J .. James Murton, Superintendent, with the Garde ns' staff in ...... -.ag,_,.,._...,;:;...£.lt"-oo~""'-''l.... o..a.:::O:.. l.;.;..!:...;., ; • .. ... • .• audience is by no means a captive The Heritage Core of the Message one, the Gardens must serve as Gardens must now be re-developed lure and captor of clients for its to provide purpose-built facilities from educational outreach. It must be to house one of the world's most fl important herbaria, a library of thee r a gorgeous living catalogue of the plant kingdom and its potential botany and horticulture, the for enriching the lives of all. research laboratories and the School The educational message, both of Horticulture. Such a synergistic t ~·~~ subtle and overt, must make grouping should result in a dynamic evident that the quality of the enclave of botanic and horticultural he first phase of the rejuvenation environment we live in depends activity and learning. At the same of the Singapore Botanic Gardens on the presence of plants and time, needed amenities for food commenced in 1989 during its 130th T how we use them. Residents of and beverage, restrooms, parking, anniversary celebration. T his phase is Singapore must be convinced that and public function spaces can be reaching a close along with the present the cost of incorporating plants in planned for. With the prospect of millennium. W hile the primary thrust was our living environment is one that entering into this exciting new to upgrade and secure the necessary must be borne, for the alternative phase of the Gardens' rejuvenation, infrastructure to enable the Gardens to is far more costly. the Gardens' staff must feel like perform its key roles efficiently and with everything is coming up, not roses, distinction, less visible but no less important With the entire Gardens serving but orchids for the Singapore was the re-evaluation of its role as a modern as a vital resource in the education Botanic Gardens. botanic institution. The Singapore Botanic process, the specific tools of Gardens must remain relevant to the people learning and knowledge gathering, As the flagship of the National of the nation in the new millennium, and namely the School of Horticulture, Parks Board, the Singapore Botanic do justice to its history and geographic the research facilities, the Library Gardens is under the purview of the situation as a star in the constellation of and the Herbarium must be given Minister for National Development. botanic gardens on earth. Towards this new honing. In the last decade or so, Minister end, the quartet of fiduciary functions of a Lim Hng Kiang had charted the botanic garden, namely research, recreation, The completion of phase I course of the National Parks education and conservation must be of the rejuvenation process Board and the Singapore Botanic accorded new priorities, enlivened with culminated in the successful Gardens. H e personally launched new programmes, and performed with opening of the new Visitor the construction of the Visitor passion, creativity and commitment. Centre and NParks HQ. T he Centre project, and officiated at the staff can now concentrate on dedication of the complex upon its In a young nation without a firm grounding the re-development of the completion. M inister Lim has left the and tradition in gardening and appreciation for Heritage Core at the Tanglin Ministry of National Development things green and growing, education must be end of the Gardens. This is to take up the dual portfolios of the key function of the Gardens. Since the where the School of Horticulture, Minister for Health and Second Herbarium and Library of the Minister for Finance, but his mark Gardens are currently located, on the Gardens is an enduring one. Message from the CEO 2 along with the research offices ARTICLES and laboratories. When the The Gardens will celebrate its Keeping Botanical Gardens Relevant: Re-development Master Plan 140th Anniversary with a new The Singapore Botanic Gardens Experience 3 for the Gardens was first mooted, Minister at the helm. M inister Mah The Role of the Gardens in the History of a key concern was the provision Bow Tan, who masterminded the Nature Conservation In Singapore 4 of proper herbarium, library, land transportation policies and The Herbari um -125 Years of History 6 research and educational space systems for the nation as the former The Gardens and the Changing Vegetation of Singapore 10 and facilities. The Visitor Centre Minister for Communications, is Roadmap of the School of Horticulture: 1972-1999 12 complex was developed initially the current Minister for National The Ladybug of the Gardens 14 for this purpose. Course of Development. The road ahead for Orchids in the Gardens 16 events superceded the move, the Singapore Botanic Gardens in Orchid Tissue Culture in the Gardens 17 and the complex was adapted the new Millennium with M inister The Wilt of the Beautiful Angsana 20 to house the headquarters of Mah promises to be an exciting and Moving Experiences 22 the newly re-constituted National rewarding one. It should lead to the Birds of the Singapore Botanic Gardens 24 Parks Board. The Singapore completion of the Master p lan for REGULAR FEATURES the re-development of the Gardens Around the Gardens 28 Botanic Gardens is the flagship Our New Visitor Centre 28 among parks of the Board, that began with the anniversary BG Becomes a Bear Garden 28 so it is fitting that the Parks celebration ten years ago. Singapore Rotarians Donate Artwork to the Gardens 28 Headquarters should be Highlights from the School of Horticulture situated within the Gardens. Dr Tan Wee Kiat Botanical Drawing Course, 23-26 Feb 1999 28 Nature Conservation News Biodiversity in the Nature Reserves 30 EDITORS: PRODUCTION MANAGER: New & Exciting - Ensete superbum 30 Chin See Chung Wong Wei Har Foong Thai Wu What's Blooming - Clusia rosea 30 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Yap Siow Hong Key Visitors to the Gardens (Jan- Jun 1999) 31 From the Archives - Then & Now 32 Singapore Botanic Gardens Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 PARKS From Cover : From the Archive; insert, Ali Ibrahim N~ NATIONAL PARKS BOARD INTRODUCTION The failure of die gardens The success of the Gardens under Ridley The intrinsic value of botanical- - under the man-agemenr_of the firmly va lidates the research and educational gardens is constant, but their ...: ' amateur society was our first roles of a botanic institution. perceived value fluctuates '*4en lesson in relevance. The role of buffeted by the winds ofthe the Gardens a'S a purely From these early years to recent times, economic climate. During such recreational park could not justify the Singapore Botanic Gardens remains a times, garden administrators must irs existence. Under the government, leading centre for botanical research in go back to the basic formula for the this role was expanded to include this part of the world. Its programme administration and development of botanical research and scientific of scientific publications in the form of botanical institutions and adjust experimentation. A superintendent a house journal, The Gardens' Bulletin, relative weights of the components trained in botany and horticulture and numerous landmark books on flora of the formula. This is necessary to :was recruited fr om the Royal and horticulture continues to the present. keep the botanic garden relevant in Botanic Gardens in Kew, England. It' was its reputation as a valuable cultural catering to the current needs, A herbarium and a library were and scientific institution that saw the aspirations and demands of the started. A programme of exchange Gardens through the darkest phase of target clients of the gardens of herbarium and living specimens Singapore's young history. Du ~ ing the concerned. These components are: and publications was begun with war years, the Gardens' holdings were • Recreation • Research similar institutions around the protected by Professor Hidezo Tanakadate, • Conservation Education world. The scientific staff car~ i ed out and later, secured under the enlightened laboratory anc!, field experiments on administration of Director Kwan Koriba By adjusting the weight ge of • cro~s with ec~nomic p teptial. of ~ he University of Kyoto from 1942-45. the above components ip response to the demands of the f mes, a Today,, the ·srory: of the H evea THE GREENING OF SINGAPORE botanic institution can remain Rub er Ihdustroy; anCI the role pl ayed In 1963, the fi(st "J'ree Planting" important to a nation and its by die Singapore Botanic Gardens is campaign was launched, followed by communities through its vital well known. In 1877, 22 seedlings the "Garden City" campaign in 1967. contributions to national of Hevea brasiliensis arrived in The objective was to create a city-state development_, health, education Singapore. Bleven of the seedlings with a garden environmc;nt consisting of and economic growth. were nurture!\ in Si{lg51 por while p,arks, gardens and open spaces linked the rest> eYt ~ent"to,.,gardens in the by a matrix f tQee-lined roads and park Let me illustrate this with the Malay Peninsula. These 22 seedlings connectors for cyclists and pedestrians. example of the Singapore were to become parents to an The architect of our Garden City was Botanic Gardens experience. industry that changed forever the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. economic history of South East Asia. Since expertise for this campaign resided IN THE BEGINNING in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, its The history of the Singapore Henry N. Ridley, appointed the focus was re-defined from that of a Botanic Gardens began on first Director of the Singapore largely research-oriented organisation to Government Hill in 1819 when Botanic Gardens in 1888, was the one that would spearhead the national Sir Stamford Raffles laid out a visionary who showed how the bark 'greening' effort. botanical and experimental colonial of the Hevea rubber tree could be garden near his official residence. tapped for latex without permanent To meet the need for trained personnel This was for the purpose of damage to the tree, thereby setting to maintain the greenery, the School of cultivating ornamental plants as in place the foundation of the Ornamental Horticulture was opened in well as for the study of useful modern rubber plantation. He also the Gardens in 1972. In the following revenue-earning crops from the showed how latex could be made year, the Singapore Botanic Gardens merged region. The Gardens was re­ into coagulated sheets to facilitate with the Parks and Trees Branch of the established in its current site in transport, and was tireless in Public Works Department to form the Parks 1859 by an agri-horticultural persuading plantation owners in the and Recreation Department. National needs society as an amenity for the M alay Peninsula to grow rubber for maintaining the Garden City programme enjoyment of its members. This instead of other tropical crops. took priority over the traditional roles of the society ran into financial difficulties, The economic garden he established botanical institution. In the following two and in 1875, handed over the in the Botanic Gardens grounds was decades, the greening programme matured, maintenance of the Gardens to a to yield over 17 million seeds for and Singapore gained international repute government appointed committee. the fledgling rubber industry. for its clean and green environment. The Singapore Botanic Gardens Experience, Continued from page 3

