International Conference on Thailand, August 2015.

29 Feature · From Education Outreach

‘HERBARIUM ON STAGE’ – a collaboration between the Singapore Botanic Gardens, French Embassy of Singapore and Klorane Institute

A young girl mounting her very own dried Bougainvillea specimen. (Photo credit: Winnie Wong)

commemoration of 50 years of In diplomatic relations between Singapore and France, the Sin- gapore Botanic Gardens, together with the French Embassy of Singapore and Klorane Institute, organised the programme ‘Herbarium on Stage’ from 25 to 29 May 2015 to bring children closer to botany and nature. Held in conjunction with Voilah!, the French Festival of Singapore, the Gardens hosted around a thousand children from diverse cultural backgrounds and 20 different schools in Singapore. During this week-long event, they were given the opportunity to experience life as a botanist by creating their very own herbarium samples out of pressed plant specimens.

Each child was given a workbook which included a step-by-step guide to making a herbarium specimen, along with a dried Bougainvillea specimen to practice with. The children enjoyed emulating the botanists who work in the Gardens’ herbarium, which has a collection of over 750,000 specimens. The workbook also came with a section for the children to exercise their creativity and paste dried flower specimens onto line drawings of the Merlion and the orchid Renanthera Singaporeans.

The event was held in conjunction with the ‘World of Flowers’ exhibition at the CDL Green Gallery, and so the chil- Students from Loyang Primary School hard at work creating their very own herbarium dren were also given the opportunity specimens. (Photo credit: Steffi Loe) to explore the exhibition. In addition,

30 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Children from PCF Sparkletots ‘mounting’ dried pressed flowers onto a line drawing of the Children visiting the ‘World of Flowers’ Merlion. (Photo credit: Steffi Loe) exhibition at the CDL Green Gallery. (Photo credit: Steffi Loe)

Young students from Lycée Française de Singapour creating their very own herbarium Children learning about the flora and fauna specimens. (Photo credit: Steffi Loe) of the Singapore Botanic Gardens while on a guided tour. (Photo credit: Steffi Loe)

guided walks were offered to teach the children about the fascinating aspects of flowers and to appreciate their natural beauty. As a reminder of their time together at the Gardens, group photographs were taken and given to all of the children who participated.

‘Herbarium on Stage’ helped to connect children of diverse cultures to the environment, and was truly a celebration of our progress toward becoming a cos- mopolitan City in a Garden.

Children from My First School posing for a group photograph. Steffi Loe (Photo credit: Winnie Wong) Education Branch

31 Feature · Beyond the Gardens

A three-part training programme on tropical bryophytes and pteridophytes of Southeast Asia

Relationships among major evolutionary Angiosperms plantsvascular lines in green plants. seed plants (Prepared by Ho Boon Chuan) Gymnosperms

Ferns plants land pteridophytes Lycophytes green plants

Hornworts

Mosses bryophytes

Liverworts

Charophytes green algae Chlorophytes

ryophytes and pteridophytes are ‘bryophyte’ and ‘pteridophyte’ are Although most bryophytes and B non-flowering, seedless plants out-dated for these plant groups, they pteridophytes have little economic that are frequently neglected are still in use today for the sake of value, they are indispensable to our and over-shadowed by flowering convenience. Under the current classifi- understanding of plant evolution. plants that are often larger and more cation scheme, bryophytes are separated They are early offshoots from aquatic colourful. However, with keen eyes into three independent pathways of green algae, and having evolved over and careful observation, one can see evolution – liverworts, mosses and horn- millions of years, these plants possess that these generally small and delicate worts, whereas lycophytes and ferns con- many characteristics that are transi- plants are in fact as beautiful as their stitute two separate evolutionary lines of tional in terms of adaptation to land. larger counterparts. Although the terms the traditional pteridophyte group. They also play significant roles in their ecosystems, being part and parcel of the diversity of almost all terrestrial habitats, and are known to be good bio-indicators. Yet pteridophytes and especially bryophytes are often not included in floristic inventories, management plans and other ecological assessments. A lack of expertise has hampered the understanding, conservation and appreciation of these unique plants, especially in Southeast Asia, where they are commonly found all around us.

