Flora Singapura
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Bhesa paniculata
 
Family: 
Common Names: 
Malayan Spindle Tree
Status:
Native
Classification:  
Common
 
Bhesa paniculata is a common tree of the secondary forests as well as in primary freshwater swamp forest. The leaves are arranged spirally and have long stems with 10-14 pairs of prominent secondary veins on the rear side of the leaf. The leaves are slightly peltate and there is a very distinct thickened knee where the stem joins the leaf. The flowers are on branched spikes and are pale-yellow in colour. The leaves always curl up when drying reminiscent of Dillenia grandifolia/reticulata.  The tree featured here resides in fresh water swamp forest near the Upper Seletar Reservoir and was observed to be flowing on 6 Mar 2011.
 
Note: this species has recently been moved to the Centroplacaceae family.

Branched flower spikes.
 
Spirally arranged leaves with long stems.
A closer look at the inflorescence.
Closeup of one of the flower spikes.
 
Distinct secondary veins on rear, thickened knee at the top of stem.
 
Front side of leaf.
Compare drying leaves of B paniculata (2) with D. reticulata (1,3,4).
 
closeup of thickened knee at top of stem.
Tree at the Nee Soon forest
Tree is slightly buttressed.