T he Singapore Botanic Gardens had achieved its mission to provide the botanical and horticultural direction and lHE ROLE Of expertise needed to develop Singapore into the Garden City. It was time again for the Gardens to re-assess its vision and mission as a tropical botanic institution. l!NE GARDENS THE NATIONAL PARKS BOARD In 1990 the National Parks IN liNE HISTORY Board was formed and the original role and functions o f the Botanic Gardens were restored. Besides the Singapore Botanic Gardens, this OP NATtURJE board was also charged with the administration and development of the nature reserves of Singapore as CONSERV~TIION well as Singapore's historic Fort Canning Park. On 1st July 1996, the National Parks Board was merged with the Parks & Recreation IN SING~PORE Department to form the new National Parks Board. Now, the management and maintenance of the n 1883, the Government, alarmed by the Survey Departm ent, c) the roadside greenery and of all the other by the depletion of forests in the formation of local forest reserves for the parks of Singapore under the former I Straits Settlements, which supply of wood and riverine reserves for Pa rks a nd Recreation Department comprised Malacca, Penang and protection, d) the establishment of a a lso comes under the purview of this Singapore, commissioned Nathaniel Forest Department, and e) the collection re-constituted National Parks Board. Cantley, the Superintendent of the of seeds of the best indigenous timber Singapore Botanic Gardens, to survey trees and the setting-up of nurseries for T he Singapore Botanic Gardens the extent of the forests of the three the propagation of these seeds. again re-defined its roles and goals, Settlements. This was an initial effort and forged a new vision. It now strives at arresting the wastefu l trend of The principles of nature conservation to become a premier tropical botanic deforestation. In the report, the with an integrated strategic approach garden that would remain relevant recommendations stressed that "the were, indeed, well expounded in this into the new millennium. To achieve first important step ... is to secure the report. On the basis of Cantley's report, this, the Gardens embarked upon an preservation of such forests as are the first forest reserves were identified ambitious master plan to re-develop the worth retaining ... " There were nine in the Straits Settlements. These were entire Gardens. The fo llowing key specific measures listed, including a) administe red by the newly established projects were completed: the prevention of the felling and Forest Department of which the first • The road bisecting the garden was clearing of forests , b) a call for the Director was Cantley. The Forest expunged, and the two halves preparation of good and reliable maps united. This allowed a "triple-core" Department was established under strategy for developing the Gardens produced as a result of field surveys the administration of the Gardens. to be realised. The cores are: a. The southern Heritage Core which retains the original administrative and research buildings and reference • At the Bukit Timah Core, the seven programme that will extend the period of collections of the Gardens hectare Economic Garden including leisure time for visitors in the Gardens and the precious four hectare the one-hectare Eco-lake and the into the cool hours of the ni ght. remnant of Singapore's Pl ant Resource Centre and nursery. primary forest, CONSERVATION: b. The Central Core which is being THE ROAD AHEAD By virtue of the Gardens' Nature developed as the tourist zone, Conservation Branch and its specialist c. The northern Bukit Timah Core RECREATION: scientific expertise, NParks as the parent which is designated as the The Gardens will embark upon the organisation, was designated Singapore's recreational and educational zone. second phase of infrastructural up­ Scientifc Authority on Nature Conservation. • The Central Core, the National grading to further enhance its recrea­ The Nature Conservation Branch in the Orchid Garden, Palm Valley, tional value not only for the people of Gardens formulates pragmatic and Symphony lake and the Visitor Singapore, but also for visitors to the responsible policies on nature conservation Centre Complex which includes the Republic. This includes providing better for Singapore and is the vehicle for the H eadquarters of the National Parks visi tor facilities in the Heritage Core of nation's involvement in regional and Board, restaurants, gift shop and a the Gardens, new and improved horti­ international activities on nature public car park. cultural displ ays, a nd a lighting conservation and biological diversity. The term of H. N. Ridley as the H. Tanakadate and K. Koriba, the Activities promoting nature appreciation Director of Botanic Gardens and Forests Japanese Directors of the Gardens are also under the purview of th is witnessed the designation of forest during the Second World War, were Committee. reserves in Malacca, Penang and the instrumental in ensuring that the Dindings. Ridley's interests were not reserves survived the war. On a regional level, the Nature confined to plants as he was a naturalist Conservation Branch represents in the true sense of the "great pre­ When granite-quarrying interests Singapore in the ASEAN Working special ised age of scientific natural came into conflict with the conse rvation Group on Nature Conservation and history". Keen ornithologists still refer to of Bukit Timah, the Government set up Biodiversity. Two biodiversity Ridley's paper on birds in the Botanic a commission to resolve this issue. networking and biological database Gardens. The report recommended that legislation projects involving ASEAN countries be enacted to protect the reserves. are the ASEAN Regional Centre for The Forest Department remained The three above-mentioned reserves Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) under the Gardens' administration until together with Labrador Cliff and the and the Southeast Asian Loop of 1895 when forest matters were officially Municipal Water Catchment area became Bionet International (ASEANET). transferred to the Land Office. By th is legally protected under the Nature Both of these projects require time, 88,336 acres (35,776 hectares) Reserves Ordinance 1951. This legislation country co-ordinators. The Nature had been designated as forest reserves is the predecessor of the existing Conservation Branch serves as in the Straits Settlements. In 1935, the National Parks Act. Singapore's National Biodiversity Forest Reserves in Singapore were deleted Reference Unit for ARCBC and but R.E. Holttum and E.J.H. Corner kept In the early 1990s, the National Singapore's National Co-ordinating the nature conservation flag flying by Parks Board (NParks) was designated Institute for AS EANET. recommend ing that those at Bukit Timah , Si ngapore's Scientific Authority on Nature Kranji and Pandan be placed under Conservation with the responsibilities of Singapore signed and ratified the the Gardens for the purpose of the policy fo rm ulation on nature conservation Convention on Biological Diversity on conservation of indigenous biodiversity. and the management of Nature Reserves. 1Oth March 1993 and 21st December These three areas were reinstated as 1995, respectively. NParks was forest reserves again under the Forest The Ministry of the Environment designated the national coordinating Reserves Ordinance and reverted back to spearheaded the drafting of the Singapore agency, with the Nature Conservation the control of the Director of the Gardens, Green Plan in 1993. The Nature Conser­ Branch handling the admini stration and who held concurrently the position of vation Branch of the Gardens serves as keeping a watching brief on the issues Conservator of Forests, in 1939. the Secretariat for the Working Committee raised by this forum. The objectives of the forest reserves on Nature Conse rvation . This Working explicitly spelt out this time that the Comm ittee is entrusted with the ident­ With the increasing national, forest reserves were not for commercial ification of representative ecosystems regional and international commitments exploitation but for "absolute protection to followed by the monitoring of the health to nature conse rvation, the Gardens is provide areas for research, education, of these designated nature areas. It is primed to lead nature conservation recreation and as samples of the country's also responsible for estab lishing faunal efforts through to the next millennium.@ biographic history and herirage " and this and floral corridors, linking up the nature rem ain ed the guiding policy of nature areas so that the biodiversity of the Lena Chan conservation to present times. designated sites would be enhanced. Nature Conservation Branch

RESEARCH: programmes that lead to awards institution. Since 1990, under The Gardens will bui ld upon of technical Certificates and new leadership and with a re­ its traditional strengths in Plant Diplomas in tropical horticulture defined vision a nd mission, our Taxonomy, Orchid Breeding and and landscape management and Ga rdens is back on track in charting Micropropagation programmes. design. The School also provides its course as a premier institution The Herbarium and Li brary will be outreach programmes designed for tropical botany and horticulture. ho used in new purpose-built quarters. to in form, educate and crea te As administrators, we must keep New laboratories and lecture rooms awareness and appreciation for nimble to make sure that our a re planned. nature and gardening. Ga rdens stays relevant. We stand A strong publications programmme ready to reconfigure the basic will support on-going and new floral CONCLUSION formula for defining the goals of studies projects in the region. During its 140-year hi story, our Gardens in order to keep it the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a vital and progressive botanic EDUCATION: played various roles dictated by garden for the new millennium. @ The School of Horticulture of the circumstances. In recent decades, Singapore Botanic Gardens, fo unded this has resulted in erosion of its in 1972, wi ll continue to provide identity as a botanic and horticultural Dr Tan Wee Kiat THE HERBARIUM

Ridley's new Herbarium built in 1905.

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he Herbarium dares back to the establishment of the T Botanic Gardens on its present site. By 1875, H. J. Murton already had a collection of dried specimens, which was temporarily housed in his office until the proposed herbarium building was erected and from the start he established a library having ordered from England a 'good collection of standard botanical works.' He reported that by 1879 the herbarium comprised 3000 named specimens. Most of his collections were made from Singapore and Perak but he acquired valuable old herbarium specimens, mostly of Indian and Nepalese plants, that had been in J. Presently the Herbarium occupies the upper two floors and another floor in the wing to the left (not shown). Collin's possession in Singapore but which had originally been part of Ward's herbarium held by the Linnaean a lready being sent to Kew. Even at that get specimens of every plant for each of Society in London. T hese include the early date, Cantley reported in 1885 the States [of the Malay Peninsula], and oldest specimens in our herbarium, that 'The collecting of herbarium the similarity of the flora induces me to those collected by Moravian specimens, in order to afford material add those of Sumatra, Borneo and Missionaries in 1790. for scientific investigation ... had not adjacent islands.' He therefore set about been forgotten.' an ambitious collecting programme to When N. Cantley was in charge of many parts of the Peninsula, then very the Gardens, a new Office and H. N. R idley took over the remote. Many collecting trips were made Herbarium was erected in 1882 at the H erbarium in 1888 but his efforts were when he was on leave and could be free cost of $ 1,500. This H erbarium hampered by the lack of a herbarium of his duties as Director. In addition, occupied 650 sq ft with a further 200 keeper. By then, the Herbarium was he coll ected in Sumatra, Borneo, Java, sq ft for a drying room. (Drying regularly receiving specimens from C. peninsular Thailand and Christmas Island specimens was always a problem in the Curtis, Superintendent of the Botanic (the last was at that time under the humid tropics until the advent of hot Garden in Penang; in 1892, Dr G. King jurisdiction of Singapore). He collected air drying ovens.) In 1884, a of the Calcutta Botanic Gardens literally tens of thousands of specimens herbarium keeper was employed to presented a valuable gift of 5000 and is credited with discovering more cure and mount specimens as well as specimens of early collections from than a thousand new species. to look after the library. From the Peninsular Malaysia, such as those of efforts of Cantley a nd his collectors, Father B. Scortechini, Kunstler (often In addition to his own collections, such as M. V. Alvins who made an referred to on herbarium labels as he continued to receive duplicate interesting collection of ethnoboranical 'King's Collector') and L. Wray; in specimens from the British Museum, specimens from the Malacca and Negri 1895, the British Museum gave over a Calcutta and Kew, as well as many Sembilan region, the herbarium thousand specimens collected by collections made by Europeans living collection was fast expanding and filled Wallich and Hance; as well as locally, who were attached to museums, 18 cabinets. In addition, a small stove specimens sent from Kew. the geological survey or were planters. had been acquired to 'keep away the He also regularly received specimens damp from the books, as well as the Ridley's plans for the Herbarium from G.D. H avi land and G. F. Hose in herbarium specimens.' Duplicates were were ambitious: 'I am ... attempting to Sarawak. (Indeed, it was extremely 7 • 125 Years of History I

fortunate that Bishop Hose gave In 1913, specimens collected from few was equally unsuccessful.' Si ngapore a duplicate set of his the Botanic Gardens of Penang and However, a lthough he began to collections as, on returning from home Singapore were removed from the catalogue the plants it was not until leave, he discovered his personal general collection and kept separately. 1912 that the first relia ble Garden collection had been totall y consumed This 'Gardens Herbarium' was Catalogue was produced. (The next by termites.) Later Ridley regularly important for checking that the names catalogue, The Checklist of Cultivated received specimens from the Philippines of plants grown in the Gardens were Plants, Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Java. In addition, he built up a correctly identified a nd could also be appeared very much later in 1995 .) collection of wood, especia ll y important used as a basis for compiling a in those days when the timber trees Due to Ridley's efforts, the col­ were not well known, as well as a lection was sufficiently comprehensive collection of the less durable or to embark on taxonomic revisions for more fragile specimens, which the 'Materials for the Flora of the were preserved in spirit. Ma lay Peninsula' project under Sir George King at Calcutta. For this And so the Herbarium grew. purpose large quantities of specimens In 1890, the large quantities of plants were sent as duplicates or on loan to that Ridley was collecting required a specialists who revised particula r specially constructed drying room fam ilies. For example, 0. Beccari in where specimens were dried on a Naples revised the palms. Ridley corrugated iron platform heated from himself undertook to revise the beneath by chatties fu ll of charcoal. Monocotyledons. After Ridley retired, In 1892 it was necessary to spend he continued to work indefatigably at $500 to enlarge the Herbarium. Kew to produce the five-volume Flora In 1889 Tassim Daud was employed of the Malay Peninsula. as herbarium keeper fo llowed by Ahmad Kassim in 1895. With a He was succeeded as Director by herbarium keeper, the specimens could I. H . Burkitt, best remembered for be sorted into folders and the hi s two-volume The Economic Jasminum sambac, collected in 1790, is one of Herbarium to be rearranged to Ridley's the oldest specimens in the herbarium. Products of the Malay Peninsula, satisfaction following the system used in for which the herbarium collection The Flora of British India (which with notes on local uses recorded included the Malay Peninsula). on the herbarium la bel was In addition, Ridley was able an important source of to report that 'The vermin information. In addition, which were very abundant Burkitt laid a sound basis for have been destroyed.' the scientific investigatio n of the Malayan flora by creating the By 1900, Ridley was post of Curator of the H erbarium boasting that the Herbari um was and employing several talented 'now without doubt the fi nest for botanists. the Malay Peninsula plants in the world and contains many types After the hiatus of WWI, when and cotypes of plants from the paper for mounting specimens was Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra and not available, three women were Siam.' In 1910, the Herbarium was employed to mount specimens and by further strengthened with the addition 1924 the backlog was cleared. In of Curtis's collection when the 1922, an active collecting programme Herbarium of the Penang Botanic started and contin ued up to the Garden was transferred to Singapore. Japanese Occupation. Burkitt made The Herbarium is extremely rich in type specimens of the region. extensive collections from both Taiping In 1904 and 1905, the Herbarium Hilts and Fraser's Hill, E.J.H. Corner moved to a new building, but Ridley catalogue of plants grown in the collected all over the Peninsula for his noted that it was not satisfactory as Gardens. This was very important for, book on Wayside Trees, as many of the 'the whole building was very leaky and as Cantley had scathingly commented in vill age fruit trees were still improperly damp for a great part of the year.' In 1882: 'A catalogue purporting to be a known, C.X. Furtado specialised in an 1907, the Herbarium was invaded by list of plants contained in the Gardens made collections of aroids and palms, termites. Fortunately, their tunnels were was published in 1879 and a M .R. H enderson concentrated on the discovered before they had got into the supplement in 1880. But on my limestone flora and visited many hills, cabinets. In haste the whole collection referring to the catalogue for the names mountains and islands to collect, R.E. was re-poisoned taking four men from of the trees they coul d not be found. I Holttum specialised in ferns and the Public Works Department fo ur next sought for the plants contained in monocors, particularly orchids and months to complete. the list, and with the exception of a made coll ections notably from Mount of the Herbarium, ]. Sinclair continued to collect in Singapore and Johore. Soon regular collecting trips were made to Sarawak, fi rst by the Director, J.W. Purseglove, then by Sinclair, Chew Wee Lek, Chang Kiaw Lan and Geh Siew Yin. Chew was an active member of both Royal Society Expeditions to Gunung Kinabalu. H. M. Burkill was the first algologist to be employed by the Gardens and he built up a comprehensive collection of seaweeds.

