Gardenwise• • • the Magazine of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Volume 48 February 2017 ISSN 0129-1688

Gardenwise• • • The Magazine of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Volume 48 February 2017 ISSN 0129-1688

14 New to cultivation in Singapore

3 The Singapore Gardening 4 Nature printing, the art, 16 Describing new plant species Society celebrates 80 years craft and science of making leaf prints Volume 48 • February 2017

1 Group Direction 4 16 Nigel P. Taylor

Articles Regular Features

2 Dr Benito Ching Tan (1946– 16 From the Taxonomy Corner 27 The Planting of Globba leucantha 2016) Describing new plant species at the Methodist Girls’ School Ho Boon Chuan, Serena Lee, David Middleton Koh Teng Seah, Michelle Goh Wee Kee Nura Abdul Karim 18 Staff Publications 3 The Singapore Gardening Publications by Gardens’ staff 28 Scratchpads workshop at Ubon Society celebrates 80 years in 2016 Ratchathani University Nigel P. Taylor Ho Boon Chuan 20 From Education Outreach 4 Nature printing, the art, craft Partnership with schools: 30 The Flora Malesiana Symposium and science of making leaf prints Tanglin Secondary School and at the Royal Botanic Garden Michele Rodda the Singapore Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Janice Yau, Winnie Wong David Middleton, Michele Rodda, 8 A preliminary forest survey of Daniel Thomas the Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife 21 What’s Blooming Sanctuary and Batang Ai Something foul is afoot… 32 From the Earth National Park in Sarawak Nura Abdul Karim Tales from the other side Paul Leong, Michele Rodda, Serena Lee Julia Sang, Roslina Ragai 22 Around the Gardens The Gardens/Kew Tropical Plant 33 Book Reviews 12 Conservation and Identification Course The Genus Melastoma in Borneo reintroduction of Bulbophyllum David Middleton, Michele Rodda pulchellum – an orchid thought Nura Abdul Karim to be extinct in Singapore for 34 Nature’s Colony: more than fifty years 25 Learning and sharing of Empire, Nation and Yam Tim Wing, Peter Ang, knowledge… Environment in the Singapore Felicia Tay Nura Abdul Karim Botanic Gardens Wong Yeang Cherng 14 New to cultivation in Singapore 26 Beyond the Gardens Nigel P. Taylor Consultation workshop on 37 Key Visitors to the Gardens the conservation of woody, July–December 2016 ‘exceptional species’ in Southeast Asia Back From the Archives Nura Abdul Karim Cover The Orchid Enclosure Christina Soh

Cover Editors Singapore Botanic Gardens Warszewiczia coccinea Ada Davis, Nigel P. Taylor 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 growing in Pará state, National Parks Board Amazônia, Brazil, January Production Managers 2017, see pages 14–15. Ada Davis, Christina Soh [email protected] (Photo credit: Daniela Zappi) www.sbg.org.sg Design www.nparks.gov.sg Photoplates Pte Ltd

Opposite page New Guinea Creeper (Mucuna bennettii), Fabaceae, flowering on the third floor of Botany Centre. (Photo credits: Nigel Taylor) Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 Group Direction

ear Readers, in this issue level, and so it falls to botanic and here we learn about the successful D of Gardenwise there is a gardens to provide this vital area of reintroduction of the supposedly strong flavour of learning. basic knowledge without which our extinct Bulbophyllum pulchellum Staff of the Botanic Gardens regularly appreciation of Nature would be much (pages 12–13) and the forerunner of enjoy training experiences, whether the poorer. our National Orchid Garden, the now at home or abroad, and we are often almost forgotten Orchid Enclosure (see host to and educators of our partners Creating a desire for understanding of rear cover). from overseas, especially those the natural world is easily achieved in a from the Southeast Asian region, as fine garden like ours. Without the need 2017 promises to be another eventful well as local school groups. No less for technical knowledge we can get year for the Botanic Gardens, with than seven of the Regular Features excited about new plant introductions parts of our Learning Forest opening in this issue describe such learning (pages 14–15) and be reminded that to the public at the close of March experiences (see pages 20, 22–29, 32), gardens and gardening have been a key and various other developments in the most significant of which was the part of our culture for generations – the pipeline to be detailed in future collaboration between the Singapore witnessed by the fact that the Singapore editions of this magazine. We look Botanic Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardening Society celebrated its forward to seeing you regularly in the Gardens, Kew in delivering the 80th birthday at the Gardens in Gardens as it enters its 158th year! Tropical Plant Identification Course, November, when it was honoured by held during October and November a new orchid hybrid (page 3). Our 2016 at the Gardens (pages 22–24). researchers continue to push back the Building capacity for our botanical boundaries of our botanical knowledge partners overseas is an important role in the mega-diverse island of Borneo for the Gardens, bearing in mind that (pages 8–11), while also occasionally learning opportunities focused on indulging in a bit of plant-based fun plant morphology and taxonomy have that definitely qualifies as art (pages Nigel P. Taylor become a rarity amongst the world’s 4–7). As always no issue of Gardenwise Group Director universities at the undergraduate can be without something on orchids Singapore Botanic Gardens

1 Article Dr Benito Ching Tan (1946–2016) Keeper of the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Herbarium (SING) (2007–2010)

was with great sadness It and shock that we received the heart- breaking news of the passing of our dear mentor and friend, Dr Benito C. Tan, at the age of 70. He was diagnosed with cancer in August 2016, and passed away on the morning of 23 December 2016 in Los Angeles, California (USA). It was already Christmas Eve in Singapore when we learnt about his death because of the 16-hour time difference.

We first heard of and knew you as the world’s authority on mosses who was A photograph from our colleague Paul Leong, who recalls trying to capture Benito pushing coming to the National University the boat on camera. When caught unawares, he quickly leapt back in with a cheeky grin. of Singapore (NUS) from Harvard University. When asked what made you take up bryophytes, you said with a Thank you for your generosity and smile that it was because they could all guidance while we were students. You fit in your pocket! You admired those were genuinely interested not just in the little green organisms that most hardly progress of our research projects but also see, hidden wonders that so many in our welfare and future. You were our overlook. Always smiling and full of mentor and a somewhat fatherly figure cheer, there was not a mean bone in to us. you. When the going was tough you shrugged it off as a fact of life and Oh Prof., you were taken way too carried on. soon! But isn’t there a saying the good die young? You will be dearly We remember back at NUS you had remembered and sorely missed, teacher, an electric bike, and you would ride mentor, friend, and Coca-Cola lover. it to school every day until you got Our Prof. Ben. into an accident and stopped. Those were the days when an e-bike was Benito with his namesake plant, Hoya relatively uncommon everywhere and benitotanii Kloppenb. (Photo credit: Paul Leong) Ho Boon Chuan we thought you rather contemporary Serena Lee and funky. Once, when you slipped SING Herbarium and fractured your ankle in the an x-ray and told us you were chastised Gardens, thinking it was just a sprain, by the doctor that you as a Professor Michelle Goh Wee Kee you went to a traditional Chinese should have known better! You were Corning Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd medicine practitioner to get a rub- so humble and funny! You were a down. Finally when the pain did not wonderful boss for us at SING, so mild Boon Chuan, Serena and Wee Kee are former go away, and your foot ballooned and in temperament and always welcomed labmates of the NUS cryptogram laboratory turned black and blue, you went to get us in for a word. (1998–2006)

2 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 The Singapore Gardening Society celebrates 80 years

gardening societies in Kuala Lumpur Chee Chiew, Commissioner for Parks and Malacca, and the desire to have and Deputy Chief Executive Officer a better organisation of the annual of the National Parks Board (NParks), flower shows that were regularly and in the presence of NParks’ held in Singapore in the 1930s. John Adviser, former CEO and former Nauen was the catalyst in improving Director of the Gardens, Dr Kiat Tan these shows and the first held under (CEO of Gardens by the Bay). After the Society’s auspices was a success the applause had died down, John in 1938. The war intervened in 1941 presented various tokens of gratitude and SGS and its shows were only to the senior NParks staff present, reconvened some years after the including some very unusual plants for Japanese occupation had ended. Sadly, our living collections from his private the inspirational John Nauen, together garden, not least amongst which was a with other staff of the Botanic Gardens, spectacular botanically un-described lost his life during the war after being Syzygium with giant leaves and a rarely the afternoon of 18 taken prisoner and assigned to work on cultivated, tall-growing Ecuadorian On November 2016, the the notorious Burma-Siam railway. My gesneriad, Drymonia chiribogana, Singapore Botanic Gardens brief account of the Society’s formation plus two special Hoyas (one being H. hosted a special 80th anniversary concluded with some images taken jiewhoeana, named after John himself). celebration for one of its longest- from its 50th anniversary publication serving partners, the Singapore entitled Golden Gardening (1986), At the conclusion of the formal Gardening Society (SGS). This was including an amusing photograph of a proceedings of the afternoon all an entirely appropriate thing for very youthful John Tan as a committee present retired to the corridor outside the Gardens to do, because in June member. the Function Hall where a delicious 1936 the Gardening Society was meal was served and many enjoyable founded by two former members of For its 80th anniversary SGS was conversations ensued. Now we can our staff, Director Eric Holttum and honoured by the naming of a new look forward to the Gardening horticulturist John Nauen. John Tan orchid hybrid, Renantanda Singapore Society’s 100th anniversary in 2036! Jiew Hoe, the current President of SGS, Gardening Society, bred by the asked the undersigned to give a short Gardens’ very own How Wai Ron. presentation on the establishment of SGS members had been invited to vote Nigel P. Taylor the Society to the assembled audience for one of three contrasting hybrids Group Director of SGS members and invited NParks offered to the Society by the Gardens Singapore Botanic Gardens staff at our Function Hall. The drivers and the Renantanda won by a clear for its establishment in 1936 seem margin. John Tan received the orchid Photos courtesy of the Singapore Gardening to have been the prior existence of in a ceremony conducted by Dr Leong Society

3 Article Nature printing, the art, craft and science of making leaf prints

Silene acaulis, a tiny alpine plant nature printed by Perini in Italy.

representation of an dimensional, but flowers and fruits may can also be pressed and dried to make The object is always also be used. herbarium specimens that are useful influenced by the skill for years to come, but some plant of the artist as well as his or her In its most simple form, nature printing parts do not preserve well or break interpretation of the subject, despite involves the inking of an object and easily, such as petals or stamens. To efforts to be as objective as possible. then pressing it against a surface to document these characters, sometimes Even modern photography can produce an image. Handprints found artists are called in to make drawings easily manipulate the way a subject is in cave paintings from 20,000 years of fresh plants before drying. This also captured. But this is not the case with ago can be considered the earliest allows their colours to be recorded. nature printing. examples of nature prints. For the 500 However, botanical artists (particularly years or so leading up to the early 19th unskilled ones) sometimes misinterpret Nature printing is the art of transferring century, rudimentary forms of nature the morphological characters and the image of a natural object directly printing were frequently used, mostly their illustrations can end up being onto a printing surface. Through this for ornamental purposes. But since inaccurate or misleading. process, the true size and shape of the then, numerous techniques have been object are replicated. Textural elements perfected to obtain more accurate and Because of the delicate nature of such as long hairs and intricate venation detailed prints that can be used for herbarium specimens, they are shared can also be captured and appear scientific purposes. between scientific institutions only sharp in nature prints. Leaves make when absolutely necessary. Nowadays, particularly good subjects for nature Ideally, plant scientists are able to use scientists exchange photographs printing because they are naturally bi- fresh specimens for their work. These of herbarium specimens with their

4 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

early 19th century benefited greatly from nature printing. Enormous quantities of specimens were collected, including 60,000 or so plants. Keeping them dry and pest free during the trip was almost impossible and many were printed while still in the forest to have a better record of their morphology.

In the 19th century, techniques were developed in Europe to allow the mass production of nature prints. Plant specimens were first impressed onto a malleable lead plate and then an electrotype made in copper would be obtained which could be printed over and over again. The beautiful prints made with this technique were used to lavishly illustrate numerous books, including The Ferns of Great Britain by Bradbury, Physiotypia plantarum austriacarum (Nature prints of Austrian plants) by Ettingshausen & Pokorny and Flora dell’Italia Settentrionale… (Flora of Northern Italy) by Perini.

In Asia nature printing was widely used by American botanist Thomas Horsfield, who collected throughout Leaf prints of cherry trees from a Japanese nursery catalogue, likely Southeast Asia for almost 20 years. made in 1920 using the hectographic process, which involves the In India, Henry Smith printed large transfer of an inked object onto gelatin, from which prints on paper are subsequently made. numbers of plants using a letter press, and were collected in Nature Printing from Unprepared Plants, published in 1857, a very rare book with few copies colleagues, but for a long time simple challenge to preserving dried plants. printed. Johann Jakob Hunziker and nature printing techniques were used Bringing an artist along on a long Hugh Cleghorn also adopted the same to duplicate specimens that could expedition was also not an easy option printing technique. be shared. Nature printing was a as it could be very expensive and rarely particularly valuable tool during long afforded. For example, the Alexander In Japan, nature printing was used for expeditions to tropical places, where von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland a rather different purpose. Numerous the hot and humid climate posed a expedition to South America in the plants were used in traditional

Gunnera manicata growing at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Henry Noltie with the freshly harvested Gunnera leaves. (Photo credit: Michele Rodda) (Photo credit: Michele Rodda)

5 Article

medicine, and often Chinese medical books were used as references. However, the use of Chinese texts, often illustrated with crude woodblock illustrations, led to errors in plant identification and sometimes mistaking toxic plants for medicinal ones. In the 19th century, Japanese botanists such as Prof. Ito Keisuke started to document plants through the process of nature printing. These prints were much more accurate than woodblock illustrations, not only representing the shape of the plant part but also its actual size, reducing the possibility of misidentification. It is interesting to note that the Japanese term currently used for a photograph, shashin, was applied to nature prints long before cameras were invented.

A contemporary development of nature printing is popular in Singapore and involves pressing large leaves onto freshly cast concrete. Michele Rodda inking the Gunnera leaf prior to printing. (Photo credit: A.D. Poulsen)

Likely the largest leaf print ever made, representing a c. 2 m wide leaf of Gunnera manicata. (Photo credit: Michele Rodda)

6 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

Once the concrete sets an embossed image of the leaf is permanently formed on the pavement. Excellent examples of this technique can be observed in the Gardens on the ground level of Botany Centre and just outside of Tanglin Gate.