Field work at the Cyathea Garden of the Bali Botanical Garden. Note that the building with the dinosaur motif houses the bryophyte collection. (Photo credit: Ho Boon Chuan)

32 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Psilotum complanatum, one of the more in- Not only did the participants study ferns, Five key botanists were invited to teresting ferns growing in the Cyathea Garden they were also served young fronds of the fern provide relevant training to the of the Bali Botanical Garden. Diplazium esculentum as a vegetable in Bali. participants of the three activities, (Photo credit: Ho Boon Chuan) (Photo credit: Ho Boon Chuan) namely, Dr Bayu Adjie from the Bali Botanical Garden, Indonesia; Dr Dedy Darnaedi from the Research Center for Biology, LIPI, Indonesia; Dr Edwino S. Fernando from the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Dr Benito C. Tan from the University of California-Berkeley, USA; and myself, Dr Ho Boon Chuan from the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

‘Taxonomic Capacity-building on Bryophytes and Pteridophytes and their Allies’ was the first of the three planned activities, and it was held from 20 to 24 February 2014 at the Research Centre for Biology – LIPI, in Indonesia. This workshop introduced the 17 participants to the general background of these plants, including their basic biology and Participants studying bryophytes under microscopes after a demonstration at the Queen Sirikit life-cycles. Participants also visited Botanic Garden. (Photo credit: E.S. Fernando) the Cibodas Botanic Garden, where

Up close with the mossy kind, one of the participants, Ms Henrietta Woo, trying her best to find different bryophytes in the Limestone Glass House of the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. (Photo credit: Edwino S. Fernando)

Recognising the necessity to develop (Predators and Parasitoids)’. This pro- and enhance the taxonomic capabili- ject has been implemented under the ties of those from ASEAN countries East and Southeast Asia Biodiversity in understanding and documenting Information Initiative (ESABII) with the enormous biodiversity of tropi- the financial support of the Ministry cal bryophytes and pteridophytes in of the Environment, Japan (MOE-J) Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Centre for through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Biodiversity (ACB) recently embarked Fund (JAIF). A major component of the on a programme entitled ‘Extended programme involves three inter-related Taxonomic Capacity Building for activities intended to train selected Sustainable Use of Biodiversity: representatives from ASEAN member Bryophytes, Pteridophytes and countries on the taxonomy of these Economically-Important Insects non-seeded land plants.

33 Feature · Beyond the Gardens

Cyathea Garden, or ‘Taman Cyathea’, was especially relevant for the study of pteridophytes.

Following the success of the first two training events, which made the returning participants well prepared, the third and final activity was conducted between 20 and 30 January 2015. It was entitled ‘Internship Programme on the Taxonomic Capacity Building on Bryophytes and Pteridophytes’, and held in the beautiful setting of the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai, Thailand. After two days of re- viewing the fundamental essentials, the 31 participants were divided into The bryophyte team from the workshop held at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. two teams, to study either bryophytes (Photo credit: Luong Thien Tam) or pteridophytes. This intensive training activity included field excursions to nearby nature areas, an outdoor moss garden has been in bryology and pteridology, such as where they learned about collecting maintained since 2006. Two of our details of special morphological fea- and processing samples of bryophytes young and promising NParks staff tures, use of identification keys, up- and pteridophytes. The collections members, Mr Parusuraman Athen to-date classifications and ecology. were brought back to the laboratory and Mr Arthur Ng, were hand-picked Participants were also brought to at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, to attend this workshop. They, along the Bali Botanical Garden to have where the participants made use of with Ms Henrietta Woo, a third en- some hands-on experience with the microscopes and appropriate refer- thusiastic participant from NParks, living collections, and a visit to the ences to further process and identify participated in the following two parts of the training programme.