After Independence, the Forest Departments of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak began to build up their own herbaria and regularly send duplicates to the Herbarium. In contrast, the collecting activities by staff in Singapore declined and the SFN (Singapore Field Numbers) series, which Mohd. Shah Mohd Nur, Reserch Officer, was started in 1924 and used by all in the Herbarium. staff to number their collections, was discontinued at the end of 1958. Botanic Gardens bought in 1936 his personal herbarium, which included By the late 1960s, the herbarium over 3000 orchid specimens as well as building had become derelict. Through many flowers in spirit, invaluable fo r H .M. Burkill's energies, a new three­ the study of orchid taxonomy. storey herbarium building was completed in 1964, to which was added in 1968 a Thousands of specimens were new two-storey wing, which also housed coll ected each year and large the library. In 1972, a third storey was quantities of duplicates were sent to added to the wing. The Herbarium has regional and European herbaria; remained little changed since then, apart similar quantities were received in from experiencing an ever-increasing exchange. Henderson's task as shortage of space as more specimens Curator was to arrange the Herbarium are added to the collection. At that time, following Ridley's The Flora of the the Herbarium ranked in size second in Malay Peninsula, the folders fo llowing Asia and tenth in the world. the Flora's numbering of the families, genera and species. In the course of In 1967, with the launching of the this work, species not recorded in the Garden City Campaign, the botanists Flora came to his attention and he attached to the Herbarium were directed published a series of papers entitled to apply their research to more practical 'Additions to the Flora of the Malay ends. On several occasions, H.M. Peninsula.' Burkill deplored this change, which was Jospeh Lai, Assistant Research Officer, is in based on the misconception that a charge of the databasing and bar-coding of the Herbarium collection. T he Japanese Occupation botanic garden could function to brought an end to active collecting international standards without the inabalu and several mountains in and exchange of specimens. Both backing of a strong botanical research Peninsula. In all these expeditions, Corner and Holttum were interned programme. He pointed out that the plant collectors employed in the in the Gardens and, freed from applied fields of economic botany, rbarium played an important part. administrative duties, devoted their education and conservation all need a Corner started a dried collection of time to research, which turned out to strong botanical base. rofungi having successfully be an extraordinarily productive time rimented with methods to keep resulting in taxonomic revisions and In 1973, the Botanic Gardens free of mould and beetle attack. even a new theory of tropical botany came under the administration of the Corner is also famous for using pig­ - Corner's Durian T heory. Parks and Recreation Branch of the iled macaque monkeys to collect Public Works Department. The stated botanical species. A notable addition to the aims for botanical work included Herbarium during this time was the maintenance of the Herbarium and C.E. Carr, a planter by profession, acquisition of 5000 specimens from library, coll ection of plants for the built up an excellent collection of the personal collection of Z. Teruya, Herbarium, identification, botanical ·ds, not only from the Peninsula a Japanese p lanter. publication and the preservation and but also 800 specimens from Mount maintenance of Nature Reserves in inabalu. Not only did he give After WWII, collecting in Penisular Singapore. However, as the botanists' uplicates to the Herbarium but, after Malaysia was severely restricted by posts were transferred away (see box), his early death in New Guinea, the The Emergency. The second Curator the Herbarium was just able to tick over. Curators/Keepers The formation of the National Parks Board (N Parks) of lihe Herbariun1 in 1990 as a statutory board under Tan Wee Ki at, Executive The post of Curator of the Herbarium was created by I. H. Burkill Director of NParks and Director in 1924 for M.R. Henderson whose post in Kuala Lumpur had been of the Botanic Gardens (the first abolished in a government reorganisation. Henderson held the post for 18 years!) brought a wind of (except during the war years when he was in South Africa) until change as Tan sought to restore 1946, when he became Director of the Botanic Gardens. a proper balance between research, education, conservation In 1948, J. Sinclair was appointed Curator, a post he held until and recreation and to revive his retirement in 1963. He was then re-employed until 1965 to cover the duties of local staff overseas for higher studies, continuing in an systematic botany. New posts for honorary capacity until 1967. It was during his time in 1955 that, taxonomists were created, the according to the Annual Reports, there was a change in name from post of Keeper o f the Herbarium Curator to Keeper of the Herbarium but the reason for this was and Li brary was revi ved and a not stated. new building for research, which included a spacious new In 1959, posts were re-graded so that Assistant Director, Keeper Herbarium, was planned. The of the Herbarium and Botanist were all on the same salary scale so last was overtaken by events that in 1960 the post became Botanist (Keeper of the Herbarium). when NParks was enlarged with In 1956, Chew Wee Lek was the first local graduate to be the merger with the Parks and appointed as Botanist, and, in 1965 on his return with a PhD from Recreation Division, and the Cambridge, he took on the duties of Keeper. research building was transformed into the new Chang Kiaw Lan, the second local graduate to work in the headquarters for N Parks. Herbarium, was appointed as botanist in 1959 to take charge of the collection of fungal specimens. In 1970, when Chew became Director, she took over his duties as Botanist (Keeper) . On her retirement in So it is that at p resent the 1987, there were no taxonomists employed in the Herbarium and the Herbarium still occup ies the old Keeper's post effectively became defunct. Mrs Ng (nee Geh Siew Yin) buildings although some then took on the duties of Keeper in addition to her own as Assistant improvements have been made Commissioner of the Botanic Gardens. in airconditioning the library, Chew Wee Lek, Botani st ( Keeper of Herbarium) 1965-1970. office and type collection. Under the aegis of NParks, the post of Keeper of Herbarium and The Herbarium holds at least Library was revived and held by Chin See Chung from 1993 until 1996 600,000 specim ens of which when he became Director of the Gardens. In 1997, Ruth Kie w was more than 4000 are types and appointed. specimens are constantly added through staff collections and by

Chang Kiaw Lan, exchange. Space increasingly is Botanist (Keeper a constraint as the sturdy of Herbarium) 1970 - 1987. Pholo cupboards, many of solid teak taken in May from the days before p lywood, 1999. are fill ed to bursting, the overfl ow being accommodated in Leiden-type boxes that double as

Ng Siew Yin, Assistant cup board space. Computerisation Commi ss ioner, who took on the duties of the collection is proceeding of Keeper bclween 1987 and 1993. slowly using BRAHMS fo r databasing, label generation and • barcoding. Concurrently plans Taxonomists 1n SBG are afoot for a new building that Until the end of WWII, the Director and Assistant Director were both taxonomists, and all will take the Herbarium into the who filled these positions were illustrious botanists who produced a wide range of excellent new millennium, so with modern publications including monographs, floras, and texts that are still used by professional and facilities, adequate staffing and amateur botanists today. funding, the H erbarium aims to recapture its former reputation In 1923, C.X. Furtado was appointed Assistant Botanist, a post that he held until his as a centre of excellence in retirement in 1952, when he was re-employed as Botanist until 1964. Even after this second tropical· taxonomy. ~ retirement he continued to work in the Herbarium. As a result of the re-grading of posts in 1959, there were three botanists posts. In 1963, Hardial Singh joined Chew and Chang as the third botanist and in 1970 Geh Siew Yin replaced Ruth Kiew Chew, who resigned that year Herbarium & Library In 1973, Geh moved to the Parks and Recreation Branch as Assistant Commissioner, followed in 1975 by Hardial Singh, leaving only Chang in the Herbarium. After 1970, for twenty The author is grateful to years no new taxonom ists were recruited. Chin See Chung and Ng Siew Yin fo r helping to With the formation of NParks, three taxonomists' posts (the Keeper's being one) were fill gaps in the records. created. From 1990 to 1996, Tay Eng Pin held one post and in 1998, I.M Turner filled another. Most information was gleaned The third is expected to be filled soon. from the Annual Reports. much of Singapore was covered by Ia IIang (lmperata cylindrica) grasslands kept open by frequent bush fires in dry spells. The Botanic Gardens site on Cluny Road was probably mostly covered with lallang grassland in 1859, but some of the large tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) trees, now so characteristic of the Gardens and other parts of the Tanglin district of Singapore, may already have established in the grassland.

Probably the best place to see mangrove forest in Singapore today is Sungei Buloh Nature Park, which like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, is managed by the National Parks Board. Even here though most of the mangrove is regrowth on the bunds around the old prawn and fish ponds. However, some better stands can be viewed from the boardwalks on the Vi sitor Centre bank of Sungei Buloh.