The making of a colossal nature print

The largest known nature print was produced by Ito Keisuke in 1883 in Japan, and it is now preserved at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It represents an entire leaf and two partial leaves of Petasites japonicus subsp. giganteus and is printed on a piece of handmade paper 1.698 m × 0.863 m in size.

During the Flora Malesiana Symposium held at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (UK) in July 2016 (see pages 30–31 of this issue of Gardenwise), Dr Henry Noltie and I had the idea to attempt producing a much larger nature print. The obvious subject was a Gunnera manicata leaf, one of the largest entire leaves in the world. This plant is naturally found in the mountains of Southern Brazil, but grows lushly in large clumps in Edinburgh’s cool and wet climate, with A modern print of a juvenile leaf of Sterculia macrophylla, made in Singapore using a leaves as big as 3 m across. Unfortunately hydraulic press. (Made and photographed by Michele Rodda) we were limited by paper size and so we selected a medium sized leaf for our print.

The printing process involved collecting the fresh leaf, flattening it slightly overnight, inking it as evenly as possible with printmaking ink and pressing it onto a piece of Japanese paper 1.8 m × 2.5 m. The leaf alone is around 2 m at its widest point and the print is more than three times the size of Ito Keisuke’s print held at Kew. For comparison, we also printed leaves of three tiny Gunnera species, G. cordifolia from Tasmania, and G. hamiltonii and G. dentata from New Zealand. In total we made three prints, one of which will be framed and permanently displayed in the conference room of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Michele Rodda Herbarium

Further reading A modern print of a decayed leaf Cave, R. (2010). Impressions of Nature, a of teak, made in Singapore using a History of Nature Printing. The British Library, hydraulic press. (Made and photographed by Michele Rodda) London, 191 pp.

7 Article A preliminary forest survey of the Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Batang Ai National Park in Sarawak

8 March 2016, we set On out for a two-week field expedition organised by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation as part of the RIMBA (Research for Intensified Management of Bio- Rich Areas of Sarawak) project. The purpose was a reconnaisance for renewed botanical assessments of the forests in the Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Batang Ai National Park. Past taxonomic surveys had been done in the early to mid-1990s by ITTO (the International Tropical Timber Organization) for the purpose of improving the management of the forest, and to support sustainable livelihoods amongst the indigenous people living on its periphery. Those initial efforts were primarily focused on tree species identification, as the Map showing the location of LEWS and BANP. (Courtesy of Ling Chea Ying, Sarawak Forestry Corporation) published results indicate that shrubs, herbs, epiphytes and climbers were generally not covered. Thus, for this initial ‘recce’, we focused our efforts on east of the capital Kuching, and was National Park in West Kalimantan these previously under-studied groups gazetted as a Totally Protected Area in (Indonesia), a contiguous forested of plants. 1983. About 1,830 square km in size, area of about 10,000 square km was it adjoins the 240-square-km Batang designated as the region’s first trans- The Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Ai National Park (BANP) which was boundary biodiversity conservation Sanctuary (LEWS) lies in the south- gazetted in 1991. By 2002, together area. This huge cross-boundary western part of Sarawak, about 180 km with the forests of Betung Kerihun reserve contributes significantly to the

Collecting in a bouldered streamside forest. (Photo credit: Roslina Ragai) Navigating the boat through the rapids. (Photo credit: Roslina Ragai)

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Pressing specimens. (Photo credit: Paul Leong) Botanising a hilly mixed dipterocarp forest. (Photo credit: Roslina Ragai)

conservation of rare, threatened and Lubang Baya Field Station at BANP, herbs and climbers are mainly from endangered flora and fauna, some of where we spent an additional three and the Rubiaceae, Melastomataceae and which could be new to science. a half days studying the flora. Araceae. Members of the Ginger family were also frequently seen, from We began our trip with a four hour We travelled through a great diversity larger plants of the genera Amomum drive from Kuching to Lubok Antu, of mixed dipterocarp, secondary and and Alpinia to smaller denizens such a town lying at the lower end of the riparian forests on our trip, although as Globba and Haplochorema. Also Batang Ai Reservoir. There, we joined there is a submontane forest deep in the understorey, we encountered some of the local people in their inside LEWS that we weren’t able to many herbs and shrubs from the traditional longboats powered by small reach. That will have to wait until our Gesneriaceae and Acanthaceae, two outboard motors. Five hours through next expedition scheduled for February of the least studied plant families in the serpentine course of the Engkari 2017, when we shall be camping out Borneo. We found many ferns and River, we reached Nanga Talong, a deep in the forest. The terrain in LEWS palms, including Eugeissona utilis, a traditional Iban long house, where we is hilly, even rugged in certain areas, palm common in the forests of both were welcomed warmly and stopped with Bukit Lanjak being the highest LEWS and BANP. This palm produces to rest for the night. Our intention peak at about 1,285 m in elevation. an impressive upright infructescence was to reach the LEWS field research The forests that we traversed in LEWS which can extend more than four station at Nanga Segerak the next day, are mostly primary with patches of old metres above the crown and hold more ordinarily an hour’s journey by boat secondary growth, evidence of Iban than 50 fruits, each measuring 12 cm from Nanga Talong, but that proved settlement long ago. In contrast, much by 5 cm in size. impossible because of heavy rain that of the vegetation of BANP, particularly caused a subsequent rush of turbulent of the lower or southern parts, is As they exit the sharp valleys of the water in the river, which, even at secondary, containing regenerating hill forest, a multitude of trickling the best of times is intersected by remnants of formerly cultivated land streams gather momentum until they thunderous rapids capable of capsizing and old burial sites. cascade over rocky terrain strewn a boat. In the end, we were much more with boulders (some as large as cars) partial to a three hour hike to the field The mixed dipterocarp forests occur and into the river system below. These station, collecting en route. from almost sea level to about 750 m rocky areas support plants that thrive in elevation with huge emergent in pockets of sandy clay soil and For this exploratory trip, our agenda trees rising above the main canopy, include trees such as Tabernaemontana was to botanise the forests within a which is dominated by species macrocarpa (Apocynaceae) and day’s reach of the field station, and to from the family Dipterocarpaceae Chisocheton macranthus (Meliaceae), return each evening to process all the as well as Koompassia malaccensis many rubiaceous shrubs and some collected samples. The survey areas from the Fabaceae. Other large trees Cyrtandra species (Gesneriaceae). One would be accessed on foot or via short belong to the Fagaceae, Moraceae common climber, Poikilospermum rides in a longboat. After five days of and Myristicaceae, while smaller suaveolens creeps vigourously over botanising in the forests of LEWS, we tree species are from the Ebenaceae both other shrubs and boulders, shifted our base camp to the Nanga and Meliaceae. Understorey shrubs, while several Elatostema species

9 Article

Eugeissona utilis, a ubiquitious palm with an upright infructescence rising 4 m Begonia celata, one of the incredible nine new species of above its crown. (Photo credit: Michele Rodda) begonias discovered on our trip. (Photo credit: Julia Sang)

An undescribed species of Dendrobium orchid. (Photo credit: Michele Rodda)

from the same family (Urticaceae) dipterocarp forest and the river are Sandoricum borneensis (Meliaceae) grow as lithophytes on rock surfaces riparian areas which experience which was gregariously fruiting at perpetually moist from the cascading periodic flooding. In fact, several the time. The foliage of these trees water. Along one wall of an earthen weeks prior to our arrival, heavy rain tends to overhang the river, and bank slightly away from the water’s caused the river to rise several metres, because of the high humidity many edge, we were delighted to discover the resulting in damage to the riverbank, will host epiphytes on their trunk and fern Tectaria inopinata (Tectariaceae), riverbed and adjacent vegetation, branches. Among the community a species previously only known from and also caused landslides that felled of epiphytes was a stunning array of the Type specimen that was collected trees and blocked off transportation orchids, including a beautiful and as in 1980. Nestled within the jumble of along the river. From our longboat yet undescribed species of Dendrobium boulders are highly localised niches several weeks later, we could still see with burgundy tinted flowers, as well which support species found only the accumulation of forest debris and as Hoya glabra from the Apocynaceae there and nowhere else in the area. fallen tree trunks along portions of and a diverse assortment of ferns. This is especially true of begonias, the river. Plants that can endure these Smaller trees and shrubs included such as Begonia rubrotepala, which potently turbulent episodes of periodic Syzygium pycnanthum (Myrtaceae), only occupies earth banks above the inundation are termed rheophytic, Utania stenophylla (Gentianaceae) and flooded zone, B. addrinii that grows and develop special features such the striking Myrmeconauclea strigosa only on shaded rocky banks, and as strongly anchored roots, tough (Rubiaceae) that could undoubtedly B. jamilahanuiana which inhabits the stems, and branches with narrowed become a horticultural gem. Of the dry, shady ridges and slopes. Both leaves. Some of the trees that we ferns, two of those encountered were LEWS and BANP are enormously rich routinely encountered along the river the widespread Dipteris lobbiana in begonias, and we encountered a total were Dipterocarpus oblongifolius (Dipteridaceae) and an atypical tree of 19 species. (Dipterocarpaceae), Pometia pinnata fern Cyathea moluccana (Cyatheaceae) (Sapindaceae) and Syzygium rejangense that congregates along the river banks, At the interface between the mixed (Myrtaceae) as well as the abundant sometimes accompanied in this

10 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

Myrmeconauclea strigosa, a very pretty rheophytic shrub that An orangutan’s nest, some 5 m up a tree. (Photo credit: Roslina Ragai) could have horticultural potential. (Photo credit: Paul Leong)

special environment by an interesting yield more species new to science. Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) were diminutive palm, Pinanga tenella, The families most represented in frequently spotted in the tree tops along which is no more than a metre high. our botanical collection, by percent the trails, often in proximity to fruiting of the total number of specimens trees. However, because of a history of The secondary vegetation was found collected, are the Begoniaceae (14%), poaching and harassment by humans, to be much less diverse, and certain Rubiaceae (12%), Gesneriaceae (9%), orangutans could not be directly patches have been rampantly colonised Urticaceae (6%), Melastomataceae observed on our trip. The Bearded Pig by the exotic Bellucia pentamera, (5%), Zingiberaceae (5%), and finally, (Sus barbatus), whose meat is eaten by a small Neotropical tree from the the Araceae (4%). the local longhouse communities, was Melastomataceae. Other trees we frequently seen in LEWS and BANP encountered included Archidendron In contrast to the luxuriant flora in foraging in the forests, and its wallows clyperia (Fabaceae) and Brookea LEWS and BANP, sightings of fauna were encountered along the forest trails. dasyantha (Plantanginaceae). There there are not so easy. Certainly, there We also noted claw marks from a Sun were also numerous sun loving shrubs were tell-tale signs during our visit, Bear (Helarctos malayanus). On our in the Dilleniaceae and Moraceae, including droppings, paw prints and last day at the field station in BANP, we which were accompanied by herbs claw marks, but the most conspicuous observed a mass migration of mayflies such as Lycopodiella cernua and a indication of animals was the myriad moving upstream along the Batang common climber, Adenia macrophylla calls and songs which we heard day Ai River. These primitive soft-bodied (Passifloraceae). and night. In LEWS, we heard the insects live only a few hours as adults, territorial Bornean Gibbon (Hylobates mating while in flight and leaving the All in all, we collected 371 specimens, muelleri) singing passionately in family females to lay their eggs in the river to each with as many as four sets of choruses during the early mornings. create the next cycle of life. The swarm, duplicates for distribution to colleagues Several species of hornbills also call consisting of trillions of insects, each in other herbaria, and all with frequently in LEWS, and we were about 2 cm long, took hours to pass by preserved flowering and/or fruiting treated to the sight and uniquely and extended along the river in both samples which are so critical to achieve haunting call of the majestic Helmeted directions as far as the eye could see. precise species determinations. Thus Hornbill (Buceros vigil), now Critically Our boats were bombarded by the far, we have discovered that at least 14 Endangered in Borneo. Unfortunately, swarm, but we felt pleased to have the species are new to science, including the casque that enables the male birds opportunity to witness this spectacular an incredible nine (!) species of to produce their remarkably resonant display of nature up close, only one of Begonia (published in the latest issue call is also being relentlessly sought by many remarkable sights in the Lanjak- of the Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore poachers. The Great Argus Pheasant Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Batang 68 (2), 2016). Also making the list (Argusianus argus) is common in both Ai National Park! of new species are two from Alpinia LEWS and BANP, and we could hear (Zingiberaceae), a Homalomena its resounding and lengthy calls arising (Araceae), a Stachyphrynium from courting grounds, usually located Paul Leong (Marantaceae) and a Dendrobium on the ridges. In fact, we spotted a Michele Rodda (Orchidaceae). Even so, the taxonomic male near the riverbank at BANP, but Herbarium status has not yet been determined for it darted out of sight before we could some of the collected specimens, and reach for a camera! Julia Sang others are still waiting to be properly Roslina Ragai evaluated. The collection could easily In BANP, nests of the Bornean Sarawak Forestry Corporation

11 Article Conservation and reintroduction of Bulbophyllum pulchellum – an orchid thought to be extinct in Singapore for more than fifty years

uring a tree flora survey in D 2010 at Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp, we rediscovered a very beautiful native orchid, Bulbophyllum pulchellum. At the time, it was thought to be locally extinct, as it had last been documented in Singapore more than 50 years prior, according to the 2008 edition of the Singapore Red Data Book.

The Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp is a wet-forest area of around 80 ha, consisting of a mixture of old secondary and primary forests with the Nee Soon Bulbophyllum pulchellum in its native habitat at Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp. Stream running through it. The area we surveyed is about 10 m above sea level and generally flat with thick leaf and our second Director Henry Burkill edges are fused together from near litter, but surface water was visible collected a specimen from the Jurong the base to the apex, and the ends are within gaps in the root mat. Most of the area in 1916. It was also collected at bluntly pointed and curved backwards trees within the area had trunk girths Mandai in 1931 by E.J.H. Corner, the slightly. The petals are shorter than the of around 30 to 60 cm and an average Gardens’ Assistant Director at the time. sepals, and gradually narrowed to a height of around 27 m. About 30% The most recent herbarium specimen sharp apex. The pseudobulbs are of the canopy was open, mostly due prior to our recent discovery was a 1.5 cm long, ovoid in shape, and about to tree-fall gaps. There were a few big collection made by J. Sinclair on 20 2 cm apart. The leaves are almost trees belonging to the Sapotaceae, such August 1955, on a “road leading to without stalks, bluntly pointed at the as Palaquium xanthochymum, with Number 1 Rifle Range, in Nee Soon”, apex and narrow at the base. They vary trunk girths of around 2 to 3 m and where it was growing on Knema in size, with the larger leaves around magnificent stilt roots. There were also malayana. This location is very close 16 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. many climbers, some belonging to the to the site where the species was genera Pandanus and Korthalsia that rediscovered. Not common anywhere within its are typical of primary wet-forest flora. range, outside of Singapore this Bulbophyllum pulchellum is an epiphyte epiphyte can be found in Thailand, According to records from the characterised by small flowers that are Borneo, the lowlands of the southern Singapore Herbarium, at one time, produced on a short inflorescence. The part of Peninsular Malaysia, and also Bulbophyllum pulchellum appeared scape measures 5 to 7 cm in length near Bukit Fraser and at Penarek, to be quite widespread in swampy and bears up to about 10 flowers like Terengganu. The pollinator is unknown. areas of Singapore, although it was an opened fan. The sepals and petals According to Dutch botanist Dr Jaap not considered common. Our earliest are very attractive; they are light yellow Vermeulen, who specialises in the herbarium record of this species is and densely spotted with red. The lip genus Bulbophyllum, B. pulchellum dated 1889, and was collected by is reddish purple with a yellow tip. The is very similar in appearance to J.S. Goodenough in the area that used dorsal sepal is concave, measures 5 mm B. acuminatum, which also occurs in to be known as Chan Chu Kang. long by 2.5 mm wide, and has a sharp Singapore. It can be distinguished by its H.N. Ridley, the Gardens’ first Director, tip and finely fringed edge. The lateral wider leaves and shorter inflorescence. also made collections of this species in sepals are about 1.3 cm long by 2.5 mm The flowers are not really much Chan Chu Kang, as well as in Kranji wide, widening slightly from the base to different, yet we have two distinct and Seletar, between 1890 and 1891, a point beyond the middle; their upper species here without a doubt.

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mature stems and a new shoot, and Ten plantlets, each with about 10 shoots was mounted on fern bark covered by and a good root system, were selected a layer of sphagnum moss. They were for reintroduction. They were planted placed under semi-shade (about 50% at Upper Peirce Reservoir in November shade) and watered twice a day for 2013. Of all of the individuals planted, about two years before we attempted we observed that those in semi-shaded reintroduction. conditions with high relative humidity fared the best. As with our other There are several factors that orchid reintroductions, we did not we considered as part of our carry out any routine post-planting reintroduction efforts: maintenance. When planted in the right conditions, native orchids should • Size and vigour of plantlets be able to thrive on their own, and in Native epiphytic orchids are fact, the reintroduced plants survived able to establish themselves even through the severe drought quickly if they start off with that Singapore experienced in 2014. sufficient shoots and a good root Likewise, no fertilizer was given to the The flowers of Bulbophyllum pulchellum. system, which allows them to plants because, if planted correctly, they quickly become attached to their should be able to obtain nutrients from host tree and able to absorb water the environment. and nutrients directly from the environment. We were very happy to see the first flowering of four of the reintroduced • Time of reintroduction plants in September 2016, some of The best time for planting which produced several inflorescences. Bulbophyllum pulchellum is before Besides propagation from cuttings, we or during the rainy season. In have also cross-pollinated some of the Singapore, the rainy season starts plants. The seedlings are growing well around October and lasts until and they will be ready to be moved January. into the nursery in 2017. In two years’ time, more individuals of this beautiful • Suitable microhabitat and species will be planted into nature microclimate areas, parks and roadside trees across Trees that support more epiphytes Singapore! tend to be better hosts than those with fewer epiphytes. Also, it has been observed that if conditions Yam Tim Wing Some of the individuals planted at Upper are suitable for other epiphytes, Peter Ang Peirce Reservoir flowered in September 2016. they are more appropriate for Felicia Tay epiphytic orchids too. Orchid Breeding and Conservation Biotechnology Laboratory Textured bark is generally better able to support epiphytes than fine All photos by Yam Tim Wing bark, as its cracks and crevices catch dead leaves and other References organic matter that falls down Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C. from the canopy above. This (2008). The Singapore Red Data Book: material decays and the resulting Threatened Plants & Animals of Singapore. humus not only holds water Second Edition. Nature Society (Singapore) but also provides nutrients for Ridley, H.N. (1907). Materials for a Flora of the epiphytes. These pockets of the Malayan Peninsula, Part 1 organic matter also create suitable Seidenfaden, G. & Wood, J.J. (1992). habitats for the germination Seed capsules of Bulbophyllum pulchellum. The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and of orchid seeds dispersed by Singapore. Olsen & Olsen, in association the wind and the subsequent with The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Following its rediscovery, a few plants development of seedlings. Botanic Gardens Singapore were collected for propagation and Yam, T.W., Leong, P.K.F., Chew, P.T., Liew, eventual reintroduction into suitable The best locations for epiphytes D. & Ng, K.H.W. (2010). Bulbophyllum locations around Singapore. The to thrive are the forks of main pulchellum: Rediscovering and conserving plants were divided and grown in branches, as this is where water a ‘lost’ orchid of Singapore. Malayan Orchid the nursery of the National Orchid accumulates as it flows down from Review 44: 109–112 Garden. Each cutting consisted of two the top of the tree to the ground.

13 Article New to cultivation in Singapore

here are always some new and curious species illustrated here is of known as nyctinastic movement and T interesting plants becoming smaller stature and is most attractive can be observed elsewhere, such as in available in Singapore, whether when young. P. mirabilis, the Latin the so-called prayer plants belonging by means of the growers’ stalls at the epithet meaning “remarkable” or to the Maranta family, whose leaves monthly Gardeners’ Day Out events “extraordinary”, is indeed an out-of- similarly take on a vertical position held at HortPark or via visits to the the-ordinary plant. First, as a young at night and resemble praying hands. plant markets around Bangkok in specimen, the base of the stem is This should not be confused with the Thailand. Three recently introduced greatly enlarged into a corky-barked sensitive leaves of Mimosa pudica and species are discussed and illustrated water-storing caudex, giving it the its relatives, which react to touch. here as they seem to be worthy appearance of a baobab in miniature. additions to horticulture. This swollen structure rapidly narrows According to advice available on into a knobbly stem bearing an apical the internet, Phyllanthus mirabilis Phyllanthus mirabilis rosette of horizontal lateral branches is best grown rather “hard”, i.e. not with densely arranged leaves, which watered or fertilized too generously, Phyllanthus is a large and complex are a most attractive coppery colour because it is said that if its growing genus of trees, shrubs and herbs when actively growing. As the daylight conditions are very favourable it will that were at one time referred begins to fade each evening the plant lose the caudiciform habit and become to the Euphorbia family, but are performs a trick that has to be seen a regular-looking tree. It is found nowadays classified in their own to be believed. The lateral stems fold naturally in Thailand and Laos in a family, the Phyllanthaceae. Well- up their leaves very tightly so that the variety of habitats, including rather known trees belonging here are the upper surfaces are pressed together humid environments as well as on Indian Gooseberry (P. emblica) and and held vertically. The following rocks, and its appearance apparently the similar Melaka or Laka Laka (P. morning, long before the first hint changes markedly depending on pectinatus), of which the Singapore of daylight, the leaves return to their the conditions in a given location. Botanic Gardens has a fine specimen daytime position and how the plant It needs fairly strong light to thrive accorded the status of a Heritage Tree. knows that the dawn is coming is a and will happily grow in full sun. It is These become sizeable trees, but the mystery. This spectacular behaviour is propagated from seed.

The leaves (left) and swollen caudex (right) of Phyllanthus mirabilis. (Photo credits: Nigel Taylor)

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flowering size, the plant can be grown and flowered in a relatively small pot, though in time it will become a small tree if given enough room. Unlike its larger-leaved cousins, this species is very drought-resistant and can survive prolonged water shortages by means of its tuberous roots. It may thus have the potential to be used rather like the dwarf Bougainvillea cultivars that are commonly planted on overhead road bridges in Singapore and will not need to be watered once established. The plants that have been recently introduced from Thailand are all clones of a male since this species is dioecious, as are three closely related Caribbean species. In Thailand it has been misidentified as P. zinniiflora, a similar species with smaller flowers. Pereskia portulacifolia. (Photo credit: Nigel Taylor) As with other Pereskia species it is easily propagated by stem cuttings which can be rooted in a few days if Pereskia portulacifolia is P. portulacifolia, with Portulaca- placed in shallow water. This seems like leaves and which is native to the like a strange way of propagating a The genus Pereskia is already familiar Caribbean island of Hispaniola (Haiti cactus, but is very effective! to gardeners in Singapore as the and the Dominican Republic). This is uncharacteristically leafy cacti, very different in appearance, having Warszewiczia coccinea especially the commonly seen South very small neat leaves of the brightest American P. bl e o and P. grandifolia, green and spectacular magenta This spectacular small tree or shrub sometimes known as Wax Rose or flowers much larger than the leaves with opposite (paired) leaves was Rose Cactus. Both species become and expanding to as much as recently planted in the National large shrubs, but will flower in a pot 6 cm in diameter. If cuttings are taken Orchid Garden (NOG), in the bed if space is limited. Newly introduced from a parent plant that is already of just beyond the Golden Arches as you head away from the NOG entrance. It bears terminal compound inflorescences in which the densely arranged flowers have large leaf-like sepal appendages of the most brilliant scarlet imaginable. It belongs to the Coffee family (Rubiaceae), one of the most important and pervasive of plant families in the tropics. The genus includes six species and comes from the New World Tropics, ranging from Mexico to Bolivia, with four species in Brazil. Warszewiczia coccinea is the most widespread of these, occurring in lowland Amazônia as well as in the adjacent Andes of Peru and Bolivia at elevations of up to 2,000 m, so it has a wide ecological tolerance. There are few plants in NOG that distract your gaze from the orchids, but this is certainly one of them!

Nigel P. Taylor Group Director Singapore Botanic Gardens

Warszewiczia coccinea. (Photo credits: Benjamin Aw)

15 Feature • From the Taxonomy Corner Describing new plant species

has been estimated that there are What was formerly unknown is already been collected and are awaiting It around 70,000 plant species that now known and that is exciting. study in the herbaria of the world. have never been given a Taxonomists are not immune from This includes the Herbarium of the scientific name. Around 2,000 of these human emotions and most find Singapore Botanic Gardens. They these are described as new species deep satisfaction in uncovering species note that there are currently too few each year, including large numbers previously unknown to science. The taxonomists in the world to describe from Southeast Asia. The Singapore process of describing new species these many new species in a more Botanic Gardens plays an active role begins with botanists getting out into timely fashion. And, of course, almost in the taxonomic research necessary to the field and collecting plants. These half of expected new species have never describe these new species. plants are pressed and processed even yet been collected and some may and eventually incorporated into never be known due to habitat loss. So, In any discussion on the description the herbaria of the world. Today, the even though there are large numbers of new species an extremely important vast majority of new species are no of undescribed species in our herbaria, point has to first be made: the job longer freshly ‘found’ in the field, but there is still an imperative to collect of the taxonomist is not merely discovered through careful research before it is too late. to describe new species but to in herbaria. What this means is that understand what species there are in at the time they were collected, most New species discovery can come the world and where they occur. This were not recognised as belonging to about in various ways. Sometimes it is may lead to the description of new undescribed species. Their status as due to dedicated study of herbarium species but frequently it does not. new species only became apparent material, possibly along with field It is just as common for taxonomic later, often much later, when a botanist studies, and a reassessment of research to lead to the affirmation made a specialised study of the group. widespread and variable species. In of species already known or to lead the past, taxonomists made the best to a reassessment of the distinctions In a paper from 2010 it was noted decisions they could, based on possibly between existing ones, possibly that only 16% of new species were inadequate material they had available. resulting in fewer species. These results published within five years of the In the years since, collectors will are as critical for our understanding date of collection of the specimens have added new collections for study of plant diversity in the world as are on which they are based. Nearly a and the fresh researcher can make the description of species previously quarter of new species were described better informed decisions. With more unknown to science. from collections made more than evidence available, formerly variable 50 years earlier! They conclude that species may be split into better defined The description of new species does, this suggests that more than half of species, for example, the new species of however, capture the imagination. the as-yet undescribed species have Hanguana from Singapore discussed

A new species of Saurauia yet to be described. Hoya isabelchaniae, described in 2016. (Photo credit: Michele Rodda) (Photo credit: Joel Dawat)

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Melastoma tanjiewhoei, described in 2016. Microchirita personata, described in 2016. (Photo credit: Preecha Karaket) (Photo credit: Steven Bosuang)

case for the names applied by foresters new species are from Brunei, China, to tree species in Borneo which were Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, often given the name of similar trees Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. in Peninsular Malaysia. Projects such Particularly large numbers of new as Flora Malesiana and the Tree Flora species have been described in the of Sabah and Sarawak have been families Apocynaceae, Gesneriaceae, clarifying such past misapplications. Melastomataceae and Zingiberaceae. The staff of the Gardens will continue Often new species are not clarified out to describe new species as and when of the morass of variable or misapplied necessary but we shall never reach the earlier names but because new or old huge numbers of species described collections are of species that were by H.N. Ridley, the Gardens first previously entirely unknown. The Director (1888–1912). Over his career study of poorly known plant groups or he described about 4,000 new species, plants from poorly collected regions of which over 1,500 species were can lead to the discovery of new described whilst he was in Singapore species. This is particularly the case for and very many of the rest were herbaceous plant groups, understorey described from specimens he collected trees and shrubs, and epiphytes, and whilst he was here. During his time Newmania sessilanthera, described in 2015. for the study of collections from very little was known of the Malayan (Photo credit: Luu Hong Truong) Borneo and continental Southeast flora and he was a prolific collector Asia, for all of which the Gardens has in the region. Inevitably, a very high considerable expertise. percentage of the plants he collected in Gardenwise 45 (August 2015, pages in areas never before explored by a 24–29). A similar issue may be when Possibly the rarest situation of all is botanist were new. the name of a species in one area is when a botanist recognises that a applied to plants from another area species is new even whilst it is still So what other new species are on the because they appear similar even growing in its native habitat. It can horizon from the Singapore Botanic though they are not actually the same be quite thrilling when this occurs Gardens? Already in the publication species. Often the use of the name in and new species of Microchirita in pipeline are a number of new species the new area will not be challenged the Gesneriaceae published in 2016 of Hoya from Papua New Guinea, until the plants are studied in more are a case in point. Two new and very new Gesneriaceae from Thailand, new detail. This may be a very long time distinct species were found growing understorey trees from Borneo, and later, leading to a situation similar to at the same site only a few metres a new parasitic shrub from Brunei. the one above of a widespread and apart on the first day of a collecting As we continue our work, there will, very variable species, but one which trip to western Thailand in 2014 undoubtedly, be more to discover. nobody really consciously defined with collaborators from the Forest as so variable. Dedicated study can Herbarium Bangkok. discover that the name of the original David Middleton species should never have applied to Just since the beginning of 2015 Herbarium the plants from the other areas and staff members from the Gardens that these plants still have no name of have described around 100 species their own. This has frequently been the of plants as new to science. These