The second training, ‘Advance Course on Taxonomy of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes and Data Organization’, was an eight-day event (including three days of data-processing training) commencing on 25 November 2014 in Bali, Indonesia. The main venue for this training was the campus of Universitas Dhyana Pura, where the opening event was featured in the Bali Post. This activity provided the 18 participants with knowledge on advanced topics

Selected bryophytes found within the Limestone Glass House of the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden: (clockwise from top left) Lunularia cruciata (liverwort), Hyophila involuta (moss), Racopilum orthocarpum (moss), Phaeoceros carolinianus (hornwort). (Photo credits: Luong Thien Tam)

34 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

As one of the trainers, I was explaining to the participants how Sorting out the day’s collections after a field trip to Doi Inthanon to recognise some bryophyte groups at Doi Inthanon National Park in National Park in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai. (Photo Credit: Athisone Kee Silitham) (Photo credit: Edwino S. Fernando)

Participants identifying bryophyte specimens in the laboratory of the Final discussion of the bryophyte team just before their presentation and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. the closing programme in Chiang Mai. (Photo credit: Ho Boon Chuan) (Photo credit: Ho Boon Chuan)

their samples. The participants were phytes and pteridophytes. In fact, one better recognise and distinguish expected to produce write-ups of the of them, Guide to the Bryophytes in these interesting plants in our tropi- species that they collected during the Limestone Glass House of Queen cal forests. It is believed that much their field work. At the end of the Sirikit Botanic Gardens, has recently of the biodiversity of bryophytes and workshop, each team presented the been published and is intended to be pteridophytes in Southeast Asia is yet fruits of their hard work to their made available for free download on to be discovered and documented. mentors, the ACB organisers and the ACB website soon. We need to know what is out there representatives of the funding agency. in order to save and protect them. Inadequate taxonomic capacity has As one of the major outcomes, the been recognised as a bottleneck in species write-ups produced by the the conservation of bryophytes and participants were not wasted, but pteridophytes in Southeast Asia. rather compiled and edited into It is hoped that this three-part guidebooks. These guidebooks will training programme has benefited be utilised as tools to implement fu- the ASEAN participants and their ture education and conservation pro- respective home institutions by Ho Boon Chuan grammes on the biodiversity of bryo- equipping them with the ability to Herbarium

35 Feature · Around the Gardens

NParks signs a Memorandum- of-Understanding with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Dendrobium Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. (Photo credit: Simon Tan)

3 November 2015, Mr Ken- The Memorandum-of-Understanding and featuring plants and scenes from On neth Er, CEO of the National (MoU) signing was also marked by the Singapore, Java and Borneo. After the Parks Board (NParks) and naming of a new Gardens-bred orchid signing, Kew presented NParks’ Adviser, Mr Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal hybrid, Dendrobium Royal Botanic Gar- Dr Kiat Tan, with the Kew International Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK), signed an dens Kew, and the gift to the Gardens of Medal, in recognition of his services to historic agreement in recognition of the 154 high quality facsimiles of Marianne botany and horticulture. close collaboration between the Singapore North paintings, reproduced from the Botanic Gardens and Kew. famous gallery of the same name at Kew As those familiar with our Gardens’ history will know, the Royal Botanic Representatives from Kew and NParks stand alongside Dendrobium Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Gardens at Kew was instrumental in the (Photo credit: Koh Poo Kiong) development of the Singapore Botanic Gardens from 1875 until Singapore gained independence in 1965. It was Kew’s Director that was always asked to recommend the appointment of new superintendents and directors, the first being James Murton in 1875. Murton, in fact, was the person responsible for making the Gardens into a proper botanic garden – before that year it was at best a pleasure garden, which lacked any botanical focus in spite of its actual name. As the headquarters of a net- work of British colonial gardens, num- bering more than 100 by the close of Queen Victoria’s reign, Kew received their annual reports and these are the source of many historical details for the Gardens. This was used to compile

36 Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

From left to right: Mr Kenneth Er (CEO of NParks), Prof. Monique Simmonds (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Ms Peggy Chong (Deputy CEO of Gardens by the Bay), Dr David Middleton (Head of Research and Conservation, Singapore Botanic Gardens), Dr Nigel Taylor (Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens), Mr Richard Deverell (Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Dr Kiat W Tan (CEO of Gardens by the Bay and advisor to NParks), Mr Chew Hock Yong (Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Development), Mrs Marta Lejkowski (Kew Foundation), and Dr Leong Chee Chiew (Deputy CEO of NParks). (Photo credit: Koh Poo Kiong)