Henry Ridley, the Director o f the Singapore Botanic Gardens for the period 1888-1912, pointed out in his Flora of hen the Singapore Botanic forest of three ma in Singapore, published Gardens was founded on its types. At the coast, in 1900, how the present site 140 years ago, particularly near the historical abundance Singapore was experiencing a rapid mouths of the rivers, of forest was in its vegetati on cover. At the there was mangrove reflected in the many nding of Singapore as a trading forest. Inland there Singapore place ony by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, was the typical names which are all but a small fraction of Singapore lowland dipterocarp derived from the Island and· its smaller neighbours was forest of the region. vernacular lrr,.vPrPr1 with primary tropical forest. In some of the designations for Fi fty years later, when the Botanic shallow river trees. For example, Gardens were first laid our, much of that valleys, this gave Kranji (Dialium forest had already been cleared. The way to freshwater spp.), Tampines Gardens site itself was a miniature swamp forest. Most ~ (Streblus elongatus) reflecting the larger picture of of Singapore was Flowers of gambier (Uncaria gambir), a woody and possibly Changi, Singapore's landscape. It consisted of deforested in the climber that was grown extensively in 19th though century Singapore for the tannins in its leaves. abandoned cultivated land with one little first half century of Neobalanocarpus patch of remnant forest, that was its modern era. This heimii, more fortunately preserved as the Gardens' clearance was largely conducted by correctly known as chengal, has never ungle - now known as the Gardens' squatter fa rmers attempti ng to make a been confirmed as a native of Singapore. Rai n Forest. Over its history, staff of the living from growing cash crops. Pepper Fragments of the original dipterocarp Botanic Gardens have played an (Piper nigrum) and gambier (Uncaria forest remain, the biggest being at Bukit important role in documenting the gambir) were the economicall y most Timah Nature Reserve with other patches natural vegetation of Singapore and successful , and ecologically most scattered through the Central Catchment helping to conserve these important disastro us, of these crops. The forest Nature Reserve. The Botanic Gardens' habitats. was cleared and crops grown for a few Rain Forest is another tiny remnant of years before soil fe rtility was lost and 4 ha, but it manages to ma intain The pre-1 8 19 vegetation of the farmers moved to new forest sires. something of its primary character and Singapore was lowland tropical rain By the latter ha lf of the 19th Century contains many species of the native fl ora. The freshwater swamp fo rest in some natural hybrids. Singapore was the subject of research, in tandem with several sires in Johore, Currently, staff of the conducted by E.J.H. Corner in the Si ngapore Botanic Gardens 1930s while he was Deputy Director continue the tradition of of the Gardens. Unfortunately, his studying the natural vegetation studies proved to be documentation of Singapore. Personnel from prior to destruction. The swamp forest the Nature Conservation at Jurong was destroyed for industrial Branch and H erbarium make and housing development, and the fr equent fie ldtrips in order to Mandai Road site was flooded under inventory and monitor Seletar Reservoir. The last true Singapore's biodiversity. freshwater swamp forest in Singapore These data are then used to is fou nd near the Singapore Armed advise land ma nagers and Forces rifle fi ring ranges at Nee Soon. planners. @' This area is closed to public access, bur the edge of the swamp can be Ian Turner viewed from Seletar Reservoir Park. Nature Conservation Branch

Singapore has a lot of forest other than the scattered primary patches. These represent regrowth on areas that were cleared of the virgin stands, mostly by the farmers of the 1800s. Much of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve is of this secondary type. The secondary forest is quire varied in the sorts of species found and in the height and size of trees. O ne characteristic type of belukar, the Malay word for secondary forest, was called adinandra belukar by R.E. Holtrum, another former director on the Gardens and the first Professor of Botany in Singapore. Adinandra belukar is so called because the commonest tree is tiup-tiup (Adinandra dumosa). It grows on sires where the soil is very poor, often as a result of a topsoil erosion during and after the farming period. Good examples of adinandra belukar can be seen in Kent Ridge Park and the Upper Pierce Reservoir area of the Central Catchment. Adinandra belukar is a good place to see pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp.), three species of which can be found growing wild in Singapore, together with I

PROLOGUE 1982 'H orticulture has made me more The Certificate in H orticultural aware of life and kept me constantly Practices was introduced to upgrade on my toes. T he stimulus it offers has the skills of groundsmen. The Trade opened up a bigger world, where Certificate has been adopted as a imagination is my playground. I am recruitment and promotion criterion happy with my choice, and at last I by some members in the industry. feel creative and free.' - Nazli Anwari, Diploma student of 1981 1988 - 1990 The period 1988 - 1990 was 1972 a watershed for the School of 1972 witnessed the founding of the Ornamental Horticulture. Cost­ School of Ornamental Horticulture at effectiveness of irs operation was the present Burkill Hall in the audited in view of the unpredictable Singapore Botanic Gardens with the trend in enrolment. New admi ssion first intake of 16 students. The 2-year was suspended as of 1990 while A classroom scene in the SOH Building full-time study led to the award of the allowing existing students to (now Burkill Hall). Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture complete their studies. The future and Garden Design . T he objective was of the School was in the balance. to train manpower needed to create When the National Parks Board Committee and thence to the SOH nd ma intain Singapore's 'Garden City', (NParks) came into being in 1990, Council of today. and for the fledgling horticultural and the Ministry of National Development landscape industries. directed that NParks, as the new Around 1989, to make way for the owner of the School, re-evaluate re-development of the Burkill Hall and 1978 the viability and relevance of its vicinity into rhe National Orchid The first part-time gardening course continuing with its operation. Garden, SOH uprooted its basic gardening techniques and The School was revived, renamed admin istration to Ridley Hall and tivation of ornamental plants was the School of Horticulture (SOH ). shortly to the former 'Garage Building' ucted for 89 participants. Weekly However, the fu ll-time Diploma in at the Bukir Timah Core. The -hr sessions were conducted in the Ornamental Horticulture and Garden classroom and teaching facilities were ·ng for four weeks. Design was revamped into rwo part­ distributed about the Bukit Timah rime Diplomas, the Diploma in Core and Tanglin Core Horticulture and the Diploma in In meeting the demand for a skilled Landscape Design, to confer greater 1993 in the Parks & Recreation specialisation in the respective An External Examiner was epartment (PRD) and the industry, disciplines. The credit system was appointed to strengthen academic new 3-year part-time Diploma was also introduced. The new format standard of the courses conducted to run concurrently with the was well received as testified by by SOH. r fu ll -time course. This proved to inc.reased enrolment. SOH formalized its public ular with working adults as it education portfolio and intensified ed them more flexibility in The advisory/policy body of the its public outreach effort to promote uing their studies. The first intake School also evolved from the School nature appreciation and recreational 14 students. Board to the Research & Education gardening. - 11999 1998 Assistance Programme on The 3-year, full-time Sustainable Development (STAPSD) Diploma in H orticulture scheme. Positive response was and Landscape received for the special programme Management was on 'Developing and Managing a launched as a joint Garden City' conducted in programme with the Ngee March 1999 to pass on to trainees Ann Polytechnic, targeting Singapore's 'Garden City' '0' level school leavers as experience. potential recruits for the horticulture and The School looks to further landscape profession. expand its public outreach especially in areas with latent potential and Marching towards opportunities. It will identify and the new Millenium develop programmes, and produce Development of resource materials to complement additional classroom and and reinforce the teaching of pl ant office facilities for SOH sciences in schools. 2001 will again Past students displaying their design pieces. is scheduled for find SOH in the driving seat, completion in 1999. W hen completed, planning and organising the the School will be better positioned 4th 'Skyrise Gardens Exhi bition' - to meet rising expectations of its the triennial event aiming to induce students and programme participants highrise dwellers to the fo ld of the by offering them a better learning Singapore gardening fraternity. environment. In appreciation of the Shaw Foundation's kind sponsorship, In the CEO's words: SOH looks forward to organising 'A knowledgeable public whose a ceremony to dedicate the new awareness and appreciation for all facilities to the donor and at the things green and growing has been same time mark the graduation aroused and abetted, is a force to of the fi rst cohort of the Advanced power the mission of the National Diploma in Landscape Studies. Parks Board - To Make Singapore Our Garden.' To contri bute to the national tra ining objectives, the School is seeking inclusion of its Trade EPILOGUE Top student Ms Yang Li Lian receiving a prize from the Guest­ Certificate in Horticultural Practices Message from Mr Henry Conceicao, of- Honour, Mr Lee Yiok Seng, Parliamentary Secretary of the the longest serving member on the past Ministry of National Development, at the 5th Convocation in under the Ski ll s Redevelopment 1979. Looking on was Dr Chao Yon Sen, the principal then. Programme (SRP). Employers will and present governing bodies of the then have more incentives to send School of Horticulture: 'In my address their workforce for the Trade to students on one occasion, I urged 1995 Certificate course. them to look at a wider perspective as A Memorandum of Understanding they entered the working world and with the Ngee Ann Polytechnic of SOH will continue to forge seize opportunities to further their Singapore and Lincoln University of strategic alliances with recognised studies in ti me to hold responsible New Zealand was signed to facilitate and reputable tertiary institutions to positions. It is heartening to note the collaborative training efforts in widen the scope and opportunities good progress made by the School horticulture and landscape design. for professional development in since its revival in 1990 and the vital horticulture and landscape design/ links it has established to provide 1997 architecture. It will assess the training academic advancement fo r its The 2-year, part-time Advanced needs of the industry and identify graduates. My congratulations go Diploma in Landscape Studies was suitable trainers from established to the Singapore Botanic Ga rdens launched to provide an avenue for SOH insti tutions to conduct technical on its 140th Anniversary and for Diplomates to further their professional courses and workshops to its role in the development and development. Graduates of this course enhance local expertise. progress of the School.' @ can pursue a Bachelor in Landscape Architecture by enrolling for the 2-year SOH has fa cilitated the partnership Foong Thai Wu graduate-entry programme at Lincoln between NParks and the Ministry of Tan Choon Hooi University, New Zealand. The first Foreign Affairs in organising relevant Nashita Mustafa intake of 19 for the Advanced Diploma training courses for developing Janice Yau is due to graduate in 1999. countries under the Singapore Technical Education Branch of The

t took a decade for the Entomology Unit in the Singapore I Botanic Gardens (SBG) to metamorphose into a ladybug, and another to develop skills for devouring the most menacing bugs.

In 1979, the egg hatched... the ladybug larva's main mission was to munch the pests around it, as much as it could...

The time was ripe for the birth of The pest-hunting activities the Entomology Unit, as pests conrinued into the night in the newly abounded on the lush vegetation, developed coastal parks, where the mostly monocultures, created by the nocturnal cockchafer beetles nibbled Parks and Recreation Department's leaves of hundreds of saplings. Even (PRO) intense greening programmes. the mature trees in SBG were not spared - the on-set of wet weather Hundreds of rain trees, especially after the usual periodic dry spells 'instant' ones along the East Coast triggered off new flushes of leaves rkway, were heavily infested with which were gnawed by the gregarious shoot-defoliating caterpillars of a night-flying beetles. Apart from Atlas moth caterpillar and cocoon id moth. Huge and voracious advising the fie ld staff on pest control, Moth caterpillars attacked the Entomology Unit also fi elded haya trees lining a few major roads. queries from the general public. Field numbers of Cinnamomum iners personnel required for the greening a lso stunted by microscopic gall programmes, and students of the that induced tumours on leafy School of Horticulture were trained. shoot tips. Four years Later, the dormancy These and other pests kept the Un it call came... and the ladybug Larva busy conducting island-wide field pupated. investigations and, in the case of the Noctuid caterpillar epidemic, weekly In mid 1983, pest control research surveillance for more than a year. and advisory services were stopped Advice given on control measures when the Entomology Unit was closed. successfully contained the epidemic The fie ld staff were expected to be and suppressed the other pests. capable of carrying o ut pest control work without the help of a spec ialist. For 6 years, the Botanic Gardens field Galls induced by mites on Cinnamomum iners staff routinely sprayed every pest-prone plant every week. The inrensive preventive spray programme kept the plants free of insect bites but created a sterile, in actua l fact polluted environment, harsh for the survival of beneficia I insects.

Dormant for six years, the pupa escaped unscathed and the ladybug emerged... into an environmentally friendly atmosphere in the redeveloped Botanic Gardens conducive for developing its pest­ feeding capabilities to the full.