17 Feature • Staff Publications Publications by Gardens’ staff in 2016

Bokso Botanic Gardens: 42. Published of four dipterocarp species Dracula. Malayan Orchid Lim, D. & Khew, G.S. (2016). online: www.bgci.org/files/ in degraded forests in Review 50: 51–57. The history of Aranda breeding Lamb, A. & Rodda, M. (2016). Resources/chapter2.pdf Singapore. Plant Ecology & in Singapore and the region. A Guide to Hoyas of Borneo. Diversity, 12 Dec 2016. doi: Kidner, C., Groover, A., Singapore Orchid Growers’ Natural History Publications Abdul Karim, N. (2016). 10.1080/17550874.2016. Thomas, D.C., Emelianova, K., Association 20th Anniversary (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu. Renewal of ties between sister 1266404 Soliz-Gamboa, C. & Lens, F. Publication: 23–26. 204 pp. gardens. Gardenwise 46: 38. (2016). First steps in studying de Kok, R.P.J. (2016). Notes the origins of secondary Lim, D., Khew, G.S. & Abdul Karim, N. (2016). Wong, K.M. (2016). Studies on the monotypic genus woodiness in Begonia Kurzweil, H. (2016). Orchids A small piece of Singapore in Southeast Asian Melastoma Hexapora (Lauraceae), (Begoniaceae): combining galore flowering in the National in Miyazaki Prefecture… (Melastomataceae), 2. The endemic to Peninsular anatomy, phylogeny, and stem Orchid Garden’s Cool House. Gardenwise 47: 32–33. genus Melastoma in Borneo, Malaysia. Gardens’ Bulletin, transcriptomics. Biological Gardenwise 47: 14–17. including 31 new species. Singapore 68(2): 201–208. Journal of the Linnean Society Abdul Karim, N. & Lim, Low Y. W. (2016). Mohammed Natural History Publications D. (2016). Mythical Medusa 117: 121−138. de Kok, R.P.J., Sengun, S. & Noor Bin Jumaat (1940–2015). (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, in in the form of an orchid… Bramley, G.L.C. (2016). Two Koh, T.S. & Leong- Gardenwise 46: 2. association with National Gardenwise 46: 39. new records for the Lamiaceae Škorničková, J. (2016). Saving Parks Board, Singapore. Low, Y.W., Scherberich, D. & of Singapore. Gardens’ Bulletin, native gingers in the tissue 184 pp. Abdul Karim, N. & Lim, Gusman, G. (2016). Arisaema D. (2016). Not the usual Singapore 68(2): 189–200. culture lab. Gardenwise 46: 14–17. brinchangense Y.W. Low, Dendrobiums… Gardenwise Scherber. & Gusman (Araceae), 47: 38–39. Dhanendiren, N., Ong, H.Y., B oOK Chapters Khoo, G., Wong, K.M. & Koh, T.S., Abdul Karim, N. & a new threatened species Bai, L., Leong-Škorničková, Goh, W.L. (2016). RFLP- Lam, M.K. (2016). Partnering endemic to the Cameron Abdul Karim, N. (2016). J., Xia, N.H. & Ye, Y.S (2016). based cpDNA genotyping Methodist Girls’ School in the Highlands (Peninsular Collection Record Taxonomic studies on Zingiber of Gigantochloa scortechinii conservation of native plants. Malaysia). Candollea 71(1): Management Systems. In: (Zingiberaceae) in China III: (Poaceae: Bambuseae) in Gardenwise 47: 34–36. 83−90. From Idea to Realisation: Z. ventricosum, a new species Peninsular Malaysia and BGCI’s Manual on Planning, Kurzweil, H. (2016). Botanical Low, Y.W., Sugau, J.B. & Wong, from Yunnan, and notes on implications for the use of abbreviations and their K.M. (2016). Hydnophytum Developing and Managing three closely related species. cpDNA markers in systematic Botanic Gardens (Pp. 87–106). meaning. Malayan Orchid puffii(Rubiaceae: Psychotrieae), Phytotaxa 261(2): 101–120. studies. Silvae Genetica 64(4): Review 50: 91–94, 100. a new ant-plant from Sabah, BGCI, UK. Published online: 194−200. www.bgci.org/files/Resources/ Bazilah, I. (2016). Botanical Malaysian Borneo. Plant Kurzweil, H. (2016). Frank Ecology and Evolution 149(1): chapter5.pdf Research Fellows in the Elliot, J. & Yam, T.W. (2016). Kingdon-Ward: ‘The last Gardens 2015–2016. The 12th Asia Pacific Orchid 123−130. Taylor, N.P. (2016). Singapore of the great plant hunters’. Gardenwise 47: 24–25. Conference and Show. Botanic Gardens, Its History, Gardenwise 46: 5−9. Menezes, M.O.T., Zappi, Malayan Orchid Review 50: Journey and Management as Benedict, J.C., Smith, S.Y., D.C., Moraes, E.M., Franco, 32–36. Kurzweil, H. & Cribb, P.J. a UNESCO World Heritage Specht, D.C., Collinson, F.F., Taylor, N.P., Costa, (2016). Flora of Peninsular I.R. & Loiola, M.I.B. (2016). Site. In: Jin, H.-Y., Taking M.E., Leong-Škorničková, Ho, B.C. (2016). A three- Malaysia − the Calanthe group. Pleistocene radiation of Part in, Being Great! TPBG J., Parkinson, D. & Marone, part training programme Malesian Orchid Journal 17: coastal species of Pilosocereus 120. Publ. 269 (Pp. 6–32). F. (2016). Species diversity on tropical bryophytes and 61−122. (Cactaceae) in eastern Brazil. Taiwan Forestry Research driven by morphological and pteridophytes of Southeast Journal of Arid Environments Institute, Taipei. (In Mandarin ecological disparity: a case Asia. Gardenwise 46: 32–35. Leong, P., Koh, S.L., Ali, I., and English) study of seeds of Zingiberales Athen, P., Chia, E., Tan, L. 135: 22–32. doi: 10.1016/j. (bananas, gingers, and Ho, B.C. (2016). Training & Gwee, A.T. (2016). A rare jaridenv.2016.08.006 Weigend, M., Selvi, F., Thomas, on tropical bryophytes and relatives). AoB PLANTS 8: nutmeg finally reveals itself Merklinger, F. (2016). The D.C., & Hilger, H.H. (2016). pteridophytes of SE Asia — a plw063. in the Gardens’ Rain Forest. Double Coconut: Threatened Boraginaceae. In: Kadereit, J., three-part program. The Gardenwise 47: 9–11. wonder of the botanical world. Bittrich, V. (eds.), The Families Calvente, A., Moraes, E.M., Bryological Times 142: 14–16. and Genera of Vascular Plants, Lavor, P., Bonatelli, I.A.S., Leong-Škorničková, J. & Gardenwise 47: 4–8. vol. 14 (Pp. 41–102). Springer, Nacaguma, P., Versieux, L., Ho, B.C. & Gwee, A.T. (2016). Kiew, R. (2016). Hanguana Merklinger, F. (2016). The Berlin. Taylor, N.P. & Zappi, D.C. Mysterious identity of a more fraseriana (Hanguanaceae), a Singapore Botanic Gardens (2016). Phylogenetic analysis than 90-year-old Silk Tree new species from Peninsular palm collection – historical

of Pilosocereus (Cactaceae) illuminated. Gardenwise 47: Malaysia. Garden’s Bulletin, perspective, representation, inferred from plastid and 2–3. Singapore 68(2): 209–214. conservation and direction. Articles nuclear sequences. Botanical Iqbal N., Wijedasa L.S., Leong-Škorničková, J. Palms 60(1): 5−24. Abdul Karim, N. (2016). Journal of the Linnean Society, Evans T.A. (2016). Bait & Šída, O. (2016). (2482) Book Review: A Garden of 6 Oct 2016. doi: 10.1111/ Middleton, D.J. (2016). (BOOK station preferences in two Proposal to conserve the name Medicinal Plants: Book 2. boj.12491 REVIEW) Flora Malesiana, Macrotermes species. Journal Cheilocostus against Hellenia Gardenwise 46: 40. series I – Seed Plants. Volume Chen, C.W., Schuettpelz, E., of Pest Science: 1–9. doi: and Tsiana (Costaceae). Taxon 22: Lythraceae. Gardens’ Abdul Karim, N. (2015). Lindsay, S. & Middleton, D.J. 10.1007/s10340-016-0778-z 65(6): 1426–1427. Bulletin, Singapore 68(2): Cultivating Opportunities in (2016). (2454) Proposal to Leong-Škorničková, J., 327–328. the “Hidden Garden”. Mendaki conserve the name Haplopteris Juengprayoon, W., Ho, B.C. & Nguyễn, Q.B., Trần, H.Đ. & Policy Digest 2015 (SG50 against Monogramma Chantanaorrapint, S. (2016). Middleton, D.J. (2016). Záveská, E. (2016). Etlingera Special Edition): 246–249. (Pteridaceae). Taxon 65(4): The genus Calyptrochaeta Changing ideas of plant 884–885. (Daltoniaceae, Bryophyta) in poulsenii and Hornstedtia families. Gardenwise 47: 21–23. Abdul Karim, N. (2016). Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin bella (Zingiberaceae: Learning and sharing… Chin, L.L. & Choo, M. (2016). (Botany) 44(2): 108–115. Alpinieae), two new species Middleton, D.J. (2016). A Gardenwise 47: 37. The Asia Pacific Orchid from central Vietnam. revision of Aeschynanthus Conference 2016. Gardenwise Kamariah, A.S. & Wong, K.M. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore (Gesneriaceae) in Singapore and Abdul Karim, N. (2016). 47: 30–31. (2016). Novitates Bruneienses, 68(2): 287–297. Peninsular Malaysia. Gardens’ Maintaining Singapore Botanic 7. Saurauia (Actinidiaceae) Bulletin, Singapore 68(1): 1–63. Gardens through contract Chong, K.Y., Chong, R., in Brunei Darussalam. Lim, D. & Khew, G.S. (2016). companies (Case Study 2.3). Tan, L.W.A., Yee, A.T.K., Sandakania 22: 41−54. The genus Papilionanthe. Middleton, D.J. & Ho, B.C. From Idea to Realisation, Chua, M.A.H., Wong, K.M. Singapore Orchid Growers’ (2016). Celebrating Singapore BGCI’s Manual on Planning, & Tan, H.T.W. (2016). Seed Khew, G.S. & Lim, D. (2016). Association 20th Anniversary in Plant Names. Gardenwise 46: Developing and Managing production and survival Monkeying around with Publication: 35–38. 25–27.

