MEDIA FACTSHEET B

Trees to be planted at Jurong Lake Gardens West

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, and Advisor to Jurong GRC, and Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance, and Chairman of the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee, participated in the community tree planting event at Jurong Lake Gardens West on 24 March 2018.

Yellow Saraca (Saraca thaipingensis)

The Yellow Saraca is a medium sized, evergreen tree with a wide-spreading crown that grows to a height of at least 7 metres. Its young leaves are cream-coloured, hanging limply in tassels for a few days before they stiffen and turn green. It seasonally produces flowers that are faintly fragrant in dense bunches that arise from the trunk and main branches. Flowers start out light pinkish yellow, eventually turning deep yellow with a dark crimson eye spot which darkens to blood-red. These flowers develop into large Photo credit: Boo Chih Min, NParks Flora pods that turn purple with maturity, splitting Fauna Web into two coiled halves to expose the flat, black seeds.

Red Saraca (Saraca declinata)

The Red Saraca is a small evergreen tree originating from Thailand and Myanmar. It seasonally produces flowers that change from yellow to bright red over time, with a purple or crimson eye. Young leaves are deep pink in colour and emerge at the end of the branches like hanging tassels.

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Information accurate as of 24 March 2018. For media enquiries, please contact Clarissa Sih at 96364385 or Ng Li-San at 98467715.

Photo credit: Patricia Yap, NParks Flora Fauna Web

Ashoka Tree (Saraca indica)

The Ashoka Tree is a small evergreen tree with smooth, grey-brown bark that is indigenous to India, Myanmar and Malaysia. Flowers are usually seen throughout the year, with orange and scarlet clusters reaching a peak in January and February. Pinned closely onto every branch and twig, these clusters consist of numerous, small, long-tubed flowers which are yellow when young, eventually becoming orange then crimson with age. In strong contrast to these brightly coloured blooms is the deep-green, shiny foliage. Young leaves are soft, red and limp and remain pendent even after attaining full size. Photo credit: Boo Chih Min, NParks Flora Fauna Web

Katong ()

Known as the Katong tree, this species is cultivated for its beautiful, pendant inflorescences covered with large, conspicuous, attractive, silvery bracts. The tree is known for its hard timber, which is used in construction. It is said that its leaves possess curative properties, and has been used to make a lotion for skin diseases.

Photo credit: Jessica Teo, NParks Flora Fauna Web

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Information accurate as of 24 March 2018. For media enquiries, please contact Clarissa Sih at 96364385 or Ng Li-San at 98467715.

Handkerchief ( browneoides)

The Handkerchief Tree is a medium-sized evergreen tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. Originating from Papua New Guinea, this shady tree is commonly planted as landscaping for public parks, recreational areas, golf courses and parking areas. The Handkerchief Tree derives its common name from its pale greenish white young leaves or shoots, which hang in bunches at the tip of the twigs like handkerchiefs when viewed from a distance.

Photo credit: Boo Chih Min, NParks Flora Fauna Web

Silk Handkerchief (Maniltoa lenticellata)

The Silk Handkerchief Tree is native to tropical semi-deciduous rainforest and gallery forests in northern Queensland, some of the Torres Strait Islands, and New Guinea. The is becoming popular in horticulture as a tree in larger gardens because of its attractive and conspicuous pinkish flushes of new growth produced seasonally. In the wild, its straight, cylindrical trunks can reach up to 60cm in diameter, sometimes with buttresses up to 3 metres high.

Photo credit: Patricia Yap, NParks Flora Fauna Web

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Information accurate as of 24 March 2018. For media enquiries, please contact Clarissa Sih at 96364385 or Ng Li-San at 98467715.

Wrinkle Pod Mangrove (Cynometra iripa)

The Wrinkle Pod Mangrove occurs in back mangrove areas in Malaysia, northeast Australia and Sri Lanka. Mature trees exhibit a conspicuous fluted trunk covered in smooth but finely fissured bark. Flowers are white and small, usually borne in clusters along the branches.

Photo credit: Shi Biying, NParks Flora Fauna Web

Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis)

The Pride of Burma is an evergreen tree growing up to 18m in height. This species is considered to be one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the world. While it is widely cultivated in tropical gardens around the world, it is very rare in the wild and has only been collected from its native habitat in Burma a few times.

Photo credit: Justin Chua, NParks Flora Fauna Web

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Information accurate as of 24 March 2018. For media enquiries, please contact Clarissa Sih at 96364385 or Ng Li-San at 98467715.