MEDIA FACTSHEET FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANNEX B
TREE PLANTING AT CGS 2017 AND PLANT-A-TREE PROGRAMME
Tree planted by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Scientific name: Cratoxylum cochinchinense Common names: Kayu Arang, Tree-Avens, Yellow Cow Wood, Derum Selunchor, Kemutong Family: Hypericaceae Chinese Name: 黄牛木
Botanical Description:
Native Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo, Myanmar, China, Indochina, Thailand, distribution and the Philippines Leaves Opposite and stalked with fleshy to papery leaf blades Oval to oblong shape About 3-13 cm x 1-4.4 cm Mature leaf blades are green and distinctly covered with a bloom on the grey-green undersides When young, the leaf blades are deep purple and then become pinkish-brown Flowers Faintly fragrant flowers that are 1.3-2.5 cm wide Pink or pinkish-yellow petals Usually found in pairs on flowering shoots occurring at branch tips Develop into seed capsules measuring up to 12 mm Pollinated by insects, mostly bees Fruit Fruit is brown and oval and covered for two-thirds to three- quarters of its length by the sepals Seeds are narrowly drop-shaped to oval or oblong Seeds are released when the ripe fruit splits Cultivation Can be propagated by seed Bark Bark is smooth and flaky, light buff colour to pale brownish- yellow Misc Tree info A small to medium sized tree Can grow up to 30 m in height Native to Singapore Listed as ‘Endangered’ under Singapore’s Red Data List Grows in primary rainforests, secondary rainforests and freshwater swamp forests
Page 1 of 5 Information accurate as of 4 November 2017. For more information, please contact Toh Wan Ting at 9107 4938.
Interesting facts:
Product Remarks Timber Mainly used for cabinets, construction, furniture and interior fittings
Medicinal Uses Wood tar can be used to blacken teeth Fever can be treated by taking a decoction of the bark and leaves A decoction of the roots is given to women as a post-labour tonic
Essential oil Oil is collected from its leaves
Images of Cratoxylum cochinchinense:
Cratoxylum cochinchinense Tree Bark Photo credit: Patricia Yap, Photo credit: Pauline Tay, florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg
Flowers Leaves Photo credit: Pauline Tay (top), Photo credit: Boo Chih Min, Ang Wee Foong (bottom), florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg
Page 2 of 5 Information accurate as of 4 November 2017. For more information, please contact Toh Wan Ting at 9107 4938.
Plant-a-Tree Programme
The Garden City Fund’s Plant-A-Tree (PAT) programme was launched in November 2007 to enable individuals and organisations to do their part for nature through planting of trees at designated areas including parks and nature reserves.
The programme aims to encourage the community to have greater connection and ownership with our natural heritage. Donations from the participants will help fund the cost of the tree planting, and supports conservation and education programmes.
The programme continued to garner strong support with over 33,000 trees pledged by more than 600 corporations and some 2,600 individuals since the programme’s inception in 2007. It has attracted over 50,000 participants and seen some 200 species planted across Singapore. Many of these individuals planted trees with their families and friends to commemorate special occasions in their lives, such as anniversaries, birthdays and even weddings.
Mrs Kirtida Mekani, member of the Garden City Fund who initiated the PAT programme, said “The Plant-A-Tree programme provides everyone with an opportunity to get involved with nature in a memorable way, whether they are young or old, corporates or individuals. It is very encouraging that so many people and communities have helped to plant trees since this programme was launched, gaining a deeper appreciation for nature and the importance of sustainability for our nation’s future in the process. I hope that many more people will be inspired to step forward and plant trees, as the conservation of our natural heritage requires the long-term support of everyone.”
Interested participants can now register for tree planting for the first half of 2018 at the sites listed below. For more information about the Plant-A-Tree Programme, please visit http://www.gardencityfund.org/pat or email us at [email protected].
Dates For 2018 Site 27 January Bukit Batok Nature Park 31 March Pandan Gardens Park Connector 28 April Kallang Riverside Park 26 May Bedok Town Park 30 June Faber Heights Open Space
Page 3 of 5 Information accurate as of 4 November 2017. For more information, please contact Toh Wan Ting at 9107 4938.
Some individuals chose to plant trees with their families and friends to commemorate special occasions in their lives, such as weddings.
(Photo credit: NParks)
Page 4 of 5 Information accurate as of 4 November 2017. For more information, please contact Toh Wan Ting at 9107 4938.
The programme welcomes participants of all ages and hopes to convey the importance of planting trees for our future.
(Photo credit: NParks)
Page 5 of 5 Information accurate as of 4 November 2017. For more information, please contact Toh Wan Ting at 9107 4938.