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Möller, M., Nishii, K., Atkins, status of the presumed Tran, T.B. Hai, D.V., Malesian and Southwest Pacific P resENTATIONS H.J., Kong, H.H., Kang, M., extinct Singaporean Hoya Ha, B.T. & Rodda, M. woody bamboos (Poaceae: Wei, Y.G., Wen, F., Hong, X. wallichii (Apocynaceae: (2016). Jasminanthes Bambusoideae: Bambuseae) Ardi, W.H. & Thomas, D.C. & Middleton, D.J. (2016). Asclepiadoideae). Gardens’ xuanlienensis (Apocynaceae, informed by morphological Progress in understanding the An expansion of the genus Bulletin, Singapore 68(2): Asclepiadoideae), a new and molecular studies. Begonia flora of the Moluccas, Deinostigma (Gesneriaceae). 175–187. species from Vietnam. Sandakania 22: 11−36. Indonesia. 10th International Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore PhytoKeys 69: 17–22, 18 Flora Malesiana Symposium, 68(1): 145–172. Romeiro-Brito, M., Moraes, Aug 2016. doi: 10.3897/ Wong, W. & Wright, J. (2016). Edinburgh, UK, July 2016. E.M., Taylor, N.P., Zappi, phytokeys.69.9272 Celebrating Singapore’s Mornkham, T., Wangsomnuk, D.C. & Franco, F.F. (2016). horticultural heritage. Jie, H., & Yam, T.W. Water P.P., Mo, X.C., Francisco, Lineage-Specific Evolutionary Wang, X., Yam, T.W., Meng, Gardenwise 47: 18–20. relations, photosynthesis F.O., Gao, L.Z. & Kurzweil, Rate in Plants: Contributions Q., Zhu, J., Zhang, P., Wu, H., and nitrogen metabolism of H. (2016). Development of a Screening for Cereus Wang, J., Zhao, Y. & Song, X. Xie, N., Chen, L.-N., Wong, Grammatophyllum speciosum and characterization of (Cactaceae). Applications in (2016). The dual inoculation of K.M. Cui, Y.-Z. & Yang, H.-Q. orchids grown under natural novel EST-SSR markers and Plant Sciences 4(1):1500074. endophytic fungi and bacteria (2016). Seed set and natural conditions in Singapore. their application for genetic doi: 10.3732/apps.1500074 promotes seedlings growth regeneration of Dendrocalamus 6th International Orchid diversity analysis of Jerusalem in Dendrobium catenatum membranaceus Munro after Conservation Congress, Hong artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus Rundel, P.W. Sharifi, M.R., (Orchidaceae) under in vitro mass and sporadic flowering Kong, May 2016. L.). Genetics and Molecular King-Rundel, J. & Middleton, culture conditions. Plant Cell, in Yunnan, China. PLOS One, Kartonegoro, A., Atkins, H.J. Research 15(4): 1–16. D.J. (2016). Dacrydium Tissue and Organ Culture 14 April 2016. doi: 10.1371/ & Middleton, D.J. The Genus elatum (Podocarpaceae) in (PCTOC), 126(3): 523−531. journal.pone.0153845 Niissalo, M.A., Khew, the montane cloud forest of Aeschynanthus (Gesneriaceae) Yam, T.W., Ang, P. & Tay, G.S., Webb, E.L. & Leong- Bokor Mountain, Cambodia. Webb, E.L., Wijedasa L.S., In Malesia, how many species F. (2016). Rediscovery and Škorničková, J. (2016). Cambodian Journal of Natural Theilade, I., Merklinger, F., are there? 10th International reintroduction of Robiquetia Notes on Singaporean native History 2016(2): 90–97. van der Bult, M., Steinmetz, Flora Malesiana Symposium, spathulata in Singapore. Zingiberales II: revision of R. & Brockelman, W.Y. (2016). Edinburgh, UK, July 2016. Gardenwise 46: 22–24. Marantaceae, with a new Soh, C. (2016). Topiary of the James F. Maxwell: Classic Field Lindsay, S. & Middleton, D.J. generic record and notes on Gardens. Gardenwise 47: Back Botanist, Inimitable Character. Yau, J. (2016). On-the-Spot The Gardens of Singapore – naturalised and commonly cover. BIOTROPICA 48(1): 132−133. Poetry and Photography contrasting but complementary cultivated exotic species. Soh, C. (2016). Vegetable Widjaja, E.A. & Wong, K.M. Competition for primary ways of enthusing and Phytotaxa 289(3): 201–224. plots in the Gardens during (2016). New combinations school children. Gardenwise educating the public about the Japanese Occupation. 47: 28–29. Niissalo, M.A., Williams, in Chloothamnus (Poaceae: plants. 10th International Gardenwise 46: Back cover. C.E., Kurzweil, H. & Thomas, Bambusoideae), a genus of Yau, J., Tan, H.M. & Goh, Flora Malesiana Symposium, Edinburgh, UK, July 2016. D.C. (2016). Rediscovery in Sugau, J.B., Pereira, J.T., Lee, Malesian bamboos formerly M.Y. (2016). Singapore Botanic confused with Nastus. Singapore of Plocoglottis lowii Y.F. & Wong, K.M. (2016). The Gardens – Our Heritage’: Middleton, D.J. The Sandakania 22: 37−40. Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae). Nature Sandakan Herbarium turns a Roadshow and assembly talks Gesneriaceae in Asia. 10th in Singapore 9: 41−46. hundred. Sandakania 21: 1−20. Wong, K.M. (2016). Book for primary and secondary International Flora Malesiana schools. Gardenwise 47: 26–27. Symposium, Edinburgh, UK, Puglisi, C., Middleton, D.J. Taylor, N. (2016). Echinocereus. review: A Guide to Hoyas of July 2016. & Suddee, S. (2016). Four In: Hunt, D. (Ed.), NCL Borneo. Gardenwise 47: 40. Zaveska, E., Fer, T., Sida, new species of Microchirita Updates. Cactaceae Systematics Wong, K.M. & Boyce, P.C. O., Marhold, K. & Leong- Middleton, D.J. Taxonomy: (Gesneriaceae) from Thailand. Initiatives 34: 12–13. (2016). Novitates Bruneienses, Škorničková, J. (2016). tricks of the trade. 10th Kew Bulletin 71–2: 1–7. 6. Alocasia azlanii (Araceae), Hybridization among distantly International Flora Malesiana Taylor, N.P. (2016). a new species from Brunei. related species: examples from Symposium, Edinburgh, UK, Puglisi, C., Milne, R., Möller, Descendants of Lawrence Acta Phytotaxonomica et the polyploid genus Curcuma July 2016. M. & Middleton, D.J. (2016). Niven, the Gardens’ first Geobotanica 67(3): 185–189. (Zingiberaceae). Molecular A phylogenetic study of the manager. Gardenwise 46: 4. Phylogenetics and Evolution Middleton, D.J. & Lindsay, S. Loxocarpinae (Gesneriaceae). Wong, K.M. & Dransfield, 100: 303−321. The Gardens of Singapore – Taylor, N.P. (2016). An Taxon 65: 277–292. S. (2016). Ruhooglandia and promoting plant conservation early photograph of the Widjajachloa, two new genera Zhang, Y., Ik Chian Wong, through education and Rodda, M. (2016). Gardens. Gardenwise 47: of Malesian bamboos (Poaceae: A., Wu, J., Abdul Karim, N., research. Botanic Gardens and Checklist and typification of 12–13. Bambusoideae) and their Huang, D. (2016). Lepisanthes Plant Conservation in ASEAN, Heterostemma (Apocynaceae, alata (Malay cherry) leaves Taylor, N.P. (2016). Keith distinction from Nastus and China and Japan Symposium, Asclepiadoideae, Ceropegieae). are potent inhibitors of Hillier (1929–2015). Chloothamnus. Sandakania Bangkok, Thailand, December Phytotaxa 263(1): 1–17. starch hydrolases due to Gardenwise 46: 3. 22: 1–9. 2016. Rodda, M. (2016). (2485) proanthocyanidins with high Rodda, M. A revision of Hoya Proposal to reject the name Taylor, N.P. (2016). Living Wong, K.M. & Pereira, degree of polymerization. of Borneo. 10th International Stapelia cochinchensis (Hoya Collections at the Singapore J.T. (2016). A taxonomic Journal of Functional Foods 25: Flora Malesiana Symposium, cochinchinensis) (Apocynaceae) Botanic Gardens – Historic treatment of the Asiatic allies 568−578. Edinburgh, UK, July 2016. Taxon 65(6): 1430. and Modern Relevance. of Rothmannia (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae), including the Museologia & Rodda, M., Khew, G., Ercole, Rodda, M. (2016). Taxonomy new genera Ridsdalea and Interdisciplinaridade Posters E., Simonsson Juhonewe, N. and typification of Hoya Singaporandia. Sandakania 21: (Universidade de Brasília) & Livshultz, T. Relationships meliflua (Apocynaceae, 21−64. Luong, T.T., Duong, B.H., 9(5): 120–134. between Hoya, Dischidia and Asclepiadoideae). Phytotaxa & Ho, B.C. Mosses along Oreosparte. 10th International 247: 287−291. Taylor, N.P. (2016). NParks Wong, K.M. & Sugumaran, trekking trail toward Langbian signs a Memorandum-of- M. (2016). Studies in summit, Bidoup-Nui Ba Flora Malesiana Symposium, Rodda, M. & Tan, L. (2016). A Understanding with the Malesian Gentianaceae, VII. National Park, Vietnam. 2nd Edinburgh, UK, July 2016. botanical expedition to Laos. A revision of Fagraea in the Royal Botanic Gardens, International Symposium on Thomas, D.C., Arias, T., Gardenwise 46: 10–13. Malay Peninsula, with five Kew. Gardenwise 46: 36–37. the “Evolution and systematics Lundberg, M., Couvreur, new species. Sandakania 21: of pleurocarpous mosses”, Rodda, M. & Simonsson Thomas, D.C. & Roos, M. T.L.P., Sauquet, H., Carrive, 65−130. Bonn, Germany, June 2016. Juhonewe, N. (2016). (2016). Flora Malesiana: a new L., Erkens, R., Brandao, R., Hoya isabelchanae Rodda secretariat branch at Singapore Wong, K.M., Muhd-Ariffin, Maul, K., Ho, B.C., Wei, Chatrou, L., de Carvalho & Simonsson, a new, Botanic Gardens. Taxon 65(5): A.K. & Joffre, A.A. (2016). Y.-M., Noben, S., Lehnert, Lopes, J., Bine, X., Chaowasku, showy species of Hoya 1219. Novitates Bruneienses, 5. M., Nebel, M, Karger, D., T. & Saunders, R.M.K. R.Br. (Apocynaceae, Polyalthia watui (Annonaceae), Kessler, M. & Quandt, D. 2016. Phylogenomics and Tien, C.V., Xia, N.H., Wong, Asclepiadoideae) with a new tree species from Brunei, The 3transect Project. 2nd historical biogeography of K.M., Van, D.N., Toan, pomegranate red flowers from Borneo. Gardens’ Bulletin, International Symposium on the recalcitrant Annonaceae P.N.H., Nguyen, H.N. & Tran, Sulawesi, Indonesia. PhytoKeys Singapore 68(1): 71−76. the “Evolution and systematics Subfamily Malmeoideae. 10th V.T. (2016). Schizostachyum 68: 45–50, 2 Aug 2016. doi: of pleurocarpous mosses”, International Flora Malesiana langbianense, a new species Wong, K.M., Goh, W.L., 10.3897/phytokeys.68.8803 Bonn, Germany, June 2016. Symposium, Edinburgh, UK, of bamboo (Poaceae: Chokthaweepanich, H., Clark, July 2016. Rodda, M. Simonsson Bambusoideae) from Lang Bian L.G., Sungkaew, S., Widjaja, Juhonewe, N. & Middleton, Mountain, Vietnam. Phytotaxa E.A. & Xia, N.-H. (2016). D.J. (2016). The taxonomic 257(2): 181−186. A subtribal classification of

19 Feature • From Education Outreach Partnership with schools: Tanglin Secondary School and the Singapore Botanic Gardens

new Heritage Garden was A unveiled by the Botanic Gardens on 28 May 2016 (see Gardenwise 47: 18–20, 2016). This garden commemorates Singapore’s greening journey and proudly showcases more than 80 different types of plants which have been introduced to Singapore’s streets and green spaces over the past five decades.

In our effort to engage schools and the community, the Gardens partnered The student guides from Tanglin Secondary School A photo of the students with Minister with Tanglin Secondary School, together with Mrs Ng-Leong Kai Leng, Head of Lawrence Wong, the guest-of-honour through the Ministry of Education’s Humanities at the school. (Photo credit: Winnie Wong) at the launch of the Heritage Garden. Applied Learning Programme, to train (Photo credit: Winnie Wong) students to conduct guided tours at the Heritage Garden. Ten lower secondary students underwent intensive training formosum), the same species that was Show, which was launched by Mr Lee to become guides, and showed the planted by former Prime Minister in 1959, and comprised a set of cultural guest-of-honour and invited guests Mr Lee Kuan Yew to kick-start the performances with a multiracial theme. around the Heritage Garden on the day greening campaign back in 1963 – and a The historic event drew a gathering of of its launch. variety of fragrant plants. Also of social 22,000 people. and historical significance is the location The student guides shared information of the Heritage Garden, situated on the The objectives of the training were to on iconic trees – in particular, pointing lawn above Swan Lake. This was the build up the students’ confidence in out a Pink Mempat (Cratoxylum site of the inaugural People’s Variety public speaking and interacting with visitors to the Gardens, and to deepen their appreciation for Singapore’s rich history and how the greening movement came to be. With this initial success, the Gardens plans to continue working with Tanglin Secondary School to train more students so that they will be able to give similar tours to their peers, and possibly to the public, in the future.

We are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Tanglin Secondary School. The next project on the cards will involve the school in reforestation efforts at the new Learning Forest, which will be opened in 2017.

Janice Yau The student guides receiving their final pep talk from their teacher-in-charge, Mrs Ng-Leong Winnie Wong Kai Leng. (Photo credit: Janice Yau) Education Branch

20 Feature • What’s Blooming Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 Something foul is afoot…

eavy rains near the end of October This deciduous tree is commonly known H and early November of 2016 were as Kelumpang Jari in Malay, and as the very welcome after weeks of Giant Sterculia, Stinky Sterculia, Java intense heat in Singapore. With the rains Olive Tree, Skunk Tree or Wild Almond came the flowering of many plants in Tree in English. It is naturally distributed the Gardens, including an interesting from Eastern Africa to Southeast Asia tree located near the Swiss Granite and Northern Australia, and grows in Fountain. A distinct unpleasant scent that semi-open tropical forests and coastal occasionally drifted near the fountain areas. brought the flowers to our attention. The source was a tree known as Sterculia The Stinky Sterculia has beautiful foetida, a member of the Hibiscus family palmate compound leaves that cluster A close-up look at the velvety maroon-red (Malvaceae). The generic name is based near the branch tips. Each leaf has flowers of the Stinking Sterculia. on the Latin word stercus, which is a long petiole (leaf-stalk), is about derived from the name for the Roman 12.5–23 cm long, and consists of five to God of Manure, Sterquilinus. It is in nine elliptic-lanceolate leaflets, each up to reference to the foul smell of the flowers about 17 cm long with an entire margin. and leaves of some species in the genus. This species is dioecious, meaning that The malodorous nature of the tree is it produces male and female flowers further emphasised by the species epithet on separate trees. They are borne on foetida, meaning ‘stinking’! branched inflorescences that are pendent and 10–15 cm long. The flowers lack true It is unfortunate that the tree produces petals, but have a maroon-red calyx with an unpleasant scent, as it is large and five lobes that are deeply divided and handsome with a wide spreading canopy. curled backwards at the tip, resembling It has a very straight trunk with smooth, petals. The fruits are hard woody ellipsoid greyish white outer bark, attractive follicles that occur singly or in aggregates horizontal branches that are whorled, of up to five; each is about 10 cm long and can produce large buttresses when and 5 cm broad. Initially the fruits are mature. Our tree in the Gardens is green then turn bright red as they mature. about 10 m tall but the species has been When ripe, they split along one seam The large unripe follicles of the Stinking recorded to grow up to 40 m in height. to expose around 10 to 15 greyish black Sterculia. seeds inside.