our UNESCO dossier during the run up to inscription of the Gardens on the World Heritage List. Kew also helped in this process, providing our archives with copies of the memoirs and corre- spondence of its longest-serving former directors, Henry Ridley and Eric Holttum, both of whom worked in their retirement at Kew. Even the present director, the undersigned, began his career at Kew, where he worked for 34 years before moving to Singapore, so it goes without saying that the links between these two great institutions are strong. And, besides these botanically-focused links, both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kew having gained inscription in 2003. networking and knowledge of the Southeast Mr Richard Deverell (left) and Mr Kenneth So, given these long-standing links, what Asian flora and the region’s other gardens, Er (right), signing the MoU. will the newly signed MoU deliver for the can help Kew collaborate and expand its (Photo credit: Koh Poo Kiong) Gardens and Kew, its partner? The answer interests in the region. NParks and Gardens’ is many things. The agreement covers and staff have already benefitted from train- formalises the exchange of staff, expertise, ing at Kew, while Kew staff, students and such an agreement can also be said to be a training opportunities, information and Honorary Research Associates and Fel- measure of the esteem in which the Gardens collections, including potentially loans of lows have regularly visited the Gardens to is held by the international community. artwork. Kew has areas of expertise that the experience or study our horticultural and Gardens lacks, such as the development of botanical techniques and collections. Last, Nigel P. Taylor seed banks, while the Gardens, through its but not least, that Kew was keen to sign Director of the Gardens

37 Feature · Around the Gardens Renewal of ties between sister gardens

H. M. Burkill, former director of the Gardens, signing the Sister Garden A black and white photograph of the Plant House taken in 1965. (Photo courtesy of Miyazaki Parks Association’s Archives) representative, Mr Kuroki. (Photo courtesy of Miyazaki Parks Association’s Archives)

15 October 1965, the Singa- On pore Botanic Gardens and the Aoshima Sub-Tropical Botanic Parks Association, Mi- yazaki Land Development signing of the Sister Garden Agreement in O ce, Aoshima Sub-Trop- Singapore was monumental for both sides, ical Botanic Garden and CLAIR Singapore (the newly established ASTBG, which opened its Japan Council of Local Authorities for Interna- agreement signed by our Gardens under an tional Relations), along independent Singapore Government. with Dr Nigel Taylor and Dr Nura Abdul Karim. ASTBG is a small garden located on the (Photo credit: Asako Oshikawa) island of Aoshima in the city of Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. It currently has over 400 species of subtropical plants collections that have resulted from our colla- ing scenes of the Gardens in 1965, images in its living collection, and specialises in boration will also be included, such as that are invaluable additions to our archives. growing bougainvilleas. ASTBG is currently Bougainvillea cultivars obtained from the In October, Dr Nigel Taylor and I hosted the undergoing redevelopment and in March Gardens and VIP orchid hybrids named Vice-Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, Mr 2016 will open a new tropical greenhouse. a er Japanese royals Emperor Akihito, Hiromi Inamochi, who presented us with It is open daily and is free to enter, except Empress Michiko and Princess Masako. for the tropical greenhouse, which will be ASTBG tropical glasshouse on behalf of the charged-for once it is open to the public. Governor of Miyazaki, Mr Shunji Kouno. visits stemming from our relationship with To celebrate the collaboration between our ASTBG. Not only did we receive various y years, two institutions, ASTBG has recently deci- the relations between the Gardens and ded to showcase Singapore and our Gardens the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly, Mi- ASTBG are still warm and we hope they in a small section of its new tropical green- will continue to develop and grow stronger house. A collection of Vanda Miss Joaquim Miyazaki Parks Association. During one over time. (Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim) orchids and of these visits, Mr Shinichiro Ito from the a small replica of the Merlion statue will be Miyazaki Parks Association shared digital Nura Abdul Karim copies of monochrome photographs depict- Library, Training and External Relations

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ERRORS was at Vietnam National University, rather than misspelled (correct spelling given here). its curator. We regret the following errors in the ‘Around the Gardens’ feature of the previous issue Ms Phan i anh Nha should have been should (Volume 44): have been credited to Amanda Yap instead of the Herbarium of the University of Science of B.C. Ho.

38 Feature · What’s Blooming Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

Indonesia and mainland Southeast Mythical Medusa Asia, and can be found growing at elevations of around 400 to 800 metres. It produces a basal rosette of leaves in the form of an orchid… from an underground corm. When not in flower, it is fairly unremarkable, but when it sends up a 50 cm tall inflorescence bearing anywhere from 10 to over twenty astounding-looking flowers, it takes centre stage.

