Download Media Factsheet - National Parks Board

Updated as of 4 April 2015
MEDIA FACTSHEET
Streets of Singapore
“Streets of Singapore” is a one kilometre stretch at HortPark which will showcase 16
different species of trees that are associated with road names. As one of NParks’
initiatives to commemorate Singapore’s 50th birthday, it will enable Singaporeans to
learn more about trees along our streetscape and relate them to familiar road names.
The trees that will be planted along this stretch include the Keranji tree (Dialium
indum), Tempines tree (Streblus elongatus) and Changi tree (Sindora wallichii). The
showcase will also include rare species that are not commonly found or planted in
Singapore such as the Sembawang tree (Mesua ferruginea) and Wild Yellow Kandis
(Garcinia parvifolia).
Minister of State for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, planted a Keranji tree
to kickstart “Streets of Singapore” on 4 April 2015. The public will have the
opportunity to view “Streets of Singapore” during the Community Garden Festival at
HortPark in September 2015.
Guide to the trees in “Streets of Singapore”
1
Keranji
(Dialium indum)
The Keranji is a tall, tropical fruitbearing tree that can grow up to
40m. It has small, grape-sized
edible fruits with brown hard
inedible shells. The bark and leaves
have medicinal properties and are
used to treat several diseases.
Kranji Road got its name from this
local tree, the Kranji or Keranji tree,
which was found in abundance all
over Singapore in the first half of the
19th century.
Associated Street: Kranji
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 1 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
2
Katong Laut
(Cynometra ramiflora)
The leaves of this tree are pale pink
when new and turn dark green with
maturity. The dark-brown, heavy
and hard timber is used to make
door-posts or used in construction
locally.
Associated Street: Katong
Photo credit: National Parks Board
3
Sembawang
(Mesua ferruginea)
This tree grows along streams and
flowing rivers in forests in its natural
habitat. The flowers are pollinated
by insects. Sembawang area is
named after this tree.
Associated Street: Sembawang
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 2 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
4
Tempines Tree
(Streblus elongatus)
It is a big, bushy evergreen tree that
grows to about 12m and can reach
30m in the forest. Ripe fruits of the
tree are sweet and eaten by
squirrels and monkeys. It has a dark
brown heart wood that is very
durable and is used to make flooring
and furniture. Tampines town is
named after this tree probably due
to the abundance of this tree
species at that area in the past.
Associated Street: Tampines
Photo credit: National Parks Board
5
False Lime
(Suregada multiflora)
This small tree has a dense,
compact and conical form and is
native to Singapore’s coastal areas.
Its flowers are small and form
clusters. “Limau” is the Malay word
for lime. The fruits resemble small
limes hence the name False Lime or
Merlimau (‘mer’ means similar to).
The fruit turns orange and splits
open when ripe.
Associated Street: Jalan Merlimau
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 3 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
6
Tembusu
(Cyrtophyllum fragrans)
Its flowers are cream-white which
turn yellow, and fragrant. The fruits
and seeds are eaten and dispersed
by bats and birds. The hard wood of
the Tembusu is often used to make
chopping boards. The famous
Tembusu Heritage Tree in the
Singapore Botanic Gardens is
featured on the back of the
Singapore five-dollar note.
Associated Street: Jalan Tembusu
Photo credit: National Parks Board
7
Sepetir
(Sindora wallichii)
This large tree, which belongs to the
bean family, has a massive crown
when
matured.
The
distinct
characteristic of this species are the
disc-shaped spiny pods. This
species is widely known as the
Changi tree. It has been said that
there was a tall and majestic tree at
Changi that once stood as a
landmark in this area. It was also
featured on pre-war navigational
charts for over a century. The British
cut down this tree in 1942 (during
WWII) after they discovered that the
Japanese used the tree as a marker
to aim their guns.
Associated Street: Changi
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 4 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
8
Paper Bark
(Melaleuca cajuputi)
This native tree bears tiny, white to
creamy-yellow flowers borne on a
long spike in the shape of a bottlebrush. In Malay, "putih", which
means white, refers to the white
papery bark which may peel off in
large flakes like sheets of paper.