Despite its unpleasant odour, the Stinky must be taken in moderation to prevent Sterculia is sometimes utilised as a a laxative effect. The leaves, flowers, and shade tree in tropical parks and gardens. oil from the seeds are used in traditional It is also planted along roadsides, but medicine, and the oil has also been understandably at a certain distance from shown to have insecticidal properties and homes. It can be grown easily from seed potential use as a biodiesel. and germinates within one to three weeks from planting. The seedling quickly forms So on your next visit to the Gardens, if a long taproot and its initial growth is you happen to get a whiff of an offensive particularly fast. stench near the Swiss Granite Fountain, it could mean that the Stinking Sterculia is The wood of this tree is easy to work with in bloom! and used to make furniture, canoes and musical instruments. The fibres from the bark have been used to make ropes Nura Abdul Karim and cords. The leaves are used as animal Library, Training and External Relations fodder, and the resin that exudes from the trunk and branches has been recorded All photos by Tim Utteridge to be used as glue. The seeds are edible when ripe and are usually eaten roasted. Beautiful panicles of Sterculia foetida with their foul-smelling flowers. They are said to taste like chestnuts, but

21 Feature • Around the Gardens The Gardens/Kew Tropical Plant Identification Course

A group photo with the participants of the course and a few of the trainers. Front row, from left to right: Tran Van Tien, Jessica Teo, Dr Laura Pearce, Dr Tim Utteridge, Dr Rodrigo Cámara Leret, Dr Nura Abdul Karim, Jacqualine Henry Ripan, Duratul Ain Hj. Durani, Veo Dalavong, Mediana Kampong, and Chew Ming Yee. Back row, from left to right: Lua Hock Keong, Paul Parusuraman S. Athen, Ng Xin Yi, Peck Geok Xin, Dr Lesley Walsingham, Jeremy Yeo, Edwin Lim, Germaine Leng, Dr Alison Moore, Dr Gemma Bramley, and Joel Dawat. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

around us are plants and ecologists to understand which species Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, based on All these come in all shapes grow in which conditions, gardeners the well-established and very popular and sizes, from the tiniest to know which plants are ideal for a training programme and course of weeds to the most enormous of particular landscape, you and I out of materials developed by Kew. The forest trees. Across Southeast Asia sheer curiosity, etc. These thousands of funding for the course was generously there are many thousands of different species are classified into just over 400 donated by the Lee Foundation species, each with its own unique set plant families worldwide and once a through the Garden City Fund. Fifteen of characteristics that distinguishes plant is identified to the family level it students attended the course from it from its nearest relatives. The becomes easier to find the information Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Laos bewildering range of form, and the needed to identify it further as genus and Vietnam. Amongst these students huge numbers of species, can make and species. Plant family identification were also representatives from various it a daunting prospect for anyone is not easy but it is a skill that can be divisions of the National Parks Board, wishing to identify plants. Yet, many taught, and from 31 October to including the Singapore Botanic people do need to identify plants: 11 November 2016, an intensive Gardens, Streetscape, Parks, National foresters to know the economically course was run at the Singapore Biodiversity Centre, Conservation important species, conservationists Botanic Gardens to do just this. (Pulau Ubin), and Horticulture and to understand which species are Community Gardening, along with common and which are under threat, The Tropical Plant Identification some of our botanical partners in pharmacists to know from which plant Course was jointly run by the the region from the Brunei Forestry a bioactive compound was extracted, Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Centre, Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden

22 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

Celebrating the last day of the course with a final group photo. Along with the participants and trainers shown on the opposite page are, in the second row (centre), Dr Jana Leong-Škorničková, and in the far back row (from left), Dr Daniel Thomas, Dr David Middleton and Dr Michele Rodda. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

that by examining each characteristic they could rapidly narrow down the possibilities until only one possibility is left. Each student’s train of thought would be to ask themselves, in steps, the various visible characters that the plant presents, and eliminate systematically the families that do not correspond with the characters they are seeing. Questions they might ask include “Is the plant a tree, climber, epiphyte, or herb; does it have resin or latex and, if so, what colour is it; are its leaves opposite to one another, spirally arranged, or alternate in a flat plane; are its leaves simple or composed of many leaflets; is the leaf margin entire or toothed; how are the flowers arranged; what are the number of parts of the flower and how are they arranged in relation to each other; Dr Rodrigo Cámara Leret from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, explaining and illustrating what is the fruit like, etc. etc.” until all the characteristics of the Legume family. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw) possibilities bar one are eliminated.

The goal of the course was to give in Laos, Forest Research Institute Gardens brought their own expertise to participants an overview of the most Malaysia, Sabah Forestry Department, the course. commonly encountered tropical plant Sarawak Forestry Corporation, and families, as well as introduce them to Dalat University in Vietnam. Seven The students were taught what plant morphology and identification members of the staff of the Royal characteristics to look for in order tools. This was done through short Botanic Gardens, Kew came to to narrow down what a plant may illustrated lectures and extensive Singapore, including the principal be, rather than to rely on the ‘gestalt’, hands-on practical sessions during course organiser Dr Tim Utteridge. which is just the overall look, of which the trainers demonstrated These Kew staff members brought a plant. By understanding what is the key characters for each family with them a wide range of expertise in possible for each plant family in and shared their expert tips for many and varied plant families. Several its overall range of morphological identification. There may be over 400 staff members from Singapore Botanic features, the students were taught plant families but many of these are

23 Feature • Around the Gardens

During a typical practical session, the participants were split into Students pairing up in one of the outdoor garden sessions in search groups of five, given herbarium and living plant specimens, and asked to of plants exhibiting certain morphological characteristics. They were determine their families. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw) expected to document and present their findings later in the classroom. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

Dr David Middleton showing and explaining the arrangement of the A very happy Duratul Ain Hj. Durani being flanked by Drs Tim sori on the underside of a fern frond to the group of engrossed students. Utteridge and David Middleton after receiving her certificate of (Photo credit: Tim Utteridge) attendance on the last day of the course. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

not found in Southeast Asia or are countries and different perspectives. We are immensely grateful to the very rarely encountered. Therefore, As well as the training itself, building Lee Foundation for the funding that the course aimed to get the students relationships and contacts between enabled us to run the course, and to familiar with how to identify over 70 our branches, divisions, institutions the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for of the most commonly encountered and countries will benefit our shared their hard work, good humour, and plant families in Southeast Asia, and goals of understanding and enhancing dedication to sharing their knowledge tested how much they had learned at biodiversity and greenery in the and experience with the students. the ends of the first and second weeks. future. Needless to say, learning this much in just 10 days of instruction was very In short, the overall feedback gathered David Middleton intensive, but learning from so many from the participants after the course Herbarium experts in a wide range of these plant clearly indicated that everyone had groups was also something to savour. found the training immensely useful, Nura Abdul Karim The course also gave the students an even if they felt rather shell-shocked by Library, Training and External Relations opportunity to mingle and learn with the fast pace due to the large number of colleagues and trainers from different families covered.

24 Feature • Around the Gardens Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 Learning and sharing of knowledge…

ack in 2015, the Gardens B entered into a Memorandum- of-Understanding (MoU) with Dalat University, Vietnam, to carry out a botanical survey of Vietnam’s Central Highlands region. In October of 2016, we hosted a delegation of 12 staff from the University, comprising Vice-Deans, Deans and Lecturers. The group met with staff from the Gardens’ Research The delegation from Dalat University at the National Orchid Garden with Drs Wong Khoon and Conservation team, including Meng (2nd from left), David Middleton (5th from left) and Nura Abdul Karim (centre). Dr David Middleton (Coordinating (Photo credit: Parusumaran Athen) Director), Dr Wong Khoon Meng (Principal Researcher), Dr Nura Abdul Karim (Deputy Director) and Mr Paul Botanic Gardens, which was established Parusuraman S. Athen (Herbarium in 1893 outside of St John’s City and is Officer). the only botanical garden in Antigua and Barbuda, has deteriorated due to The delegation was shown around the insufficient financial support and weak Gardens, including the Herbarium and management over the years. However, all micropropagation laboratory, and was this is changing and plans are underway briefed on the work carried out in these to rejuvenate the infrastructure and plant research facilities. Later, over tea, both collections of their botanic gardens. groups expressed interest in working together in the future to continue field The Victoria Park Botanical Gardens is surveys of the Central Highland areas of not very large – it covers only about Vietnam. The Dean of the University’s 6 acres (approximately 2.4 ha) – but the Mrs Paula Frederick-Hunte and Mr Janeil Faculty of Biology and Technology also Simon posing for a photo at the National Government is determined to transform expressed interest in sending staff to the Orchid Garden. (Photo credit: Nura Abdul Karim) it into a place that can offer educational Gardens for short-term training in the programmes and after-school activities future. that focus on conservation and So it was not surprising when we biodiversity. They also plan to build Congenial study visits such as this one received a request from the Government an amphitheatre for artists to perform. are not uncommon for the Gardens, as of Antigua and Barbuda to host two However, our guests mentioned that the we strive to provide capacity-building in of their officials for a study visit. The gardens lacks horticulture staff and has the fields of botany, applied horticulture officials were Mrs Paula Frederick- a limited water supply due to prolonged and even garden management to our Hunte, Permanent Secretary from periods of drought since 2014. The colleagues in other botanical institutions. the Ministry of Tourism, Economic obstacles facing the revitalisation of the Development, Investment and Energy, Victoria Park Botanical Gardens are and Mr Janeil Simon, Nursery Manager many, and we offered to provide training from the Department of Environment. to its staff to enhance their knowledge of They were shown around the Gardens horticulture, nursery management and by Drs Nigel Taylor and Nura Abdul educational outreach. Karim, and were impressed with our infrastructure and visitor facilities. They We hope to continue to play an were also fascinated with the diversity of important role in the sharing of our living collections, especially of our knowledge with our counterparts in orchids. the region and across the world who require assistance in building skills Our guests from Antigua and Barbuda essential to the sustainability of botanical Mrs Paula Frederick-Hunte and Mr Janeil were full of questions and keen to institutions. Simon, government officials from Antigua learn how the Gardens has managed to and Barbuda, discussing with Dr Nigel Taylor maintain our strong standing as a top their redevelopment proposal for the Victoria botanic garden given its long history. Nura Abdul Karim Park Botanical Gardens. (Photo credit: Nura Abdul They shared that the Victoria Park Karim) Library, Training and External Relations

25 Feature • Beyond the Gardens Consultation workshop on the conservation of woody, ‘exceptional species’ in Southeast Asia

consultation workshop was The held by the Southeast Asia Botanic Gardens (SEABG) network from 12 to 13 September 2016 in Pintung, Taiwan. Participants included representatives from the SEABG network, namely from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as from invited botanical The SEABG Consultation Workshop participants The participants of the workshop posing for a institutions from Hong Kong, China, deep in discussion. They were separated into group photo in one of KBCC’s glasshouses. (Photo Taiwan and Papua New Guinea, and groups to tackle a certain topic of interest related courtesy of KBCC) from two NGOs, the Tropical Rainforest to the ex situ conservation of exceptional species in Conservation and Research Centre the region. (Photo courtesy of KBCC) in Malaysia and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) based in the United Kingdom. The workshop was generously supported by the Dr However, the creation of field gene building needs in the region for effective Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center banks bears many practical challenges, ex situ conservation of exceptional (KBCC), Taiwan, and BGCI. Mr Joachim such as space requirements, as well species. Overall, the workshop achieved Gratzfeld, BGCI’s Director of Regional as the financial implications for their its main objectives and is helping to shape Programmes, chaired and organised the maintenance. BGCI highlighted that the programme for the next SEABG workshop, along with Dr Chia-Wei Li, under the umbrella of the Exceptional network meeting, which will be held in Director of KBCC, and his team. Plant Species Advisory Group (EPSAG), Vietnam. a collaboration between BGCI and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s One other event related to the workshop The purpose of the intensive workshop- Center for Conservation and Research is worth reporting. On the second day, cum-meeting was to review the current of Endangered Wildlife, efforts are now 13 September, Super Typhoon Meranti and available knowledge concerning under way to prepare guiding principles (a Category 5 storm) hit Taiwan. The the establishment of genetically diverse for identifying exceptional species typhoon was recorded as one of the ex situ conservation strategies, in towards the establishment of a global list strongest tropical cyclones to ever hit the particular regarding the banking of of threatened exceptional plant species, as region, and impacted southern Taiwan, germplasm from exceptional species well as to promote best practices in ex situ where our workshop was held, with of the tropical Southeast Asian region. conservation. BGCI representatives also wind speeds topping 230 mph (370 kph). The term ‘exceptional species’ is defined voiced the view that the SEABG network Remarkably the typhoon resulted in only as species that cannot be conserved ex could make a significant contribution one death and two injuries, but more situ through standard seed banking to these efforts by consolidating related than 260,000 households lost power and methods, and usually refers to plants knowledge from the region. hundreds of domestic and international that produce recalcitrant seeds which flights were cancelled. The participants, cannot tolerate drying or being subjected The workshop began with the participants including myself, were grateful to Dr to below-freezing temperatures without presenting the strengths and research Chia-Wei Li and his staff for efficiently losing viability. The term also applies to interests of their respective institution coordinating our evacuation and species that generate few, infrequent or or organisation. Those that have been arranging transport to the airports once non-viable seeds, reproduce clonally, or heavily involved in ex situ conservation flights reconvened. Thankfully, KBCC produce deeply dormant seeds or seeds practices for exceptional cases also shared was spared the typhoon’s full impact that can only be banked for a short period their experiences and challenges. The with only one glasshouse roof damaged of time. participants came together to list and and no casualties to staff or their plant prioritise plant families from the region collections. It was truly a memorable Many researchers have argued that that are highly threatened, such as the workshop. field gene banks are the most effective Dipterocarpaceae and Rafflesiaceae, and way to conserve long-lived exceptional in need of immediate concerted and species, especially woody species which collaborative conservation efforts. The Nura Abdul Karim are often difficult to establish in vitro. group also identified specific capacity Library, Training and External Relations

26 Feature • Beyond the Gardens Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 The Planting of Globba leucantha at the Methodist Girls’ School

late 2015, we began a In collaboration with the Methodist Girls’ School (MGS) that led to the micro- propagation of one of our native gingers, Globba leucantha, and this was reported in the last issue of Gardenwise (Volume 47, pages 34–36). We are now pleased to let readers know that the plantlets propagated and nursed by The girls from MGS proudly displaying their Globba leucantha plantlets. the secondary students have produced flowers in less than a year!

The hard work and dedication of the MGS lead teacher, Mrs Lam Mei Kien, and her students paid off on 25 October 2016, when around 50 of the Globbas were planted around the school’s compound. Mrs Lam also The girls hard at reports that two of the plantlets began work digging and flowering even before the planned planting their planting activity! Seventeen girls came Globba leucantha out to plant the gingers along the path plantlets between leading from their school’s car park to mature spider-lily the auditorium. They were excited to plants in beds that they had prepared. get their hands dirty as they dug holes, mixed soils and planted the gingers.

