11 April 2009

Tricky Bruguiera and Lim Chu Kang mangrove plants

What is this pale Bruguiera with sepals extended away from the 'fruit'? Something sexy like the rare Bruguiera sexangula?

Alas, probably not.While the calyx is pale (instead of bright red), the petals seem very much like those of the more common Tumu (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza), which have tassels at the tips.Here's a closer look at the brown petals.
And another flower with a pale calyx. There were several of these pale B. gymnorrhiza at Lim Chu Kang.
As well as several with the more usual bright red calyx.
Next to the makeshift jetty was a stand of very healthy young Perepat (Sonneratia alba).
Although the trees were still not very tall, they were laden with fruits!And next to the Police Coast Guard jetty, a thicket of what seems to be mostly Api-api putih (Avicennia alba). They were growing under a huge tree which was festooned with orchids and other ferns.

Other trees in the mangroves included Xylocarpus granatum which were all blooming like those at Pulau Ubin, and many large trees of the more common Avicennia and Rhizophora species.
Although the high shore was strewn with rubbish, there were several bushes of Wild jasmine (Clerodendrum inerme) all bright with white whiskery flowers!
Jinwen pointed out that there were tiny ants everywhere on the plant. Indeed, the ants seemed quite attracted to the fresh blooms.

Together with the magnificent Hoya encounter, we sure saw some interesting mangrove plants during our short visit this morning.

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