In mid 1989, the Entomology Unit was restored in recognition of the need Sapling with leaves riddled by cockchafer beetles for specialist advice on pest control. Studies on insect biodiversity A laboratory was set up and furnished brought the entomologist into with insect storage cabinets and basic the nature reserves and the SBG entomological equipment. Rain Forest. Relevant exhibits were set up. The Gardens' 130th Anniversary Exhibition manifes ted the impending Education on pest control change in its policy pertaining to previously targeted for horticultural entomological research and advisory students and NParks staff were activities. A plant clin ic was staged to extended to the general public. provide visitors advice on pest and The outreach programmes included disease control. This was the start of courses and talks, radio and an outreach public service that the television programmes, and plant Entomology Unit actively pursued clinic activi ties during 3 skyrise thereafter. gardens exhibitions in 1992, 1995 and 1998. These activities were In 1990, coming under the new aimed at raising public awareness management of the National Parks of plant health care. Board (NParks), the Entomology Unit undertook a greater variety of The Entomology Unit has activities and research projects. regular contacts with other entomology institutions in ASEAN, The Gardens' spray programme New Zealand, Australia and United was changed from being a prophylactic Kingdom. These links have helped one to a curative pest control measure NParks tackle a recent beetle with minimal chemical pollution of epidemic that seriously affected the environment. Toxic pesticides thousands of palms in Si ngapore. were replaced with less hazardous, more environment-friendly or harmless As the Singapore Botanic products such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Gardens enters a new era on organic soap or plant extracts. reaching its 140th year, irs decade­ By 1993, beneficial insects had old ladybug is also headed for a returned to SBG. new direction in its research journey. It will look into making biological Entomology research in the control a component of a more nineties was centred on pest problems eco-rational integrated pest of established plants. It covered a wide management strategy for NParks. range of insect pests found on shrubs This will be done through the like Hibiscus and lxora, trees like conservation and use of natural Angsana and Thespesia, different types enemies of pests. The strong support of palms, plants in skyrise gardens of NParks management has been, and the Botanic Gardens Nursery, and will continue to be, an important Bromeliads in the National Orchid factor fo r its flight to success. ~· Gardens and recently even herbarium specimens. Research findings were Choo-Toh Get Ten disseminated in both local and Chaw Siang Long international publications. Entomology Unit ORC IDS in the Gardens

rchidaceae are one of the most The orchid programme in the diverse and largest of flowering Gardens entered a new era when plant families in the world with Professor R. E. Holttum came ro 0 2 some 25,000 species. On the 633 km Singapore in 1922. He was extremely island of Singapore, 179 species of enthusiastic about finding more free­ native orchids belonging to flowe ring plants for the 58 genera have been tropical lowlands. One recorded. Their diversity obvious choice was the Vanda 'Miss Joaquim', the National Flower of Singapore. and beauty make them one orchid. His vision of of the earliest plant families producing free flowering included Aranthera 'James Storie' to be collected and grown orchid hybrids sprang (Arachnis hookeriana X Renanthera in the Gardens. from observing the ever­ storiei) which became an important cut flowering habit of Vanda flower for many years and Arachnis In the mid 1870s, 'Miss Joaquim'. 'Maggie Oei' (Arachnis hookeriana X when Mr. H. J. Murton Arachnis flos-aeris). The latter dominated was the Superintendent, the Holttum used the the orchid cut-flower market and became Gardens began to cultivate new method of the symbol for Singapore orchids. orchid species in an Orchid asymbiotic orchid seed House. The Gardens Henry Ridley. germination developed In 1939 Oncidium 'Goldiana' gradually became an by Professor Lewis ( Oncidium sphacelatum X Oncidium important centre for species cultivation Knudson that grew seeds in sterile flexuosum) was flowered. This hybrid, and excha nge with other botanical culture media. By the end of 1929, commonly known as the Golden Shower institutions throughout the world. he reported that he was able ro or the Dancing Lady orchid was a great Orchids which are native to the region, germinate seeds of Dendrobium success and its popula rity still extant. such as those in the genera Vanda, crumenatum, Phalaenopsis violaceae, It can be found in almost every fl ower Dendrobium and Paphiopedilum, were Vanda hookeriana, Vanda teres, shop throughout the world. exchanged for the South American Spathoglottis plicata, Vanda 'Miss epiphytes such as Cattleya, Catasetum Joaquim' and one dozen other Bes ides the orchid breeding and Oncidium. hybrids. programme, Holttum also contributed to orchidology of the region as a uthor to In 1888, Mr. Henry Ridley, a trained Ho lttum flowered Spathoglottis o rchidologist, became the Director of 'Primrose' (Spathoglottis aurea X the Gardens. During his tenure, the Spathoglottis plicata), his first hybrid, orchid programme was further improved 111 1931. and expanded. Many species were introduced fr om the region as well as Other important hybrids that were from a ll over the world. flowered during Holttum's time

An important event occurred in 1893. While gardening in Tanjong Pagar, Miss Agnes Joaquim discovered a beautiful plant. Agnes immediately took it ro Mr. Ridley. After comparing the newly discovered flower with those of Vanda teres and Vanda hookeriana, Ridley concluded that it was a hybrid between the two species. Subsequently, the plant was registered by Mr. Ridley under the name Vanda 'Miss Joaquim', after Miss Agnes Joaquim. Agnes gave some plants to the Gardens and Vanda ' Miss Joaquim' has proven ro be exceptionally vigorous and free flowering. Vanda 'Miss Joaquim' was named the National Flower of Epidendrum pseudepidendrum - an interesting Singapore in 1981. species from Thailand. Ansellia africana - an atlractive species introduced from Afric Orchid Tissue Culture in the Gardens SEED GERMINATION OF ORCHIDS The Singapore Botanic Gardens started TISSUE CULTURE OF ORCHID research work on orchids in 1928 when Following the success in tissue Professor R.E. Holttum was the Director. culture of orchids by G.M. Morel in The early work was mainly on hybridization 1960 in France, the Gardens decided and seed germination. In 1933, Professor to take up this new line of research . A Holttum adopted the Knudson asymbiotic tissue culture laboratory was estab lished method for germination of orch id seeds. in the early 1970s and gradually took He discovered that the contam ination rate off. In due course , several hybrids of of cultures could be greatly reduced by Dendrobium, Aranda, Aranthera, and using pods harvested prior to dehiscence. Burkillara were successfully mericloned. A number of orchid species including After many attempts, Dendrobium Pha/aenopsis violacea, Vanda teres, antennatum and Oncidium lanceanum Spathog/ottis plicata, Vanda hookeriana were also successfu lly mericloned in and the natural hybrid of Vanda 'Miss 1977. Until then , only apical and axillary Joaquim ' were successfully germ inated buds we re used in tissue culture from seeds. techniques and the medium was mainly Vacin and Went basic salt fortified with Research effort slacke ned during naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 2,4- the Japanese Occupation. After the war, dichloroph enyl acetic acid (2 ,4-D ). the Singapore Botanic Gardens initiated research on the improvement of From 1980 onward s, a wider range germination media. A modified Vacin of experiments were initiated to support and Went formu la, with the addition of the orchid breeding programme of the coconut liquid endosperm and banana Gardens. Choice orchid hybrids were was developed for seed germination. mass produced by tissue culture As the seed germination programme techniques for disp lay at the Orchid developed, and became able to ge rminate Enclosure (th e predecessor of the more seedlings than required for internal National Orchid Garden). use, the Gardens began offering orchid seed lings for sale to the public. In add ition to apical and axillary Late r, attention was turned towards the buds, tissues such as roots, young propagation of high demand varieties for leaves and late ral buds of flower stalks cut flowers such as Arachnis 'Maggie have all been successfully mericloned. Oei ', Aranthera 'James Storei' and The most significant work of the Oncidium 'Goldiana'. laboratory has been the successful micro-propagation of orchids from flower In 1980, the seed germination buds in 1984. Two species of Makara programme was absorbed into the Tissue an d a few species of Spathoglottis have Culture Laboratory. With judicial choice of bee n produced by flower-bud culture. culture media and germ ination proced ures The success of flower-bud cu lture (including the right timing of harvesting opened up new avenues for orchid the seed pods), the seed germination production. Mass propagation of a programme has improved the germination choice species or hybrid has become rate for Vandaceous orchids from 13% in possible even when only a flower bud is the mid-1 970s to 40% nowadays, and for available. Th e method has also enab led Dendrobium hybrids from 30% in th e mid- tissue cultu re to be carried out at 1970s to 80% nowadays. practically no risk to the parent plant.

To a large extent, the progress was made possib le by the development of a comprehensive list of culture media based on Vacin and Went, Murashige and Skoog, Knops, and Knudson basic salts. Th e effects of various hormones and plant extracts on the different stages of growth of a large variety of orchid species/ hybrids were closely obse rved. The most Orchid seedlings derived from one seed pod growing versatile and effective media profusely on agar medium Continued on page 19 Orchids, Conti nued from page 3

Dr. Richard Eric Holttum.

Orchids of Malaya, in which he described more than 750 Malayan species in 110 genera. Dr Tan Wee Kiat in the National Orchid Garden. In 1952, Vanda 'Tan Chay Yan' fl owered in the Gardens. This famed hybrid was the result of a cross between Vanda 'Josephine van Brero' and Vanda dearei. It was awarded a First Class Certificate (FCC) in the Chelsea Flower Show in England. Today, it is still considered one of the most o utstanding hybrids ever produced in Singapore.

The Gardens sta rted naming new hybrids after YIPs and visiting dignitaries. In 1956, the fi rst VIP orchid Aranthera 'Anne Black' was named after Lady Black, wife of the former Governor of Singapore, Sir Robert Black. To date, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has named more than 110 VIP orchids.

In the early 80s, cognizant of the constant demand for new varieties of orchid hybrids, the Gardens' orchid programme, spear-headed by Dr. Tan Wee Kiat, once again geared itself towards breeding exclusive hybrids for display in the Gardens and for the local orchid industry. Vanda 'Tan Chay Van'. Vandaenopsis 'Nelson Mandela', a VIP orchid named In 1995, the three hectare National after Mr Nelson Mandela. Orchid Garden was opened. The products of our breeding programme and our species collection are now showcased in a beautifully landscaped environment. Some of the plants displ ayed include our more recent hybrids such as Dendrobium 'Masako Kotaishi H idenka', Dendrobium ' Memori a Princess Diana ', Renanthopsis 'Dhanabalan', Dendrobium 'World Peace', Dendrobium 'Singapore M in t', Dendrobium ' Rotary International', Renantanda 'Mary Robinson', Renantanda Keating, Vandaenopsis 'Nelson Mandela', Makara 'World Trade O rganisation', Renanthera 'Tan Keong Choon', and Vanda 'Overseas Union Bank'.