The flowers are stunning with a highly divided and lacerated white lip, in the manner of Medusa’s snake-hair, or more pleasantly, like the spectacular plumage of the beautiful snowy egret. The lip has a green back and usually has a small central red to orange- brown basal patch up front. Visitors might wonder why such a lip evolved in the first place. The fringed flowers of Habenaria medusa are thought to be moth-pollinated, as their white colour, sweet evening fragrance and nectar Close-up image spur are features known to attract of Habenaria medusa. moths. (Photo credit: David Lim) Cultivating Habenaria orchids can be difficult, as they are intolerant of poor or chemically treated water and need a strict, dry dormant period. isitors to the National Orchid who saw her face to stone. Fortunately, They rot easily if watered during V Garden (NOG) will have seen Habenaria medusa does not turn any of their dormancy. The NOG nursery first-hand the world’s most its appreciative gazers to stone like its manager, David Lim, shared that he diverse and species-rich plant family, namesake, Medusa! has had success by growing the corms the orchids. Orchids can display truly in a potting mix consisting of 30% unconventional yet strangely beautiful Orchids in the genus Habenaria are burnt earth, 30% fine charcoal chips, flower forms. Almost every day, an commonly called bog orchids, and they 30% chopped coconut husk and 10% amazing orchid comes into bloom are distributed extensively around the vermiculite, plus 1 tablespoon of bone in NOG, and the recent flowering of world. There are an estimated 800–1000 meal fertiliser per litre of soil. Habenaria medusa caused jaws to drop. species of Habenaria, native to every The genus name, Habenaria, comes continent except Antarctica, in both If visitors to NOG are lucky enough to from the Latin word habena, meaning tropical and temperate zones. They are see this beautiful orchid the next time ‘strap’ or ‘rein’, in reference to the terrestrial or semi-aquatic herbs with it blooms, they can be assured that they shape of the spur (the nectar-bearing fleshy or tuberous roots and leaves that may gaze at the flowers without fear of part of flower), or the shape of the lip are ovoid to fusiform-elongated or rarely turning into stone! in some species. In 1892, German palmate. These orchids are normally botanist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig erect and glabrous (not hairy), with Kraenzlin gave this species its specific sessile (stalkless) leaves that sheathe epithet, medusa. He must have been the stem at their base. Their flowers are Nura Abdul Karim a fan of Greek mythology and had a usually small or medium-sized and may Library, Training and External vivid imagination to liken this orchid’s be showy or inconspicuous. Relations prominent fringed flowers to Medusa, the monster that had venomous snakes Habenaria medusa is a terrestrial David Lim for hair and who could turn anyone species from monsoonal habitats in National Orchid Garden Nursery

39 Feature · Book Review

A Garden of Medicinal Plants: Book 2 (500 Reflections on the RCP, 1518–2018)

By Henry Oakeley, Jane Knowles, Michael de Swiet and Anthony Dayan

Published in 2015 by Little, Brown.

128 pp, 15.1 x 1.2 x 21.2 cm, paperback.

Available online from the RCP website at: http://shop.rcplondon.ac.uk/

for £12 . 00 (approx. S$24.00), excluding shipping charges.

ISBN 978-1-4087-0624-4

series of 10 books have been authors are staff members and fellows plants, and also include references for A commissioned in celebration of the garden, which makes the book further reading. The book also includes of the 500th anniversary of the interesting and informative to read. a chapter dedicated to plant species that Royal College of Physicians (RCP), are used in contemporary medicine. coming up in 2018. Each book will Due to space constraints, the authors focus on 50 themed elements that have were understandably unable to showcase Overall, this is a commendable book contributed to the making and shaping and describe all of the approximately that is well researched and written, of the RCP, collectively adding up to 1,100 plants in the RCP garden. Instead, although the book could have served five hundred reflections on 500 years of species are highlighted which have a as a handy guide to the RCP medicinal existence. This is the second book in the significant history of use by people, garden if the authors had also included Reflections series, and focuses on the such as Ricinus communis (castor oil), a map or other indication as to where RCP’s garden and its history. Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), the described species can be found on Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), its premises. Readers will not be found The book is laid out well and has an Capsicum annuum (chili), Punica wanting for interesting bite-size facts impressive collection of appropriately granatum (pomegranate, which happens about the RCP or the properties and uses selected illustrations that enhance the to be on the RCP coat of arms), Digitalis of the featured plants. This book is highly reading of each chapter. The authors purpurea (foxglove), Nerium oleander recommended to readers interested in a establish the framework of the book (oleander), Euphorbia milii (crown quick history of medicinal plant usage clearly in the first chapter to set the scene of thorns), Echinacea purpurea (cone and ethnobotanical information about and manage readers’ expectations. The flower), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), the presented plant species. book showcases important moments Arundo donax (giant reed), and many in the history of the RCP and the many others. Where possible, the authors historical luminaries that shaped it also detail the history, myths, discovery, Nura Abdul Karim and its living plant collections. The chemistry and therapeutic uses of the Library, Training and External Relations