This species was commonly found
in the area in the past. The leaves
are used to distill cajeputi oil or tea
tree oil which has medicinal and
antiseptic uses such as medical
ointments. The timber is hard and
has a uniform texture and is popular
for use in carving, cabinet work,
boat building and fire wood.
Associated Street: Kampong Glam
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 5 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
9
Casuarina
(Casuarina equisetifolia)
It grows along sandy coasts and
coastal forests. The wood of this
tree is extremely hard and dense,
and has been used for construction
of stilts, poles and fences in coastal
areas. It is also an excellent fuel
wood and is among the hottest
burning fuel woods in the world. It is
also frequently planted as a
windbreak and to stabilise coastal
sand dunes. This species was
grown along the beach. Thus,
Tanjong Rhu was named after the
“pokok rhu”, the Malay name for
Casuarina equisetifolia.
Associated Street: Tanjung Rhu
Road
Photo credit: National Parks Board
10
Wild Yellow Kandis
(Garcinia parvifolia)
Garcinia parvifolia belongs to the
same family as the mangosteen. Its
fruits are edible but sour. The fruits
are very popular in Brunei, where it
is commonly gathered from the wild.
The tree is also cultivated, mainly in
gardens and especially in South
East Asia, as a fruit crop. Its strong
timber is used for constructing
houses.
Associated Street: Jalan Kandis
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 6 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
11
Tamarind
(Tamarindus indica)
Tamarind is a slow-growing tree
which can attain a height of 30m in
the wild. The flowers, leaves,
seedlings and pulp of the ripe fruits
are edible. The fruit pulp is used in
Indian and Southeast Asian cooking
to achieve a sour taste. It is also an
essential
ingredient
in
Worcestershire sauce.
Associated Street: Tamarind Road
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 7 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
12
Cashew Nut
(Anacardium occidentale)
The Cashew Nut is a medium-sized
tree, spreading, evergreen, and
grows to a height of 12m. This
species do well in drier climates so
they are drought tolerant. It is
cultivated for its nuts, which is a
highly nutritive snack.
Associated
Street(s):
Cashew
Crescent/ Link/ Road/ Terrace
Photo credit: National Parks Board
13
Saraca
(Saraca thaipingensis)
Young leaves of this tree are cream
coloured and hang from the
branches for a few days before they
turn green. Its attractive flowers are
produced from branches and trunks
in clusters.
Associated Street(s): Saraca Drive/
Hill/ Place/ Road/ Terrace/ View/
Walk
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 8 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
14
Cassia
(Cassia fistula)
The tree is planted throughout the
tropics for its ornamental and
medicinal properties. In full bloom,
the bright yellow flowers are
produced
in
long
pendulous
clusters, 30 to 50cm in length, which
are attractive to insects and
butterflies.
Associated
Street(s):
Cassia
Crescent, Cassia Drive, Cassia Link
Photo credit: National Parks Board
15
Kasai
(Pometia pinnata)
The dense foliage of this tree
provides good shade and the wood
can be used for construction,
furniture and flooring. The fruit is
edible and hard to define, with a
taste between lychee and rambutan
fruit.
Associated Street: Kasai Road
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Page 9 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.
Updated as of 4 April 2015
16
Langsat
(Lansium domesticum)
Lansium domesticum is a shorttrunked tree with a spreading crown
that can reach 10 to 15 m in height.
Its fruits are edible and have a
flavour
reminiscent
of
sweet
grapefruit. A decoction of the bark
or leaves is used to treat dysentery
and the bark is also used for
scorpion stings.
Associated Street: Langsat Road
Photo credit: National Parks Board
Reference
Savage, Victor R, and Brenda S. A Yeoh. (2013). Singapore Street Names: A Study
of Toponymics. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions.
Page 10 of 10
For more information, please contact Kimberley (94368939).
Information accurate as of 4 April 2015.