No doubt, Mrs Lam was instrumental in the success of this project by encouraging the students and ensuring that they understood the basic techniques of tissue culture and how to care for the young gingers, as had been demonstrated by staff of the Gardens. The resourceful Mrs Lam even found a solution to the lack of proper nursery space at the school by encouraging the students to care for A Globba luecantha some of the plantlets at home. The girls plantlet producing were enthusiastic about taking on this a few flower buds. responsibility and learning to nurse the young plants on their own. Mrs Lam outside of the school, and also The authors would like to thank also created a school blog to document propagating and nursing other native Mrs Lam Mei Kien for her assistance this project and encouraged the girls to plant species for reintroduction around in the preparation of this article. pen their feelings about the experience Singapore. It is heartening to know in the blog. The girls commented that that today’s youth can be successfully they had fun working together and engaged in playing an active role in Koh Teng Seah found the propagation and gardening native plant conservation work. The Orchid Breeding and Micropropagation activities exciting and calming. Gardens hopes that with such small yet significant collaborative projects, more Nura Abdul Karim The next phase of our collaboration native plants can be propagated and Library, Training and External Relations with MGS will be the planting of planted into the urban landscape of Globba leucantha into suitable sites Singapore. All photos by Mrs Lam Mei Kien

27 Feature • Beyond the Gardens Scratchpads workshop at Ubon Ratchathani University

fter a short one-hour transit A from Bangkok International Airport, I emerged from the Ubon Ratchathani Airport on an early Sunday afternoon. I was immediately picked up by Dr Aef, an affable lecturer from Ubon Ratchathani University, who drove me about 17 km south to the University’s campus on the outskirts of the city. It was my first Workshop trainer Dr Marta Gruca interacting Field excursion to the forest near Ubon with and guiding participants on how to set up Ratchathani Zoo, led by Prof. Henrik trip to northeastern Thailand, and and manage a Scratchpads webpage. Balslev (far right). Also in the picture my main mission was to attend a are Henrik Balslev, Chortip Kantachot, course on Scratchpads – an online Witsanu Saisorn, Jiratthi Satthaphorn, platform designed for biodiversity Kanokorn Ruengsawang, Wanniga researchers to share data more Munsuk and Rattapon Somsura. efficiently across research networks. The course was organised and hosted by Ubon Ratchathani University and was financially supported by Aarhus University in Denmark.

The one-week workshop began on Monday, 20 June 2016, and was coordinated by Dr Chortip Kantachot from the University. It started off with an opening speech by Prof. Henrik Balslev from Aarhus University on the state and progress of the Flora of Thailand project. He also touched on the relevance of modern electronic platforms such as Scratchpads for Flora projects.

The main trainer of the workshop, Dr Marta Gruca, patiently walked us through the details of creating, The Scratchpads webpage on the Legumes of Singapore. setting up and managing a Scratchpads webpage. The hands-on exercises provided an enhanced learning (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) for the that we could explore the local plants, experience for the participants, despite Flora of Thailand, it provided a great especially the legumes. the occasionally slow uploads due to opportunity for me to network and the upgrading of the host server and exchange knowledge with others who In the Asian custom of keeping other internet connection issues. I are dealing with Southeast Asian everyone’s stomach full and happy created a Scratchpads webpage entitled legumes. After two days of intensive during workshops such as this, we “Legumes of Singapore” (http:// computer training, the participants were treated to a plethora of delectable legumes-singapore.myspecies.info) were rewarded with a visit to the food. At the beginning of the training during the course of the workshop. Ubon Ratchathani Zoo. We were also course, a sumptuous welcome dinner taken to a patch of forest near the zoo, was graciously provided by the Since this training course was where we were shown a population of University’s Department of Biological specially targeted towards contributors Phyllanthus chayamaritiae, a species Sciences. Among the food that was to the taxonomic treatments of that was described in 2013. Dr Chortip served, I could not help but notice the various genera in the Legume family also took us to the University’s forest so unopened flowers of the Vegetable

28 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

(Left) Desmodium styracifolium, (centre) Melastoma saigonense and (right) Rhodamnia dumetorum are among the interesting plants encountered in the forest of Ubon Ratchathani University.

(Left) Seeds of the Petai, (centre) flower buds of the Vegetable Hummingbird and (right) young shoots of the Water Mimosa on display in a restaurant, waiting to be ordered and cooked.

During one of our dinners at a local restaurant, I was amazed to find not only the seeds of the Petai or Stink Bean (Parkia speciosa) and the flower buds of the Vegetable Hummingbird being served, but also the young shoots of the Water Mimosa (Neptunia oleracea). This plant is common throughout the tropics and found in marshy fields, at the edges of ponds, or even floating on water as it has buoyant stems.

By the end of the workshop, I Kaeng som served with rice. Notice discovered something special that the cooked flower buds of the Vegetable connects Ubon Ratchathani University Hummingbird. (Photo credit: Saowalak and the Singapore Botanic Gardens – Bunma) the Kan Krao tree. This is the icon of the University, and the same species as our Hummingbird (Sesbania grandiflora), Tembusu, Cyrtophyllum fragrans. After a papilionaceous legume. They were learning about this, I shared the story part of a Thai dish known as kaeng som of our famous Heritage Tree which lives – a type of sour curry flavoured with A Kan Krao or Tembusu tree on Lawn E and is also depicted on the Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), which (Cyrtophyllum fragrans) planted by back of Singapore’s five-dollar note. I also happens to be a legume. There H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn even gave away my only two five-dollar are different variants of the Vegetable on 21 December 2010 in front of the notes as gifts! U-Placeubon Hotel, Ubon Ratchathani. Hummingbird, and interestingly, only the flowers of the white variant are used and not the red ones. I was also The Vegetable Hummingbird is also Ho Boon Chuan told that the stamens are sometimes incorporated into dishes in Singapore, Herbarium removed before cooking because they although here it is called Turi by the have a bitter taste (but not always as Malays, and the leaves are eaten rather All photos by Ho Boon Chuan, unless some people prefer the bitterness). than the flowers. otherwise indicated.

29 Feature • Beyond the Gardens The Flora Malesiana Symposium at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Participants at the Flora Malesiana Symposium in the RBGE lecture theatre. (Photo credit: Lynsey Wilson)

10th international Flora The Malesiana Symposium was held at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) on 11–15 July 2016. These symposia are held every three years to bring together people working on the plant diversity of the Malesian region. Malesia is the region that includes Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor Leste, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. Three Singapore Botanic Gardens staff members travelled to Edinburgh for this meeting where they David Middleton of the Gardens giving a lecture. (Photo credit: Maxel Ng) met up with three more staff from the National Parks Board (NParks) who were already in Edinburgh for various study and training programmes. identification of plants in Malesia more of sterile plants in the wild that can Altogether there were around 180 difficult, which in turn makes it more be later identified once they flower in participants from 25 countries, a challenging to understand the plant cultivation. For example, many gingers, good and vibrant turnout for a Flora diversity of forests in the region and Gesneriaceae and Ericaceae have Malesiana Symposium held outside the assess conservation needs. On the theme been described as new species from region. of ‘classify’ there were many and varied cultivated plants of known wild origin. talks and posters showing progress in A central role of botanic gardens is also The theme of the symposium was research on the plant diversity of the to conserve plants by ex situ cultivation ‘Classify, Cultivate and Conserve’. region. and propagation that are threatened in Classify: In the Malesian region there their native habitats. And, of course, are an estimated 45,000 species of Cultivate: The herbaria of the world their beauty can attract visitors into vascular plants, with new species contain many millions of dried botanic gardens for pleasure and constantly being found and described. plant specimens that are essential education. The Royal Botanic Gardens The Flora Malesiana project has the for taxonomic research. Several of Edinburgh has a particularly strong goal of publishing a series of books these herbaria are in botanic gardens legacy of integrating research and cataloguing and describing all of these that also have rich collections of horticulture, particularly on Malesian species and providing the tools to living plants. These collections are Ericaceae, Begoniaceae, Gesneriaceae identify them. Since 1948, when the first particularly useful for taxonomic and Zingiberaceae, and the staff shared issue was published, only around 25% work in plant groups that make poor many of their experiences through of the species have been treated. The herbarium specimens (such as gingers talks and even a hands-in-the-compost lack of a comprehensive Flora makes the and orchids) and allow the collection workshop.

30 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

The Flora Malesiana Foundation Board members present at the meeting.(Photo credit: Lynsey Wilson)

highly commended for putting on such a successful, stimulating and enjoyable symposium.

At each of the Flora Malesiana Symposia the Board of the Flora Malesiana Foundation meets to discuss progress on the Flora and other related activities in the region. The Board consists of 20 members representing botanic gardens, natural history museums and universities in ten Asian countries, as well as Australia, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. The chair of the Foundation is Joeni Siti Rahajoe, the Head of the Botany Division at Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia. The Secretary is Marco Roos of Some of the participants at the Symposium in the Fossil Garden. (Photo credit: Lynsey Wilson) Naturalis in Leiden, the Netherlands. The representative for the Singapore Botanic Gardens is David Middleton. At the Flora Malesiana Foundation Conserve: Without plants there is no Staff members from the Singapore Board meeting it was agreed that the life and readers of Gardenwise need Botanic Gardens and NParks delivered, Singapore Botanic Gardens will assist no convincing that we have a moral or were co-authors on, nine presentations the secretariat in Leiden. The Gardens imperative to protect the biodiversity at the symposium. These were on a wide will provide a new regional contact of our planet. Many of the talks at the range of subjects including the begonias point, work with the Flora Malesiana Symposium discussed the need for of the Moluccas, understanding the network to explore funding possibilities, conservation due to pressures from evolution of the plant family Annonaceae, and actively seek experts to coordinate expanding extractive industries and the Gesneriaceae of Asia, the genus or contribute the remaining family increased exploitation of forests as Aeschynanthus in Indonesia, the gardens accounts. The Gardens’ Daniel Thomas many of the Malesian nations strive for of Singapore, Pterospermum in Malesia, will coordinate these activities. financial security for their citizens. Many the evolution of Hoya and its relatives, the of the talks integrated the various themes genus Hoya in Borneo, and ‘taxonomy: by noting that effective conservation tricks of the trade’. David Middleton needs sound scientific underpinning. Michele Rodda There were also talks on protected areas The staff and volunteers of the Royal Daniel Thomas and IUCN conservation assessments. Botanic Gardens Edinburgh must be Herbarium

31 Feature • From the Earth Tales from the other side

rainy season is now The upon us and you would by now have seen mushrooms popping up from the ground almost anywhere. These are the fruiting bodies of certain groups of fungi. Some of you might have viewed them through a compound microscope in a science class, at most up to 1,500× in magnification but few have seen them through a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which can go up to 500,000× magnification, depending on its make. (Left) A dried-up specimen of Boletus prebadius that was collected from MacRitchie in 1940 Fungi have been understudied in this and once preserved in spirit (alcohol mix); (right) despite the condition of the collection, spores from the specimen are still clear under the SEM (at 1,000× magnification). part of the world since Corner’s time (E.J.H. Corner, former Assistant Director of the Gardens (1929–42), was a prolific writer of many works covering topics from fungi to figs to the durian theory, which are still valuable references for many of us in various fields).

Most fungal specimens can only be determined to genus and not to species. Mushrooms cannot be identified from pictures (although well taken images do enable us to make some good guesses), but rather, they need to be collected and either dried or preserved in alcohol (Left) The fruiting bodies of Boletus ferruginosporus that were collected from Bukit Timah in for further identification. Colour is 1940 and preserved in spirit (alcohol mix); (right) the spores of B. ferruginosporus at 10,000× important, but so are microscopic magnification under the SEM. features like cap structure, stipe texture and spore colour and shape. The ultra- although some are located in the structures that can be seen under an Kew Herbarium in London. There SEM are sometimes now used to better is none in the SING Herbarium at differentiate the species. the Gardens as all the material he had collected here moved with him This past summer, at the Royal Botanic after he left Singapore. We at SING Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), I had the are collaborating closely with E to opportunity to study a small group of try to bring more understanding boletoid mushrooms (fleshy mushrooms to Corner’s species in the light of with pores instead of gills) described by molecular genetics. Corner in the 1970s, some of which had been collected as far back as the 1930s. So here are the images from the ‘adventures’ I had on the SEM Many of these are known only from the The ‘caverns’ of Boletus calocystitides with its amazing type material, which was collected in during my time at RBGE. It was cystidia (sterile cells) are shown in the cross section of this Singapore (including the Gardens’ Rain a whole new experience, akin to bolete tube at 1,000× magnification under the SEM. Forest and the Bukit Timah, Seletar and going into deep caverns 20,000 MacRitchie areas) and in Malaysia. leagues under the sea or perhaps riding in a land rover on Mars to survey The reference specimens of all the the landscapes of a new frontier! Serena Lee Malayan fungi described by Corner Herbarium are mostly found in the Herbarium E A picture speaks a thousand words, (Index Herbariorum acronym) at RBGE, enjoy… All photos by Serena Lee

32 Feature • Book Review Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 The Genus Melastoma in Borneo

by Wong Khoon Meng the first part including relevant This publication is beautifully information on the morphology, presented in a hardcover format with Published in 2016 by Kota Kinabalu: classification, biogeography and numerous technical illustrations from Natural History Publications ecology of the species, as well as dried specimens as well as colour (Borneo), with the support of Tan notes on their horticultural potential. photographs of living plants, many Jiew Hoe, President of the Singapore Apart from the free-flowering and obtained specifically for the book. Gardening Society. widespread M. malabathricum, Between these illustrations and the which is also native to Singapore, all very useful taxonomic key, this book 22.2 ×16 cm, hardcover, viii+184 p. are endemic to Borneo. The highest proves a valuable tool for scientists ISBN 978-983-812-171-2 species diversity was observed in and plant lovers looking to identify the Northwest Borneo hotspot that Bornean Melastoma. Price RM110.00 (approximately includes southwest Sabah, Brunei and S$35.00) Sarawak, and on Mount Kinabalu. Despite their attractiveness, Melastoma species have yet to become As part of his revision of the popular in horticulture. Now that elastoma is a genus of 80 to Melastoma of Borneo, Dr Wong has more of their astounding diversity has M 90 species, mostly small trees devised a new system to separate been revealed, it is hoped that more or shrubs with showy pink or the species from each other without will be introduced into cultivation. purple flowers. In Borneo, the genus the presence of complete flowers, has been considerably understudied, which preserve poorly in herbarium Michele Rodda with only nine species thought to specimens. Instead, his system Herbarium occur on the huge island as recently uses the type and distribution of as 2001. With this new publication, hairs on various parts of the plants, Dr Wong presents us with an in particular the hypanthium, as astonishing 31 new species, bringing identifying characters. The second the current count of Bornean part of his book includes an Melastoma to 41 species. identification key using this system, followed by 41 sections, one for each The book is divided into two parts, of the treated species.

33 Feature • Book Review Nature’s Colony: Empire, Nation and Environment in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

more than 157 years, the For Singapore Botanic Gardens has been a foremost scientific and botanical institution, first within the British colonial network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and later in independent Singapore. It was and still is more than just a cog in a wheel within the grand scheme of Singapore’s development. Timothy Barnard’s Nature’s Colony: Empire, Nation and Environment in the Singapore Botanic Gardens tells the Gardens’ history of proving its worth and holding its own within the network of botanic gardens in the British Empire, and carving its place in independent Singapore.