40 Feature · Key Visitors to the Gardens Gardenwise · Volume 46 · February 2016

July–December 2015

His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Mdm Peng His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of the Liyuan on the occasion of their visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens in November 2015. director of the Gardens, Dr Nigel Taylor, during their visit and on their right is Mr K enneth ER, CEO of NParks. to the National Orchid Garden in November 2015.

H.E. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of Dr Henk Jaap Beentje, Royal Botanic Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Prof. Sir Peter Crane and the Arab Republic of Egypt Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom Singapore, and spouse Lady Elinor Crane, Yale University, United States of America Dr Adam Gar nkle, American Interest Mr Hiromi Inamochi, Vice-Governor, Prof. Li Chia-wei, Dr Cecilia Koo Journal, United States of America and delegates from the Miyazaki Botanical Conservation Center, Mr Philip Du y, great-great-great Prefectural Government and Aoshima Taiwan grandson of Lawrence Niven, United Mr Ajith Ashokan, Indian Institute Sub-Tropical Botanic Garden, Japan Kingdom of Science Education and Research, Dr Linda Broadhurst, Bhopal, India Lee Ik-hyung, Director-General for Dr Mark Clements, Commonwealth Ms Sakuntala Ninkaew, Khon Kaen Financial Management and Economy, Dr Akihiko Tamura, and delegates and delegates from the Republic of Organisation (CSIRO), Australia Korea Ms Salwa Binti Shahimi, University of H.E. Lkhagvadorj George Tumur, Reading, United Kingdom Mr Albert Radin, Mr Frederick Kugan, Mr Isuru Kariyawasam, University of Ambassador to Singapore of Mongolia Mr Peter Lagan, Datuk Sam Mannan, Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka Dr Saw Lwin, Myanmar Floriculture Sabah Forestry Department, Malaysia Dr Lúcia Lohmann, Biociências da Association, Myanmar Dr Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Ms Alžběta Böhmová, Czech Republic Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia Mr Stanley Victor White and Mrs Lulut Sulistyaningsih, Herbarium delegation of United States Ms Bomyi Ji, Goyang International Mrs Jennifer Co ey, Bogoriense, Cibinong, Indonesia Flower Foundation, Republic of Korea Mrs Margaret ompson, great-great Ms Luong ien Tam, University of Dr Steve Scott, Melbourne, Australia Dr Carmen Puglisi, Royal Botanic granddaughters of Lawrence Niven, and Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Garden, Edinburgh, United Kingdom friends and family, New Zealand and Mr Teerawat Srisuk, Khon Kaen Australia Prof. Madya Dr Alona Cuevas Linatoc, TRH David Cameron, Prime Minister Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, of the United Kingdom Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General Dr Vinita Gowda, Indian Institute of New Zealand and delegates Malaysia of Science Education and Research, Prof. Deng Yunfei, Chinese Academy of Mrs Marta Lejkowski, Bhopal, India Sciences, People’s Republic of China Mr Jin Xiao Peng, Ministry of Foreign Prof. Monique Simmonds, Mr Vladimar Golitsyn, President of Prof. Dietmar Quandt, Rheinische Mr Richard Deverell, Royal Botanic the International Tribunal for the Law Dr John Leckey, Chief Coroner (rtd), Friedrich Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom of the Sea, and Mr Philippe Gautier, and Jane Leckey, Northern Ireland, Germany Russia United Kingdom Prof. Martin Burd, Monash University, Dr Dong Shiyong, Chinese Academy of Australia Dr William Cheung, Natural History H.E. Joko Widodo, President of Sciences, People’s Republic of China Museum, London, United Kingdom Indonesia, and spouse Hon Mr Matt istlethwaite, Ms Eliška Záveská, University of Australian Labor Party, Australia Ms Wipawan Kioasanthie, Innsbruck, Austria Jos and Helen Burkill, great-great grandchildren of Henry Burkill, United Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri, Minister of Ms Emeily Warschefsky, Fairchild Kingdom Tourism, Malaysia Mr Witsanu Saisorn, Khon Kaen Tropical Botanic Garden, United States Dr N.C. Bantayan, Makiling Botanic of America Prof. Kai Müller, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Gardens, Los Baños, the Philippines H.E. Xi Jinpeng, President of the Dr François Couplan, College Pratique Germany People’s Republic of China Mr Nelson Li, President of the Taiwan d’Ethnobotanique, France and spouse Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Arboriculture Society, and delegates H.E. Geo rey Keating, Ambassador Transport (former Minister for National from Taiwan Mr Xu Datong, Chairman, Tianjin of the Republic of Ireland (Eire) to Development), Singapore Eco-City Administrative Committee, Dr Ng She Cheong and students from Singapore People’s Republic of China H.E. Kirk Wagar, Ambassador of the the Forest Research Institute (FRIM), Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien, Minister for United States to Singapore Malaysia Dr Xue Bine, South China Botanical Culture, Community and Youth & Garden, People’s Republic of China Leader of the House, Singapore Mr Kurt Petersen, Monash University, H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Australia President, Republic of Iceland, and Dr Yea-Chen Liu, National Chiayi Dr Graham Eagleton, Kebun Raya spouse University, Taiwan Bogor-LIPI, Indonesia Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development (former Minister T.H. Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor- Dr Yumiko Baba Mr Greg Sheridan for Culture, Community and Youth), General, and Lady Lynne Cosgrove, Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, Australian, and spouse, Australia Singapore Australia Japan

