1 Messagefrom the Director It has been another year of exciting activities, In this issue, major events and activities are Another milestone is the announcement of events, new plant displays and experiences. outlined. They include the Singapore Orchid the Gardens’ Botanical Research Fellowship. We continue to enthral our core of repeat Festival, new guided tours, educational This scheme, made possible by donations, visitors and foreign guests and successfully programmes and an exciting range of is to encourage and support taxonomic captured a new pool of admirers. concerts at our outdoor venue. research, on the South East Asian flora, one of the richest in the world. With many Staff presented papers, lectures and reports The Ginger Garden was officially opened habitats threatened, there is an urgent need at 12 overseas meetings and conferences, and immediately became a favourite visitor to explore, document, study and conserve. and participated in field expeditions. 11 of destination. It has effectively created a new This Fellowship will facilitate and make these were fully sponsored by our foreign dimension for local horticulture by its possible research visits, particularly by partners, underlining the growing showcase of outstanding exotic plants never regional botanists, to the Singapore international recognition of the Gardens and seen on display in Singapore before. They Herbarium to study its extensive holdings. its staff. stimulated not only the home gardener but also the nursery industry that happily The redevelopment of the southern Tanglin introduced plants to meet the new demand. core of the Gardens that began in 2002 is In January 2004, the landmark Cool House solidly underway. A major objective is to CONTENTS in the National Orchid Garden was officially rejuvenate the Gardens as a botanical Page opened. Beyond its doors, the visitor is institution. It will provide better and more Message from the Director ......................................................... 2 transported into the enchanted world of a effective functional spaces for the misty tropical mountain habitat that always herbarium, library, research laboratories and YEAR IN FOCUS surprises with rare blooms. This has certainly education, create much needed visitor Events ........................................................................................ 3 added a ‘wow’ factor to the Orchid Garden amenities, improve public interface and Developments ............................................................................ 4 (see Gardenwise 22: 14-15). merge the Gardens with the external Research .................................................................................... 7 roadscape. Publications 2003 ....................................................................... 9 The display in the Yuen Peng McNeice Regional Network of Botanic Gardens Bromeliad House, also in the Orchid Garden, The guiding philosophy behind this project in South East Asia ..................................................................... 10 has been dramatically improved. A generous is to integrate the new into the existing living Botanical Research Fellowships ............................................... 10 donation by Lady McNeice made possible fabric of magical plants, landscapes and ARTICLES the creation of new landscapes and the historic features. The greatest asset of the purchase of exciting new plants. Gardens that must be preserved is the The Aroids of Borneo ................................................................ 11 ambience and sense of place this fabric Timeless Beauties - the Gardens’ Sculptures ........................... 14 In January 2004, the Gardens, working in provides. Its most precious contributions are The Burkills of Burkill Hall ......................................................... 16 partnership with BGCI (Botanic Gardens the happy memories retained in the hearts Talipariti tiliaceum - A New Name for the Sea Hibiscus ........... 20 Conservation International) hosted the first and minds of millions of visitors through the Snapping Away for the Web - The Type Project in the Singapore Herbarium ..................................................... 21 ever meeting of South East Asian Botanic generations. We must never lose sight of Gardens. Representatives from 10 countries this even as we build, add and redevelop. REGULAR FEATURES attended this historic event and we look And we must do more with creative activities Around the Gardens ................................................................. 24 forward to future exchange, sharing and and guided programmes that will help - Botanical Watercolour Painting Course collaboration with our fellow institutions connect the magic of plants to people. New And Exciting ...................................................................... 24 from the region. - Scented Daphne, Phaleria clerodendron Chin See Chung From the Orchid Species Collection ......................................... 25 - Bulbophyllum annandalei Education Outreach ................................................................. 25 - School Holiday Workshops and Walk-in Tours EDITORS: PRODUCTION MANAGERS: Taxonomy Corner...................................................................... 26 Chin See Chung Yap Siow Hong - Why Plants Change their Names Ruth Kiew Hassan Ibrahim Staff News ................................................................................. 26 Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 Key Visitors to the Gardens (Jan-Jun 2004) ............................. 27 NATIONAL PARKS BOARD From the Archives ..................................................................... 28 - Paintings as Types [email protected] www.sbg.org.sg Front Cover: www.nparks.gov.sg Crane Fountain at the entrance of the National Orchid Garden Photo by: Yap Siow Hong 2 Year in Focus Year in FOCUS Events The past year was indeed a bustling one for Centre decorated by various embassies and the Gardens. the Gardens’ key partners with decorations representative of their country or The highlight of the Gardens’ Calendar of organisation. The Gardening Society of Events had to be the Singapore Orchid Singapore’s tree decorated with little Festival. Held over 4 days, from 18-21 watering cans, gardening tools and September 2003, it transformed a third of butterflies was a major draw for children. the Gardens into show grounds for The Japanese Embassy’s tree was decorated spectacular orchid blooms. Opened by with origami, the Embassy of Myanmar with President S R Nathan, the focal point was handmade crafts, the American Embassy the Competitive Orchid Show showcasing with specially made cards featuring Siow Hong Yap Children listening in rapt attention during the the best of flowering orchids, cut flowers American Presidents, and the Orchid Society interactive storytelling session and landscape display. With over 700 entries of South East Asia with handmade orchids, with entrants from countries as far afield as were just a few of the interesting displays. the Philippines, Taiwan, United States of Children’s activities were a focal point of In March 2004, the Gardens launched the America and Japan, the show was a unique the Fiesta. Children’s dish gardening Rainforest Tour in Japanese. Held every opportunity to observe rarely seen orchid workshops, interactive story telling, puppet first Saturday of the month at 10 am, the tour species and exotic hybrids. Fringe activities shows and T-shirt and tile painting kept the is conducted by Japanese volunteers and has all themed on the ubiquitous orchid, little ones occupied while the adults attended been enthusiastically received by the included orchid talks, childrens’ workshops, demonstrations on Christmas floral Japanese community. Together with the an orchid face mask competition, an orchid arrangements, and table settings with plants English and Chinese rainforest tours and the art exhibition and orchid plant stalls. and a wine appreciation and sampling National Orchid Garden tour, the volunteers session. Specialty gift stalls abounded with gave guided walks for over 2000 participants Minister of State for National Development imported candles, personalised quilts, in the past year. Our Volunteer Gardening and Trade and Industry Dr Vivian handmade floral sandals, and many more Programme now spans from the EcoGarden Balakrishnan officially launched the Ginger unique gift items. to the Bandstand and the upcoming Garden on 18 October 2003. A colourful Evolution Garden with volunteers showcase of over 250 types and varieties of contributing in many aspects of gardening, ginger and related plants arranged according from preparation of planting beds to planting to their origin and cultural use, the Ginger and transplanting. Garden, with its souvenir shop Ginger Villa and Halia Restaurant, has become a firm The Gardens played host to many visiting favourite with Gardens’ visitors. Held in dignitaries who had the honour of having conjunction with the Ginger Garden launch outstanding Gardens’ orchid hybrids named was the unveiling of the HSBC Care-for- after them in the Gardens’ VIP Orchid Nature Garden City Stamp Series, a series Programme. First Lady of United States of postage stamps featuring four major parks of America Mrs Laura Bush, First Lady of in Singapore, including the Singapore South Korea, Mrs Roh Moo-hyun, the Botanic Gardens. President of the Republic of Poland HE Aleksander Kwasniewski, Governor- The Gardens’ annual