Here is an excerpt from the book detailing how botany was elevated as a pivotal constituent of colonial society as a result of the research done by the Gardens’ first Director, Henry Nicholas Ridley, in the area of Rhinoceros Beetle and Red Palm Weevil infestations in coconut plantations:

The result of this research was the Coconut Beetle Ordinance of 1890, the first “anti-insect” legislation enacted in the Straits Settlements. The ordinance led to the creation of a “coconut tree inspector” who – along with two coolies – inspected all plantations, particularly those with “accumulations of cow-dung, tan-bark or other refuse in which the coco-nut beetles might be breeding.” The inspector would serve notices to plantation owners, who were required to eliminate “all rubbish, leaves, husks and other vegetable refuse, or at least not allow piles of it to accumulate,” or face a fine. The elimination of the by Timothy P. Barnard refuse was done through fire. In addition, it became illegal to use Published in 2016 by NUS Press, National University of Singapore old coconut tree trunks as posts or bridges in plantations. In the 229 mm × 152 mm, 304 pages first year of the enactment of the ordinance, the inspector issued 200 ISBN 978-981-4722-22-3 (softcover) notices, and almost 5000 coconut trees or stumps were destroyed Price S$34.00

34 Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017

in Singapore. The next year, During his time as Director of the in Singapore hosting the World 1891, most of Singapore, with the Gardens, Burkill compiled more than Orchid Conference, once again, exception of Kallang was beetle- 17,500 specimens. When he retired in 2011. While orchid societies free. in 1925, he was succeeded by Richard bid for the right to host, which Eric Holttum, who helped to elevate OSSEA [The Orchid Society of Under Ridley, the Gardens “attained a the Gardens as a place for horticultural South-East Asia] secured the high position among the Gardens of the excellence. While the Gardens had been right to do so in 2005, the Orchid world”. It was further propelled onto cultivating orchids since Ridley’s time, Society jointly organized the the world map under the leadership of Holttum shifted this focus away from gathering with the National Parks Director Isaac Henry Burkill (1912–25), native species and towards hybrids. Board, which is the administrative who prioritised the Gardens’ herbarium body that oversees the Singapore and its work on the region’s flora. Holttum was a gentle, unassuming Botanic Gardens. Another sign of Burkill also played a remarkable role man at ease in the library and the continuing interest in orchids in interpreting botanical knowledge garden cultivating plants and is the inclusion of a new hybrid for the general public through seminal conducting research. While he from Singapore in every quarterly works like A Dictionary of Economic published numerous articles and issue of the Register, still known Products of the Malay Peninsula (1935). books on ferns, which was his affectionately as Sander’s List. By He compiled lists of the plants in the specific area of research interest, 2015, Singapore registered one Gardens, which he made available to the his attempts to breed orchids that orchid a week, on an average. public: were suitable for tropical lowland For example, in January 2015, vegetation were his lasting legacy the Singapore Botanic Gardens As part of this process Burkill in the Gardens, as well as in larger registered Dendrobium Serena obsessively recorded information horticultural circles in Singapore Williams following her victory about each plant on 3’ × 5’ pieces and the wider world. This was in a tennis tournament that of paper, eventually collecting ten mainly accomplished through Singapore hosted. Much of boxes of material. He then began the importation of many of the this activity revolving around adding interesting facts, including orchids of Southeast Asia into orchids occurred in a Singapore local names or historical accounts, the laboratory as well as the use Botanic Gardens that faced new about many of the species. For of plants from the Americas and challenges related to its transition the longer entries numerous cards other parts of Asia to create new from a colonial botanic garden were needed, which were bound hybrids, which brought vibrancy to one serving an independent together using rubber bands. to the local garden. His best Singapore in which horticulture These cards are now housed in known published works, A Revised will be emphasized. The VIP the archives at the Royal Botanic Flora of Malaya and Gardening Orchid Naming Program Gardens, Kew. An example can in the Lowlands of Malaya, reflect was only the beginning of the be found among the cards in the these interests, and they became integration of the Gardens to first box of the collection for the standard works on bookshelves the needs of an independent, genus Annona, which contains throughout the region, promoting and small, nation, but it was a number of species that are the use of free-flowering plants the culmination of efforts of well known in Malay Peninsula, in the gardens of Malaya and Singapore-based botanists to including Annona muricata, better ultimately transforming the enter complex scientific economic known as soursop […]. There are appearance of greenery throughout and diplomatic networks that 51 cards related to Annona which the region. were not rooted in supervision are scribbled on index cards, the from the Royal Botanic Gardens, backs of envelopes and even red- Years later, with nation-building well Kew. colored blotter paper. Each piece of underway and a slew of greening paper records a different reference programmes enacted to make newly- Nature’s Colony’s is a well-researched to the genus and its various species independent Singapore a Garden City, and comprehensive exposition of in the taxonomic literature, or the Gardens continued to define itself how the Singapore Botanic Gardens, reports a fact about it. For instance, in the areas of botany and horticulture. as we know it today, came to be. soursop is not indigenous to Its VIP Orchid Naming programme, Drawing from a myriad of sources Southeast Asia. It originated in which was an offshoot of the work and materials ranging from colonial the Americas and was transferred begun by Holttum in the area of orchid records and journals to oral archival to Asia following the Columbian hybridisation, is an example of this. recordings and personal diaries, the Exchange, the massive transfer of book makes for an informative yet flora and fauna between the Old While the Botanic Gardens has amusing read as it discusses both and New Worlds that occurred focused on the development of the effects of political changes on the after Columbus’ voyages. This specific hybrids for diplomatic, Gardens and the idiosyncrasies of its transfer is reflected in the local and occasional conservation, important personalities, their personal names for the fruit, such as “durian purposes since the 1960s, and challenges and their scientific, botanic belanda” (Dutch durian), as it was commercial and amateur growers and even administrative contributions introduced as a by-product of the have become limited due to the to the Gardens’ transformation though VOC presence in Southeast Asia, development of an increasingly history. which began in the 17th century. controlled and urbanized In addition, Burkill noted that landscape, these entities still soursop is available in markets come together to support and Wong Yeang Cherng in Malaya during the months of celebrate orchids in Singaporean Communications and Community February, August and September. society. This was best symbolized Engagement

35 Feature •

36 Feature • Key Visitors to the Gardens Gardenwise • Volume 48 • February 2017 July–December 2016

Her Excellency Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic His Excellency Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, of the Union of Myanmar, during her visit on 1 December 2016. with his Aranda Mark Rutte during his visit on 24 November 2016. (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw) (Photo credit: Benjamin Aw)

Mrs Amonrant Chantanaorrapint, Bureau, MLIT (Land, Infrastructure, Mr Ng Lang, CEO of the Urban Dr Tanaka Nobuyuki, and delegation Mr Nutdanai Putthisawong, Transport and Tourism), Japan Redevelopment Authority of from the Japanese Association of Ms Orawanya Suwanmala, Ms Singapore Botanic Gardens Pinpawan Rojchanaumpawan and Ms Hsieh Shu-Ya, Mayor of Douliou Dr Sahut Chantanaorrapint, Prince City, Taiwan Dr Nobuyuki Tanaka, National H.E. Thomas Kupfer, Ambassador of Songkla University, Thailand Museum of Nature and Science, of Switzerland to Singapore, H.E. Mr Ian Cowie, Northern Territory Japan Mauro Moruzzi, Ambassador, Head H.E. Aung San Suu Kyi, State Herbarium (DNA), Australia of International Relations at the State Counsellor, Republic of the Union Prof. Norbert Lammert, President Secretariat for Education, Research Mr Jan Metzler, Mr Johannes of the Bundestag (Federal of Myanmar Steinger, Mrs Katrin Albsteiger, and Innovation, Switzerland, and Parliament), Germany delegation Dr Axel Poulsen, Dr Carmen Mr Mark Hauptmann, Ms Ronja Puglisi, Royal Botanic Garden Schmitt, Mr Steffan Bilger, Dr Mr Olaf Scholz, First Mayor of the Assoc. Prof. Timothy Barnard, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Tim Ostermann and Dr Wolfgang Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg, National University of Singapore Stefinger, Junge Gruppe of the CDU Germany, and delegation Dr Boonchuang Boonsuk, Mr Parliamentary Group, Bundestag, Prof. Tomo Inoue, and delegation Ponprom Pisuttimarn, Mr Pornchai Germany Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for from Kyushu University, Japan Kludwong, Khon Kaen University, Education (Higher Education Mr Janeil Simon and Mrs Paula Thailand and Skills) & Second Minister for Dang Thanh Hai, Hau Viet Hoang, Frederick-Hunte, Government of Defence, Singapore Hoa Nguyen Duc, Huy Phuoc Mr Brad Irwin and Mr Jim Irwin, Antigua and Barbuda Dang, Ket Van Nguyen, Mai Ha Thi, Natural History Museum, United Mr Pakorn Tippayasri, Thailand Nguyễn Thị Ái Minh, Son Nguyen Dr Jeff Chemnick, Ganna Walska Kingdom Institute of Scientific and An, Tan Nguyen Huu, Thong, Tien Lotusland Botanic Garden, United Technological Research and Tran Van, Truong Nguyen Khoa, States of America Minister Champika Ramawaka and Advisor of the Thai Traditional Truong Thi Ngoc Thuyen and Tu Thi Mr Pujitha Dilusha Hewawasam, Medicine Research Institute, H.E. Johann Schneider-Ammann, Anh Le, Dalat University, Vietnam Ministry of Megapolis and Western Miss Punjaporn Sunthudlakhar, President of Switzerland Development, Sri Lanka Mahidol University, and Miss H.E. Vira Rojpojchanarat, Minister Ms Karola Maul, Rheinische Walaiphon Sareemongkonnimit, for Culture, and Mr Kasidit Mr Christopher Niven, Mrs Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Thai Traditional Medicine Research Chantarasiri and Ms Pariyapa Christine Niven, and descendants Bonn, Germany Institute, Thailand Amornwanichsarn, Ministry for of Lawrence Niven Culture, Thailand Prof. Kim Yong Shik, Yeungnam Dr Paulo Silveira, University of Dr Colin Ridsdale, Dr Ed de University, Republic of Korea Aveiro, Portugal Yang Hong Mei, Director, Science and Vogel, Mr Yu Renyong, Naturalis Technology Extension Department, Biodiversity Centre, The Netherlands Mr Koji Kuda, Ms Makiko Teruya, Dr Razali Jaman, Universiti and delegation from the Guangzhou Mr Masahito Asato and Ms Takuya Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia Dr Daniele Cicuzza, Universiti institute of Forestry and Landscape Tominaga, Okinawa Prefectural Architecture, People’s Republic of Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Government Office, Okinawa, Japan H.E. Rodrigo Duterte, President Darussalam of the Republic of the Philippines China Prof. Lee Myung-Yul, Ministry of Delegation of Ambassadors to the Mr Rudolph Docot, University Dr Yong Kien Thai, University of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea, Malaya, Malaysia United Nations in New York from the and delegation from the 22nd Raffles of Santo Tomas, Republic of the 3rd Forum of Small States (FOSS), Programme Philippines Dr Yu Ito, Xishuangbanna Tropical including H.E. Ahmed Sareer, Dr Ruth Kiew, Forest Research Botanic Garden, People’s Republic of Maldives, H.E. Inga Rhonda King, Dr Lu Pei-Luen, Da-Yeh University, China Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan Institute of Malaysia, Malaysia H.E. Kelebone Maope, Lesotho, H.E. H.E. Yael Rubinstein, Ambassador H.E. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of Dr Sri Rahayu, Bogor Botanic Lois Michele Young, Belize, H.E. Gardens, Indonesia of Israel to Singapore, and Dr Ruben Ignacio Zamora, El Salvador, the Netherlands Yuval Steinitz, Minister of National and H.E. Sam Terrence Condor, H.E. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al- Mrs Subekti Nurmawati, Bogor Infrastructures, Energy and Water Saint Kitts and Nevis Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality Agricultural University, Indonesia Resources, Israel and Environment, State of Qatar Dr Geoff Lee, New South Mr Suzuki Atsuo, Mayor of Tōkai H.E. Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz, Wales Parliament Secretary for Mr Nackheung Paik, Vice Governor City, Japan Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Multiculturism and State Member of Seocheon County, and delegation, to Singapore, and delegation Mr Takeo Sumino, and delegation for Parramatta, Australia Republic of Korea from the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Mr Hirose, Deputy Director- Mr Natthawut Triyutthachai, Khon Corporation (SMBC) General for Engineering Affairs, City Kaen University, Thailand

37 Feature • From the Archives

The Orchid Enclosure

A display in the Orchid Enclosure in 1969.

rchids have been closely orchid hybrids, a tradition that O associated with the was started in 1956 to honour Singapore Botanic Gardens visiting dignitaries. since its establishment in 1859. So it is not a surprise that they have The Orchid Enclosure became long been favourite plants for the one of the most popular places Gardens to display. The Orchid to visit in the Gardens, and was Enclosure, created in 1955, was a enlarged in 1981 to allow the The Orchid Demonstration Centre in 1969. popular exhibit which showcased display of more than 12,000 Gardens-bred hybrids and other orchids representing over 500 orchids of interest. hybrids and 400 species. Also showcased were species that had which was officially opened on The Orchid Enclosure was created been collected and conserved 20 October 1995 by then Senior by placing a wire mesh fence by Gardens’ staff. The expanded Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Today, around Lawns P and R. Structures Orchid Enclosure also included visitors to the National Orchid were erected to show off hanging an Orchid Demonstration Centre Garden can see more than 60,000 orchids like Dendrobiums, and which exhibited the various orchids comprising about 2,100 benches were constructed to stages of orchid breeding, from hybrids and 700 species from display other potted orchids. seedpod to flask culture, through around the world. Key features Singapore’s National Flower, the photographs and live specimens. of the garden are planned for Vanda Miss Joaquim, was also enhancements in 2018, which will on show and drew members of Over the next several years, the allow us to showcase even more the community to see it at its Orchid Enclosure was redeveloped orchids in the future. best. The Enclosure also served three more times to cater for as a centre for receiving state increasing numbers of visitors, visitors and conducting naming and was eventually replaced by Christina Soh ceremonies for Gardens-bred the National Orchid Garden, Library

S$5.00 Your purchase of this magazine will help to support the research 38 and conservation work of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.