41 Feature · From the Archives

Vegetable plots in the Gardens during the Japanese Occupation

(Left) Professor Kwan Koriba, director of the Gardens during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore.

(Right) A 1942 painting by Juraimi bin Samsuri of a brinjal grown in the Gardens.

Japanese Occupation of The harvest from the plots was good, and to provide food for labourers. Attempts The Singapore in World War baskets of vegetables were taken daily to were also made to increase the number II took place from 1942 to General Yamashita, the Japanese general of vegetables that were easy to grow, both 1945. During the occupation, Professor who was at the forefront of the invasion for the purpose of demonstrating them, Hidezo Tanakadate, a professor of geo- of Singapore. Seeds were also collected and as a source of seeds to provide to logy from Japan, took control of both the and set aside for future planting, and the public, schoolteachers and Japanese Raffles Museum and the Botanic Gardens, some seeds were sent to the garden of the officials, among others. Over 2,000 seed and Professor Kwan Koriba, a retired Marquis Tokugawa, who was also regu- packets of easy-to-grow vegetables were professor of botany, became the acting larly supplied with vegetables. In 1943 the prepared and distributed among the mil- director of the Gardens. During this pe- yield was reduced considerably as parts of itary, including bayam (Indian spinach) riod a vegetable plot was set up on Lawn the nursery area were reallocated to grow and basella (climbing spinach). Y and beds were planted with a variety other crops, but in 1944 provision was of vegetable crops, including brassicas, made for growing sufficient vegetables to The vegetable plots were maintained keladi, maize, sweet potatoes, brinjals and meet the needs of the employees. throughout the occupation, allowing not tomatoes. A small area was also dedicated only the demonstration of easy to grow vege- for the cultivation of 10 different varieties With the intention of supplying paid tables, but provision of food for the Gardens of tapioca. Citrus and papaya were plant- staff regularly with produce, the area for staff and others as well as the accumulation ed in both the Gardens’ nursery and on growing plants such as tapioca, maize and of stocks of seeds to supply to the public. Lawn R, and trial plantings of different leafy vegetables was increased. Brinjals, varieties of turnips, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, gourds, yams, kelandi and Christina Soh leeks and beets were conducted. others were grown on a smaller scale Library

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