Our orchid species collection comprises many genera, Dendrobium being the best Dendrobium 'Fairy Wong' x 'Candy Stripe' - this hybrid won the Award for 'Best represented, fo ll owed by the vandaceous Dendrobium with stripe s' at the 1999 World Orchid Con ference in Vancouver. species, such as Arachnis, Vanda, Renanthera Continued from page 17 a nd Phalaenopsis. There a re also numero us species from the genera Bulbophyllum, developed through these years of Paphiopedilum and Oncidium. Other experience include: Vaci n and interesting genera include Arundina, Went basic salt supplemented Spathoglottis, Cymbidium, Ansellia with banana, coconut water and Epidendrum, Catasetum, Cattleya and tomato juice, and Knudson C Vanilla. medium supplemented with ~ banana and pineapple juice. The ~ A cool house is being constructed to media used depend on the stage ~ of development of the L------==-----__J enable the cultivation and display of orchids Initiation of protocorms from flower bud from the higher altitudes of the tropics a nd protocorms. Fo r protocorm culture of Makara sp. those from the cooler regions. initiation, the Vacin and Went medium and the Knudson C With the beginning of the new medium have been found to be millennium, we would like to strengthen our far superior to the others for orchid programme by going into new areas apical shoot tip and axillary bud of research. cultures. For most species and some hybrids, it is necessary to In breeding, we would like to create new add NAA to induce protocorm colours and more lasting and showy hybrids . formation. For protocorm To do so, we have started a project to multip lication and differentiation, artificially induce polyploids. Most orchids the Vacin and Went medium have two basic sets (di ploid, 2x) of supplemented with coconut water chromosomes. Plants that contain more than and sugar is best for most the basic two sets of chromosomes are hybrids, espec~l~ for considered polyploids. The most common one Dendrabium hybrids. Vandaceous is obtained by doubling the chromosomes of a orchids, howeve r, have been Initiation of protocorms from leaf base culture of Vanda sp. diploid (2x) to tetraploid (4x). Tetraploid observed to multiply and plants are generally more horticulturally differentiate faster in the Vacin Orch id plantlets in flasks have also desirable than their diploid counterparts. For and Went medium supplemented been offered for sale to the public in example, fl owers of a tetraploid tend to have with coconut water, banana and the laboratory since 1980. This service better texture are bigger and have more intense tomato. Most Oncidium hybrids proved to be most popular, especially to colorations. So far, several tetraploid orchid fai l to form roots in media tourists from Australia, New Zealand, species and hybrids have been produced. containing tomato extract but Japan and Europe. With the opening of satisfactory root formation is obtained the National Orchid Garden in 1995 and Another programme is to use DNA finger­ in media containing pineapple juice the Visitor Centre in 1998, orchid printing to determine the parentage of hybrids. plantlets are also being offered for sale By the end of 1998, the tissue at the Orchid Plaza next to the National Finally, in the area of orchid culture laboratory has successfully Orchid Garden and the Garden Shop. conservation, we would like to increase the mericloned 624 hybrids/species of species population through seedling culture orchids, of which 269 are sympodial THE FUTURE for planting, dissemination to other botanical and 355 are monopodia!. The effort to The research efforts in the near future institutio ns, individuals, and for introduction develop more effective culture media will focus on two aspects: molecular back to their natural habitats. @ and mericloni ng procedures is being diagnostics for quality control of tissue continued, in order to ach ieve even cultured orch ids, and efficient, non­ Yam Tim Wing greater productivity and to overcome destructive tissue cu lture techniques. Orchidology Unit difficulties with known recalcitrant species. To develop a virus-free, mutation­ free stock of culture in the Laboratory, CLONING SERVICE FOR LOCAL we intend to adopt DNA and RNA-based GROWERS AND SALES OF techniques to detect virus infection and ORCHID PLANTLETS signs of genetic variations in parent In late 1978, the Gardens started a plants and cu ltured plantlets. mericlone service to assist local orchid growers and breeders. We undertake The flower-bud culture developed experimental tissue culture propagation of has so far been applied to only parent plants sent in by the public. Orchid Makara, Spathag/attis, and Oncidium. hybrids, which have been mericloned and This non-destructive method, if supplied commercially on a large scale in successfully developed , will significantly the last few years include Makara 'Willie expand the opportunity for mericloning How', Dendrabium 'Sedona' and some of a wider variety of orchids. @ the Epidendrium hybrids. To date, 15 growers have made use of this service to Lim-Ho Chee Len mass-produce their choice hybrids. A Koh-low Neok Chein total of 100 ,000 plantlets of 25 hybrids Khoo-Woon Mui Hwang have been produced under such Quek-Phua Lek Kheng, Jassy Aranthera Lim Hng Kiang, our new hybrid named aft er contract service. Tissue Culture Unit the former Minister for National Developmen t. SAN~

he Angsana Wilt Disease preventing the spread of was first observed in F. oxysporum by the ambrosia T Malacca in Peninsular beetles, to the lightning damaged Malaysia from 1870 to 1880 and Angsanas and subsequent again in early 1900s in Penang, establishment in the soil. T he Tapah and Taiping (Perak) and strategy is based on the following: Kuala Kubu and Kuala Lumpur (1) rapid removal of these lightning (Selangor). The first disease incident damaged trees, or chemical in Singapore occurred in Pulau treatments in the form of sprays to Brani in 1914. It then spread to prevent insect invasion of damaged Connaught Drive, Dhoby Ghaut, trees and (2) sprays and injections the Istana, Tanglin Barracks, and St to protect surrounding trees from John's Island. At that rime, this invasion and infection. Details of devastating disease apparently the control strategy have been wiped out most of the Angsanas published in The Gardens' Bulletin (Pterocarpus indicus) in Singapore. Singapore (1998, Vol. 48, pages, After these episodes, there were no 89-127). further records till the 1970s. In the late 1970s and in 1982, the disease While the short-term aim of this re-surfaced in isolated areas pathological research was to including Tampines Road, Whitley develop a control strategy based on Road, Lim Chu Kang Road, Choa chemical control, the long-term aim Chu Kang Road, Newton Road and is to identify lines of Angsana the Ulu Pandan Incinerator resistant to F. oxysporum. compound. During this period the disease ki ll ed many of the Angsanas Over 650 hardwood cuttings along Tampines Road. However the "Re sistant" Angsana saplings at Toa Payoh Avenue 8. This location and 2,600 seedlings from 3,000 was known to contain Fusarium oxysporum in the soil. These implementation of rapid removal healthy saplings were planted here 21 months ago. seeds of Angsanas collected from and disposal of infected trees, by southeast Asian countries were burning and fungicide drenching of infection site during the 1993-1994 screened for disease resistance. During areas around infected trees and trees disease survey. screening, the research team was suspected of being infected, the spread looking for a single gene resistance, of the disease appeared to be under Although the origin of the disease which is expressed as an all-or-nothing control. No further incidence of the is soil borne, initial spread of the reaction; resistant plants survive and disease was reported until 1988 when a fungus is by an insect vector. susceptible plants die. All the case was detected at Collyer Quay. " resistant" saplings obtained had been From 1988, the disease appeared Therefore control measures subjected to three disease screenings in rampant in parts of Singapore. Between have to target the beetles and be the nursery. 115 of these saplings were 1988 and 1994, over 800 Angsanas implemented at the beginning of the planted in locations around Singapore were removed as a consequence of the primary infection cycle when the known to be infested by F. oxysporum, disease. These were mainly confined to beetles first attack a lightning for final field assessment for resistance. Lim Chu Kang Road, Choa Chu Kang damaged Angsana. Road, Woodlands Road, Jalan Ahmad After growing in contaminated Ibrahim and Alexandra Park. The Angsana Wilt Disease control soil for 1 to 2 years, all the strategy has two main objectives: (1) 115 saplings show no symptoms The ca usal organism of Angsanas to prevent the disease from becoming of the Angsana Wilt Disease and mortality has been confirmed to be the established in new sites, and (2) to have grown tall and healthy. soil borne fungus, Fusarium slow down the progression of the These saplings will be monitored oxysporum. In areas where the disease disease in areas where infection has closely for 3 years for disease is already establi shed, the spread of the already established. There is no instant symptoms to develop. Saplings causal organism is either by root graft control for the disease epidemic. The that do not succumb to the disease or spores washed down from diseased success of the control strategy depends after 3 yea rs can be considered as trees into the soil. But in areas where on slowing down the progress of the " resistant" as susceptible saplings there is no previous incidence of epidemic. Eventually this wi ll result in would have died within the first year disease, the spread of the causal the total control of the disease as the after planting in contaminated soil. organism is by ambrosia beetl es. pool of inoculum becomes gradually Propagations from these pioneers Lightning injury has been determined reduced to below epidemic thresholds. wi ll be planted in areas affected by as one of the major stress fa ctors that Sporadic incidences of disease can then the Angsana Wilt Disease. @ predisposed the Angsanas ro the be mopped up. disease. The lightning - ambrosia Fong Yok King beetle - F. oxysporum complex The control strategy formulated Jolly Lim accounted for 97% of the primary aims to break the disease cycle by Plant Pathology U11it Tree Damage~!11 by Lightning ~ . :f ~ Lightning Damaged Parts ~ ~. . Trees are Invaded by ~ ~.. Ambrosia Beetle'

In the first week, beetle frass will delimit the area of damage. During the next few weeks the beetles will burrow out of the damaged tissues and invade healthy wood.

The intensity of beetle infestation depends on the proximity of the source of beetles to the lightning damaged tree.

les are ot car(Wng""F. oxysp rum

Damaged Tree Becomes Infected by Fungus (Primary Infection Site) If F. oxysporum moves down the tree and into the root system, then either through root contact to the neighbouring Angsana trees or into the soil where it is moved from tree to tree in the soil water, then neighbouring Angsana trees become infected (Secondary Infection Site) The twin-trunk Dracaena maingayi in its natural home at the The planting pit. Upper Peirce Reservoir site.

ransplanting mature trees and We had a recent experience in shrubs into a newly developed moving a large tree under difficult site T landscape allows an almost conditions. A large specimen of instantaneous creation of an established Dracaena maingayi, about 20 m ta ll landscape. T here are as many ways of was found at the Upper Pierce site of moving large plants as there are people the proposed Central Service Reservoir who move them. It is much more than on top of a hillock. We decided that removing the tree from its original this beautiful and majestic tree be and putting t he plant into saved and transplanted to the new r planting hole. Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre. Transplanted plants may be either moved bare rooted or with a root ball. Dracaena maingayi is an They can be moved with the root ball exceptional Dracaena that grows completely exposed or burlapped and to a la rge size reaching 20 m tall. secured with rope or wire netting. In It produces pale yellow flowers and the extreme, the root ball maybe small orange-coloured fruits. Native to boxed. Care varies from the extremely Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, meticulo us, such as one to two years of its natural habitat is the coastal forest. root pruning prior to the move and Transplanting this tree involved igging a large root ball with careful planning and co-ordination works burlapping, transporting, preparation of between the Gardens, the Pu blic site using a good quality soil mix and Utilities Board, which manages the overseeing fo llow-up maintenance, to Central Service Reservoir project and the extremely casual, like simply the Traffic Police. The Dracaena scooping out the plant and moving it. maingayi was crown pruned to a Preparing to lift the tree from its original site. Note Whichever method used has its own height of 17 metres from 20 metres. the twin-trunks securely wrapped and strapped, the merits. Transplanting success also It was then root pruned (by trenching) neatly bundled rootball and the iron pipes depends on the plam species and its and the trench backfilled with sand supporting the tree. condition, characteri stics of the original and cocopeat to encourage root growth and fina l planting sites, climatic for a month before the move. Due to not spli t into two. T he trunks were conditions, and especially follow-up the tight schedule of development braced with stout poles and securely care, as well as the transplanting works at the Reservoir, we did not strapped together at several points. method itself. have the luxury of trenching for a longer period. Finally, the tree was lifted by Before transplanting, 1t IS important crane and loaded onto a long trailer to assess the overall health of the plant Just prior to moving, t he trunks on 24 June 1998. With the rootball, and the potential problems associated and main branches were wrapped in it weighed 25 tonnes. The diameter at with moving it from a particular site. gunny for protection against abrasion. breast height (dbh) of the trun ks were For instance, plants are transplanted As this individual has twin trunks, it 52 and 49 em respectively. The size of more easily from sites that are free of posed a special problem and extra care the root ball was 3 metres across and stones and other obstructions. had to be taken to ensure that it did 1.2 metres deep. The most crucial part of the a high profile area of the process was lifting and laying it Gardens. Subsequently, the down onto the trailer. Stakes of spaces left in the planting hole timber, more sacking material were filled in with gentle and bags of cocopeat were used compaction. The tree was then to support the tree on the trailer staked with iron pipes; the so as to avoid damage. The tree parts of the tree against pipes was secured with manila ropes being thickly wrapped with and metal chains. The next gunny. The base was mulched critical step was testing how with shredded leaves and secure the tree was on the slow thoroughly watered. drive .down the steep slope of the hillock onto a tarmac road. That was nine months ago, The tree appeared snug and The tree resting comfortably on the trailer. and the tree is now established safe. with vigorous new growth.

