Plant Lists

Melastoma malabathricum
senduduk

Madagascar, India to Australia. Common in open places, always flowering. Species very variable. Gr., melas (black) stoma (mouth), from the berries blackening the tongue.

Memecylon coeruleum
nipis kulit

300 spp. Old World tropics, 35 spp. in Malaya. Small flowers clustered in leaf axils, blue <1cm, stamens deep blue. Calyx cup bright pink, fruit oblong pink then deep purple.

Memecylon edule
nipis kulit

India, Siam, Malaya, Sumatra, Java. Common on rocky shores. Smaller leaf blade than M. coeruleum. Tiny blue flowers, fruits pulpy when ripe, go from green to black, never red or purple.

Memecylon oligoneurum Bl.
syn. Lijndenia laurina
nipis kulit

Malesia, primary forests from Kedah to Johor.  Tree to 15m. Fruit  lobose, green to blue finally black, sometimes 2 seeds. J 37.  Tunas Harapan 6.2012.

Note: This species does not appear on The Plant List.

Memecylon sp.

Durio lowianus
(May also be family Bombacaceae or Durionaceae — disputed)
durian daun

Sumatra, Malaya (all states exc Perlis, Penang, Malacca). Big tree to 50m, flowers sometimes have bright red petals, fruits green to yellow; closely resembles D. malaccensis. 1 fr TH 11.09.

Durio malaccensis
durian batang
(May also be family Bombacaceae or Durionaceae — disputed)

Terengganu, Selangor, NS, Melaka, Johor; Sumatra. Med. tree to 35 m,1m girth. Flowers mainly on trunk, esp. lower part. Petals white tipped with pink. Fruits red, globular.

Durio zibethinus
durian kampong
(May also be family Bombacaceae or Durionaceae — disputed)

Widespread in cultivation in the Asiatic tropics, possibly wild in Sumatra and Borneo. Large tree to 40 m and 3m girth. Lower surface of leaf blade densely covered with silvery or golden scales.

Firmiana malayana
mata lembu

Only one species in Malaya, recognized by membranous fruit dispersed with seeds attached while Sterculia fruits and seeds are dispersed separately. Deciduous after dry, then orange flowers (Corner’s cover) quickly followed by fruit.

Heritiera javanica
mengkulang jari

Indo-China, Siam, Malesia to Celebes. Widely distributed through Malaya, except Perlis, Penang, Malacca.Lowland & hill forests to 600m. Lg. tree to 43m and 3m girth. Thin buttresses, bark grey fawn , cracking scaly. Terminal bud pointed, covered w/powdery hairs.

Pterospermum diversifolium
bayur

About 20 spp. from India to Moluku, 6 spp. Malaya. Leaves alternate, asymmetric with obliquely heart-shaped base, coppery/rusty under. Young twigs hairy, stipules entire, sapling leaves like adult but with brownish tomentum. Uncommon, not south of Negri Sembilan.

Pterygota alata
kasah

To 50m, dense crown, plank buttresses. Old World tropics, 1sp. Malaya, leaves spiral simple, heart shaped, stalk kneed, flowers unisexual, 5 sepals, no petals. Fruits roundish with long stalk, woody, split along one side. Many seeds, with long wing.

Scaphium linearicarpum
kembang semangkuk bulat

Malaya, all states exc Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. Tree to 36m, sapling leaves very large, 5-7 lobed, 30cm stalk. Fruit follicle 25 x 6cm, yellowish, hairy. Seed hairy, 25 x 15 mm. 1 fr TH 11.09.

Scaphium macropodum
kembang semangkuk jantong

Cambodia, Siam, Sumatra, Borneo, Malaya; most common and widespread sp, on well drained land
and ridges; macropodum, long foot, ie fruit. Inflorescence panicle red tomentose. 1 fr TH 11.09.

Scaphium sp.
kembang semangkuk

Large trees with short thick buttresses. Leaves spirally arranged, sapling leaves v. large & palmately lobed. Spp. apparent when mature. Flowers small, cream, upright. Fruit large green pod splits on one side before mature. A seed cut and soaked in water makes mucilage to fill a cup.

Scaphium sp.
kembang semangkuk

4 spp in Malaya, this v rare endemic, from Parit FR, not yet described. Large deciduous trees with thick buttresses, leaves spiral, simple, v long stalks. Sm pale green fragrant flowers, seeds swell when soaked; edible, medicinal. 3 specimens Dec 2007.

Sterculia cordata

Malaya, Sumatra, Java. Uncommon, Kedah, Langkawi, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Malacca, Johore. To 30m. Leaves heart shaped (cordata), undersurface dense softly hairy. Flowers pink, hairy, fragrant.

Sterculia foetida
kelompang jari

East Africa to Queensland, on rocky and sandy coasts. Palmate compound leaves; flowers 2 cm crimson foetid wooly in loose green panicles. Deciduous after dry weather, flowers before or with new leaves. Saplings like huge ubi kayu.

Sterculia macrophylla
kelompang

W. Malaysia, common in lowland and swampy forest. Deciduous every 7 to 9 months, flowers before new leaves develop. Spreading sharp buttresses, bark smooth silver grey, massive twigs. Large leathery leaf, hairy under. Flowers tiny, greenish yellow, in hanging racemes 30cm.

Sterculia monosperma
kelompang

Not indigenous to Southeast Asia.

Sterculia parviflora
kelompang burung

NE India to Singapore, common. Flowers pale yellow and pink at base, becoming reddish, hairy. Fruit velvety pods, yellow flushed pink, ripening brilliant orange-red, black seeds.

Sterculia parvifolia
kelompang

Small tree. Endemic, Penang, Perak, Selangor, on hills. Narrow leaf blade, flowers 1cm, reddish pink, pods to 4cm.