To conform to regu latory Experience has shown that requirements and traffic some species can be conditions the trailer with its transplanted more easily than precious load was driven to others. Easier ones include the Gardens at about midnight Ficus superba, Ficus variegata, under traffic police escort. Cola gigantea, Bucida buceras, It was parked at an open Khaya senegalensis, Terminalia space within the Gardens. ivorensis, Terminalia The following morning, kaernbachii, Chrysophyllum operations continued and cainito, Dillenia philippinensis, tension mounted. At one point, Clusia rosea, Sterculia coccinea, in negotiating a slope on an and Cratoxylum formosum. uneven road leading to the The relatively more difficult planting site, the heavily An excavator was used to act as a restrain as the loaded trailer species are Maniltoa loaded trailer starred tipping negotiated a curve on an uneven road. browneoides, Artocarpus to one side. It could only integer, Pachira aquatica, proceed very slowly with an Garcinia mangostana, excavator putting a Planchone/la obovata, supporting arm on the tree. Dyera costulata and Gnetum gnemon. To allow the trail er and crane to be positioned at the The methods of planting site, steel plates had transplanting large trees to be laid on the soft ground. depend very much on plant The pre-dug planting hole was size and species, soil and site 3m x 3m x 3m and well conditions, lead time between prepared with a porous mix root pruning, moving and of topsoil, cocopeat and washed planting. It is also necessary to sand. The tree was readied for consider the distance between lifting by careful removal of the original and new planting binding ropes and chains and sites, available equipment, attaching the lift ing cables from personnel and funds. Needless the crane at three different ro say the larger and more points. This was to ensure that sensitive a plant is, the harsher the tree would be lifted m an the weather and the gr eater upright position. the distance between the original and new planting The tree was successfully sites, the more protective lifted and placed into the the methods must be. An planting hole; this took a important consideration which while as the depth of the soil can affect success, is your in the hole had to be readjusted feeling and passion for the so that the tree will sit at the tree. With some experience, right height with allowance you can follow your instincts for some settlement of the and together with proper soil. The tree then had to care, your transplanted tree be gently manoeuvred ro its will survive. @ natural growing position while presenting its best face to future A pride and joy of the Gardens. The transplanted Dracaena maingayi one Camelia Marican admirers as this new home is in year later. A result of careful planning, teamwork and dedication. SBG Management Branch

The author would like to thank all her colleagues who assisted in this transplant; in particular Saiful, Puay Yok and Alan. Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier one of the most characteristic birds in the Gardens

his was the title of an article nesting regularly in the in the very first introductory garden jungle today is T issue of Gardenwise 10 years down to a single pair in ago 25 November 1989! That article the country found inside was written by Dr Chris Hails, the the water catchment photographs were supplied by... one forest. ] ust I ike the Common lora Aegithina tiphia, another of the delightful garden birds residing of the undersigned! It is indicative of White-rumped Sha ma commonly in the Botanic Gardens. Not quite as easy to observe as th e the fact that the management of the Copsychus malabaricus bulbul it jumps about inside the bushes and small trees always on the go in Botanic Gardens realizes that the that Ridley found 'in a constant search for small insects and larvae which it gleans off the foliage. gardens are not just about plants. some numbers' All life depends on plants, that is frequenting ' the thicker true. But those higher life forms are parts of rhe woods', it is often as fa scinating as the plants a ll but gone from themselves. And probably the most Singapore today. conspicuous, adaptable and easy to study of all are the birds. And gone completely is the Green Broadbill Birds depend closely on the Calyptomena viridis, 'a environment around them, and they lovely little green bird at react quickly to changes in it. That is times seen in the denser one of the reasons why bi rdwatching wooded spots' which has is such a dynamic and exciting pursuit. not been recorded in Going back even further than the mid- Si ngapore since 1941 and 1980s when Chris Hails studied birds is now regarded as locall y here on behalf of the Ministry of the extinct. Ridley must have Environment, H.N. Ridley also studied been one of the last the birds in the Botanic Gardens. people to see the That was around the turn of the Rhinoceros Hornbill Two members of the starling family. White-vented Myna Acridotheres century, a nd he published his findings Buceros rhinoceros in javanicus on th e left and Philippine Glossy Starling Aplonis panaysensis fighting over a fallen fruit. in the Journal of the Straits Branch Singapore, he describes of the Royal Asiatic Society. observing a pair in the garden. This species became locally that 'the absence of crows from The Magpi e Robin Copsychus extinct in 1898. In total an astonishing Si ngapore seems very strange' rings saularis that Ridley describes in his 57 resident birds have become locally somewhat funny today where the piece as 'the bird best known to the extinct in Singapore during the last Ho use Crow Corvus splendens is residents here' is now a ll but gone hundred years alone (si nce 1895). For everywhere on the island picking up from Singapore. Chris Hails tried to derails please see Lim, K.S. & D. scraps from right under the noses of reintroduce it into the Botanic Gardens Gardner (1997). Birds, An Illustrated picknickers at the beach. It is even in the 1980s but the effort was not Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore. regarded as a pest that gun-toting successful. A study in 1996 by a Sun Tree Publishing, Singapore. It is controllers freq uently have to cull. student from the National University available at the Botanic Gardens Shop. of Singapore found 114 Magpie And while the Philippine Glossy Robins on Si ngapore Island. She saw But new birds have come into Starling Aplonis panayensis was already only 1 pair at Singapore Botanic the country replacing these, taking 'most abundant' at Ridley's time 'flying Gardens. The Crested Serpent-eagle advantage of new feeding and nesting in large flocks and wheeli ng in masses Spilornis cheela that Ridley found opportunities. Ridley's observation li ke the English Starl ing' (=Common of the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Another starling, the Hill Myna Gracu/a religiosa, is a forest bird and prefers the taller The Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus p/umosus is a close relative of th e parts of the park around th e rain forest patch. It also visits fruiting trees but moves Yellow-vented but prefers denser cover and is not nearly as numerous. It high near the canopy. Its penetrating whistle can often be heard early in the morning. has a similar bubbling call.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris) he made no mention of the Common Myna Acridotheres tristis or the White-vented Myna A. javanicus. Simply for the good reason that there weren't any around at the time. They only invaded Singapore in the 1930's, the brown­ plumaged Common Myna came down along the Malay Peninsu la aided by forest clearance. The all-black White­ vented Myna escaped fro m captivity and is today Singapore's most numerous resident species.

Even in the relative short period since Chris Hails wrote his article birdlife in the Botanic Gardens has changed. We had the wonderful record of a Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus breeding right inside the garden high in a palm tree near the rainforest patch in 1988. Other true forest species like Changeable Hawk­ eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus and Red­ legged Crake Rallina fasciata have been found breeding. According to the Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 3 p. 155 the Red-legged Crake's nest The Pink-necked Pigeon Treron vernans is one of the most typical birds in Singapore, it has benefitted has never been described anywhere in tremendously from the Garden City development and is abundant in many places - like the Botanic Gardens. the world, so here is a possible task Only the male has the pink breast, this is a female feeding on the Simpoh Air Oilfenia suffruticosa which for some observant visitor to the provides a stable diet for many of Singapore's pigeons, bulbuls and sunbirds. The wetland areas of the Gardens attract species different from those found in the wooded areas. This White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus, is often seen walking out onto the leaves of the water lilies around the Symphony Stage.

Birds, Continued from page 23 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, in garden who wants to make a name for fact it should be fairly obvious. But himself in ornithological circles. also try to locate the more cryptic Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Visitors to the gardens should inside the reed-covered banks of the however not let themselves get lake. And you might also spot the confused by the many escapee birds uncommon Stork-billed Kingfisher that a lso occur. In fact the gardens Pelargopsis capensis as it perches seem to act like a magnet for these inside one of the trees - or more birds. Some escape from the wildlife likely as it flies low into another traders, some are released on purpose one, calling loudly. The Oriental into the environment by the public. Reed-warbler Acrocephalus orienta/is No, there are no cockatoos native to may just be a common winter visitor The Banded Woodpecker Picus miniaceus is also mainly a fore st Singapore - those large white parrots from the north but it wasn't here bird but it can quite easily be seen near the ra in forest area where only occur naturally in the before the Eco Lake was put in. the trees are large and close. Listen for the penetrating call peew. Notice the strong legs showing clearly on this photograph. Australasian region from Eastern Indonesia into Australia. But nevertheless both Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea and the smaller Tanimbar Cockatoo C. goffini can be seen flyi ng freely about screeching loudly. As can, Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus, Red Lory Eos bornea, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis and a host of other foreign aliens. Most of these are easy to pick out even without binoculars but you have to look very closely to distinguish the introduced Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis from the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot L. galgulus which occurs naturally in the gardens, although in small numbers and usually just seen flying quickly across overhead.

With the development of the large new extension and the Eco Lake near the Bukit Timah Road more new native birds have turned up. Next time Two female Brown-throated Sun birds Anthreptes ma/acensis displaying, this one and the smaller Olive-backed Nectarinia jugularis are the two most common sunbirds in the Gardens. you walk down there look for the Unlike most other barbels the Coppersmith Barbel Megalaima haemacephala is not a forest bird, it prefers the open park-like habitat that the Botanic Gardens oHer in plenty. It is best seen when it visits fruiting trees or when it calls from a high perch like this one, the call is a distinctive and persistent took-took-took.

/

The Ye llow Bittern lxobrychus sinensis hates to come out into the open. With a bit of patience it can be seen around the Eco Lake but always inside or near the cover of dense reeds.

Occasionally new species are added to the list of birds in the Botanic Gardens - like this Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orienta/is which is a winter visitor to Singapore from temperate East Asia and which was undoubtedly attracted by the wetland habitat around the Eco Lake where this photograph was taken in March 1999.

There is no doubt that these usually shy and elusive wetland birds are becoming used to harmless human Several kingfishers occur in the Botanic traffic and much more tame and Gardens, both White-throated Halcyon The Purple Heron Ardea purpurea usually requires approachable than the birds you find smyrnensis and Collared Halcyon chloris are extensive marshes to thrive but the Eco Lake in the in remoter rural areas of the island. established residents but the larger and rarer new ex1ension is just large enough for it. These Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis normally shy birds are getting used to morning joggers has only recently colonized the park, in 1999 and school kids using the trails around the lake and The new Visitor Centre of the a pair settled around the Eco Lake. have become remarkably approachable Botanic Gardens has also attracted a lot of birds. It is probably the best place in the world to see the Long­ different bird species as you come before you know it you might turn tailed Parakeet. Every evening around across them. Make a list. You can into one of these fanatic sighting 5 p.m. a small flock settles in the oil easily find 10-12 in one morning, collectors - so-ca lled twitchers - palm trees next to the cafeteria - maybe 20-30 over a few weeks. Chris who travel the world in a frantic visitors in the garden can have their tea Hails accumulated a list of almost 100 effort to add new species to their while watching the parrots have theirs! species during the 6 years he had an world list. There are about 9,300 office in the Botanic Gardens. species to go for. The Botanic Gardens So get Lim Kim Seng's guide book is a good place to start. @ to the birds, it is the fi rst bird book on As you then travel to a different the market that covers all the species habitat or a diffe rent region you will Morten Strange you can possibly see in the country. notice how the composition of birds Ng Bee Choo Then look at the plates and identify the changes. But just watch out, because Nature's Niche