Adenanthera pavonina
saga

India, SE China to Maluku, wild on rocky headlands of east coast and
forest with Eugenia grandis and Sterculia foetida. Hard red heart
shaped seeds, said to be used for weighing gold. Name from Latin ‘pavo’
peacock.

Archidendron jiringa / Pithecelobium jiringa

LEGUMINOSAE subfamily Mimosoideae

jering

Burma, Thailand, W. Malesia. Fruit eaten raw or blanched. Pounded
with ginger and boiled, to eliminate bladder stones. Purple dye from
pods.

Caesalpinia sappan

sepang

Cynometra iripa

katong laut

Shrub or small tree to 8m, mainly coastal but also inland, from India to Micronesia. Knobbly pod
with lateral beak. 1 fr TH 11.09.

Cynometra malaccensis

kekatong, katong
katong, belangan

India, Siam, through Malaya, common exc. Johor. Big, up to 40m, straight bole, sometimes fluted, like sepetir (Sindora), buttress
like keranji (Dialium). Crown dense with numerous sub crowns, new foliage in dry season pink then pale green tassels.

Dialium indum

keranji kertas besar

Uncommon, Malaya, Sumatra, Banka, Java, Borneo. Found west of Wallace’s Line. Big slender trees. Pod roundish, brittle, one seeded; aril function transferred to the endocarp, pulpy and edible. Fruits traded to Singapore (Burkill).

Dialium patens

keranji paya

S Malaya, Billiton, Banka, Borneo.  Locally common, esp coastal Pahang. In low lying areas incl peat swamp. Fr Tunas Harapan 6.2012.

Dialium platysepalum

keranji kuning besar

Common throughout Malayan lowland forest. Sumatra and Borneo, genus
only west of Wallace’s Line. Edible fruit in a pod unusual for the
family: small, roundish and brittle, the one seeeded structure does
not break open.

Dialium wallichii
keranji kuning kecil

In Malesia all spp. west of Wallace’s Line. Big slender trees, to
40m & 3m girth, mature crown shallow domed, diffuse. Leaves simple
pinnate w/ terminal leaflet. This sp. leaves velvety under, dull brown
or golden with a beautiful silky sheen.

Intsia palembanica

merbau

Throughout Malaya, Siam, Andamans, Malesia to W. New Guinea. Common in inland lowland forests, associated with tualang. V. big to 60m, bole often slightly sinuous, big plank-like buttresses. Domed crown with ascending big limbs. Very heavy hard wood. Leaves pinnate opposite leaflets, no terminal leaflet. Small but showy flowers in terminal panicles. Saplings to 10m straggly.

Koompassia malaccensis

(Caesalpiniaceae)
kempas

Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo. The outstanding tree of Malaysia’s forests,
extremely large, strong buttresses, v. hard heavy wood. To 60m. Used
for railway sleepers ‘thus are the mighty subjugated’ (Corner). Deciduous
Jan & June. In swamps kempas buttresses much larger than on dry.

Koompassia excelsa

tualang

V. big, to 80m, columnar bole, crown bright to pale green, sub-crowns
small and numerous. Central to northern Malaya, valleys and lower
slopes of hills. Fairly common and locally abundant. Not found south
of KL-Kuantan line.

Milletia atropurpurea

tulang daing

Common throughout Malaya, Burma, Siam, west Malesia. To 30 m, crown dense, bole form often poor. Flowers in terminal panicle, deep purple. Large pods, splitting open when fallen on ground. 1 or 2 seeds per pod.

Ormosia bancana

saga hutan

Malaya, Sumatra, Banka, Borneo. Scattered in coastal forest and along rivers, uncommon. Leaflets like kempas (Koompassia malaccensis) thinly gold and velvety to glabrous below.

Tunas Harapan 6.2012.

Parkia speciosa

petai

Frequently planted in villages, also wild scattered in lowland forest. Pods 12 to 16″ long, straight, wavy or twisted, strongly swollen at the seeds. Young pods and mature seeds esteemed as vegetable, reeking of garlic.

Pithecellobium clypearia (Mimosaceae)

petai belalang, cahar

Abundant in belukar (secondary forest) India to Borneo.

Sindora coriacea

sepetir licin

Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo. Huge column-like trees, to 50m, massive bole and crown. Deciduous for a few weeks, flowering soon after, fruiting 2 months later. Common. This species recognized by glabrous leaves and smooth pods.

Sindora echinocalyx

sepetir daun nipis

Malaya and Riau, on hillsides and ridges, sometimes coastal. Big trees,
massive crown, deciduous, clear growth rings, light hardwood.

Tamarindus indica

asam jawa

Africa; introduced by Arab traders to India & SEAsia (tamar-ul-Hind,
‘the date of India’). Young shoots eaten raw; decoction of leaves
treats fever. Pulp of fruit added to curry for sourness; bark a poultice
for sores and boils.

Irvingia malayana

pauh kijang

Medium to large tree, very hard wood, with steep plank buttresses
up to 6m high. Locally common in Selangor and Malacca. Fruit resembles mango (pauh), apparently eaten by barking deer (kijang).

Cratoxylum arborescens
geronggang

Common except Perlis and Kedah. Burma, Sumatra, Borneo. Seasonal flowering, once or twice a year after dry weather. Greek name: kratos (strength) xulon (wood).

Cratoxylum cochinchinense
derum seluncur,
mampat

Malesia. Throughout Malaya. A variable sp. with two extremes, shrub or a large tree, ornamental. Flowers dark red to pink, bark smooth light buff, peeling off in pieces or strips as in Tristania (pelawan).

Cratoxylum formosum
mempat

Indochina, w. Malesia, Philippines. Common through Malaysia in belukar or forest. Like almond blossom, flowers after leaves fall. Flowers borne in axils of old leaves.