A special thank you goes to Lim Kim Seng who is also chairman of the Records Committee of the Nature Society of Singapore's Bird Group and who provided us with the latest information about the avifauna in the Gardens. Thanks also to Huang Hsiao Ling for providing data on the Magpie Robin. BG becomes a Bear Garden Where do Singapore Teddy Bears go for their picnics? The Singapore Botanic Gardens of course. The first official Teddy Bears' Picnic was held on 5th June 1999, and on that day the Gardens or the first time in its 140-year old history, was soon crowded with bears of all shapes and sizes. There were even some the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a Visitor V.I.Bs (Very Important Bears) among FCentre. The Centre, accessed by a new those joining the throng of picnickers. entrance, Nassim Gate, features timber Singapore First Lady, Mrs Ong Teng construction with expressive trusses and a Cheong , kindly let her teddy attend; as did Baroness Thatcher, former President shingled roof, is detailed to provide a rustic of Singapore, Dr Wee Kim Wee, and ambience. It was officially opened on lOth Minister for Trade and Industry, Brigadier December 1998 by Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister General George Yeo. BG Yeo and his family accompanied their bear to the for National Development and Second Minister picnic, which the Minister opened (we for Finance. The significance of the Visitor presume his bear was too shy to do it). Centre lies as much in its services and facilities (Human) visitors were allowed to as in its ambience. bring their own bears to the picnic and take part in a range of competitions including finding the best matched bear The entrance porch is a proper drop-off and owner, and the best bear family. and pick-up point for visitors. It leads to the Bears of all sorts were on display, and Orientation Foyer where the Visitor Services the bearless were able to adopt (at a price) some ownerless bears brought in Desk is located to provide friendly and useful specially by the organisers. It was information about the Gardens' on-going estimated that about 10,000 bears and activities and up-coming programmes including humans attended the event which began in the morning. performances. Housed within the Visitor Centre is an impressive Clock Tower, the design motif Wearing traditional At six o'clock their mummies and sarong kebaya (with daddies did take them home to bed of which was inspired by the Gardens' icon, the matching accessories), because they were all tired (but happy) Sealing Wax Palm. this bear and owner were little teddy bears. prize winners in the 'Best """'""""'----_.::: The event, organised by Sasha's and Stepping out fro m the Orientation Foyer, one Bear Dressed Like Its Bears of all shapes and sizes Company, raised $20,000 for the Owner' Competition. came lor the picnic. Children's Charities Association. enters Palm Court, a peaceful oasis of palm trees and fountains, bordered by two wings of the Singapore Rotarians Donate Artwork to the Gardens Seventeen Rotary Clubs in Singapore joined forces to donate a work by Zimbabwean sculptor, Dominic Benhura, to the Botanic Gardens. The donation, termed 'A Singapore ~awlng._C U[~ • - Legacy', was to mark the 90th Rotary Ten pa rt ic i ~i\!:) ts attended tbBo!:ou '\'~ ~;;urQfiilt e b ot~h i c", International Convention being held in artists fro m {!}~ herbaria at Ku c~11 :,ani!-sa'Milka'nl the r~st C Singapore. The sculpture, entitled Swing Me were neophyteS' selected becaus eamTiig techniques of­ Mama, was unveiled by Rotary International botanical draw frr~o u l d enha'l.e t e~o r k skiiiK ...... ____ President Mr James L. Lacy on 1Oth June 1999, when it was formally presented to The cou rse instruQto[, 5o'se mary W l ~t. ~hAhe-botan i ca l Gardens' Director, Dr Chin See Chung. Mr artist in the Plant Scie ribe..~~artme nt, 0~. f6rd 0 . · rsity, Lacy has made children the focus of his year­ freelances for publicati 1~ a 1;'01 auth rtist of t - . long presidency of Rotary International, and award-winning boo~;Zragile a~~i c iLilJ st.rates eJJp~m · the sculpture, featuring mother and child, is a p(ants of the Seyce l1 eS. Besides h : i · rern a ti o~aJLQit~ fitting emblem for the theme of the Singapore ao a_rtJ.st-;- Ro se~ Wise is well k' ~ ~ as an instructor havll'i_ Convention - 'children are our future.' In conducted ~eve @l courses in the r e q~\ ·~ accepting Swing Me Mama, Dr Chin also The tou r-day course focused o~~eno ~11! · ~4! ~g_:_ noted the donation as a very appropriate teQQniques, e m p~~~ Sfng~.':.Sl!JaCY-9.!~1~\~ gj :-e om po~~· fib}r.t ,~ reminder of the importance of children to the sh ad1ng and the ~vent~/u sed t o~ ; ~9 11 ca 10~~ ( 1;\. Singapore Botanic Gardens. f Once basiCitechniques had been ex l o r~d . d a ill The serpentine and springstone creation h e r bar i ~m spe' imen ~~,taykl~,e rTl R_ha is . n ig~s portrays a mother swinging a child in her sc1 ent1f1c the m?re arms in a very direct, fluid and delightful way. drawmg o~cf ac ~liv~Y.e plil ~n~~~bl(i~~f~tl~~C,X~ ij scop 1 c b1~hrssecte~.1db~~ ~st 6~~~flo ~vJf.t

Seated as if 'fl oating' above the waterfall is EJH Corner House which is now home to Au Jardin Les Amis (French for ' Friends at the Gardens'). This fi ne dining restaurant offers French cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Topping off all these, the Visitor

The participants: Back row (left to right) Ali Centre also offers coach and car Ibrahim and Joseph Lai (Herbarium), Chew parking facil ities. It is certainly helping Ping Ting (Nature Conservation Branch), Chin See Chung (Director, Singapore Botanic to make a visit to the Gardens a more Gardens), Janice Yau (School of relaxing and fu lfill ing experience. We Horticulture), Ubaldus Majawal (Herbarium, Sandakan), Tan Jiew Hoe (Patron, Singapore welcome you to step in. Botanic Gardens) Wan Omarshah Wan Putera (Herbarium, Kuching). Front row Deborah Tay and Halilah Ahmad (Sungei Buloh Nature Wong Wei Har Park), Rosemary Wise (Course instructor, Oxford University), Ruth Kiew (Herbarium). SBG Management Branch Rosemary Wise teaching Joseph Lai. Janie~ Yau hat's -

Imagine a cross between a mangosteen tree and a strangling fig and you get some idea of what a Clusia is like. The genus is closely related to Garcinia, the mangosteens, as can be recognized by the similar flowers, young fruits and yellow latex that oozes from cut parts. A major difference can be seen in the mature fruit. To eat a ripe mangosteen you must break open the leathery skin - a Clusia fruit splits naturally to reveal the seeds embedded in flesh. The Clusia plant is like a strangling fig (though not closely related) beginning life as an epiphyte growing on another tree and sending down roots to the ground. Epiphytes are prone to water shortage problems and many species of Clusia are physiologically similar to cacti and other succulents, possessing thick fles hy leaves that only open their stomata, the tiny pores in the leaves that allow the movement of air into the leaf, at night. Key Visitors To The Gardens JANUARY- JUNE 1999 NAME FROM Mrs Alan Richard Wife of French Minister of Defence Dr Andrew Henderson New Yo rk Botanical Garden, USA Dr J Bastmeeger Rijksherbarium, Leiden, Th e Netherlands H E Dr Bela Szabadi State Se cretary (Political) Ministry Of Agriculture and Regional Development, Hungary Mr Chun Chul Hwan Governor, Bank of Korea Mr Dale Dixon James Cook University, Australia Drs David & Al ice Edwards Brunei University, Brunei Darussalam Mr Ferry Elik Rijksherbarium, Leiden, The Netherlands Professor J A Raven University of Dundee, UK Mrs Jill Dodson Wile of Major General Maurice Dodson, Chief of General StaH, A flower, young fruit and mature fruit of C/usia rosea. New Zealand Army This reduces the amount of water lost during the uptake of carbon Ms Kate Slack Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK d ioxide required for photosynthesis. Dr. Kim Hong-kyu Ass ociate Professor, Dept of Urban Planning and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul Clusia rosea is a handsome bushy tree with fles hy, triangular leaves and beautiful p ink-and-white flowers. Several plants of Clusia rosea Mrs Maria Almeida Wife of Prime Minister of Cape Verde grow near the Nassim Gate at the Visitor Centre of the Si ngapore Mr Marjan Senjur Minister for Economic Relations Botanic Gardens. Like all the species of the genus, it is native to and Development, Slovenia tropical Central and South America. When the open flower is observed Dr Michael Kiehm University of Vienna Botanic closely a brownish sticky ring can be seen around the stigmatic surface. Garden, Austria This is a resin secreted by the plant as a reward for its pollinators. In Begum Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif Wife of Prime Minister of the New World, these are small bees that collect the resin to use in the Pakistan constructi on of their nests. Our cursory observation in Singapore Mr Om Yang Won Deputy Managing Director showed no insect visitors to the Clusia flowers, yet the fr uits contained Government Designing Authority, seeds. This may indicate the production of seeds without pollination, a Seoul phenomenon also known in the mangosteens. Professor P B Tomlinson Harvard University, USA Mr Peter J Edwards Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK Ian Turner Nature Conservation Branch Dr Piya Chalermglin Institute of Science and Technological Research, Bangkok, Thailand Dr Piyakaset Suksathan Queen Sirikit Bo tanic Garden, Chiang Mai, Thailand Mr Richard Dearlove Assistant Chief Director of De fence, UK RVATION NEWS Professor Robert Johns Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK Ms Shako Sakai Kyoto University, Japan records for mammals; at least two new records for reptiles and three new Ms Siti Khatijah Rambe Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, amphibian records. Indeed, the merit of a long-term systematic survey cannot be Bangi, Malaysia over-extolled . Mr Somphong Mongkhonvilay Vice president for State Planning Since this volume compiles papers covering the biodiversity and conservation Committee, Lao People's status of a diverse range of taxonomic groups, it functions as a convenient Democratic Republic permanent record for monitoring and future comparisons of these groups: vascular Dr Stuart J Davies Universiti Malaysia plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, freshwater prawns and crabs, Sarawak, Malaysia butterfly, stick and leaf insects, semi-aquatic bugs, water beetles, and dragonflies. Mr Suren Govil Vice-Admiral & Regional Consultant, Inte rnational Award The data collected have already been put to good use. The foundation of Association, Australasia Region, the Recreational Masterplan for the Nature Reserves lies on the results of the India biological survey. The formulation of biodiversity conservation strategies and management practices will now be based on the rich biological databases Dr T C Whitmore Cambridge Unive rsity, UK that have resulted from the biosurvey. These data will also serve as nature Mr Takeshi Numata Governor, Chiba Prefecture, conservation educational resource materials. With th is baseli ne data so urce, Japan the charting of research priorities has a rational basis. Mr Tatsuro Suga Governor, Kagoshima Prefectu re, lena Chan Japan Nature Conservation Branch Dr Tim Utteridge Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK Mr Tokutake Okajima Director, Orchid Gardens, Nagoya, Japan Reg Featu

The Main Gate The in 1999.

ostcards provide an interesting insight into how visitors remember the Gardens. Even more Pfascinating are the old ones that give us a glimpse of the past. Some of the old postcards can be dated from the postmark or the message as on this one.

The Main Gate and Swan Lake appear on many of the old postcards. The Lake has hardly changed and visitors still pause to gaze pensively at the serene surface reflecting the The Main Gate in 1905. tranquil treescape. Or, is the gentle­ 'Dear S. We left Hong Kong on the 9th and arrived here at Wei Hai Wei today. All's well. Dick'. man in the hat disturbed by the mud bank, an obvious sign of siltation? A problem controlled by a silt-pond today. Botanical Garden Stately nibung palms ( Oncosperma tigillarium) still grace the island today. The suckering palms, nibung and sago (Metroxylon sagu, its fronds can just be seen on the extreme left of the Main Gate) are the oldest plants in the Gardens dating back to the original plantings. In contrast, the original trees have now outlived thei r lifespan and are replaced by a second generation, like the conifers to the right of the Main Gate.

Note how widely spaced the gate posts were. In the old days, horses and carriages and later cars were permitted access to the Gardens.

The library has a small collection of original postcards, as well as two albums of photographs of old postcards, the latter presented in 1992 by Lim Kheng Chye. Two are shown here . •

Ruth Kiew Herbarium & Library