Author: ShangMing

Common name: Seashore Mangosteen

Malay name: Beruas, Manggis Hutan

Scientific name: Garcinia celebica L.

Conservation status: Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A small to medium-sized tree that grows up to 30 m tall. Tree crown is dense and conical. It produces whitish latex. Leaves are somewhat elliptic, leathery, oppositely arranged. It bears small, four-petaled flowers that are white to cream-yellow. It produces round, fleshy fruits with pinkish red fruit skin and yellowish pulp that tastes sour.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds

Ecological function: The flowers of this plant attract pollinators. Its fruits are eaten by primates and small mammals. Its dense crown may provide roosting spots for animals like fruit bats. It is used as rootstock for mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana).

Pollinator: Insects

Soil: Sand, loam, clay. It tolerates saline soils

Moisture: Moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates to drought and heavy rainfall

Shade: No shade, partial shade

Use: The fruits are edible. The tree is planted as an ornamental plant.

Common name: Cucumber Tree, Tree Sorrel, Bilimbi

Malay name: Belimbing Buluh, Belimbing Masam

Scientific name: Averrhoa bilimbi L.

Conservation status: Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A small tree of 5-10m tall. Trunks are short and divided into upright branches. Leaves are oblong, usually clustered at the branch tips. It bears small, fragrant, purplish-red flowers which are grouped into drooping clusters. Each cluster comprises about 60 flowers. Fruits are somewhat cylindrical or slightly pentagonal, glossy, green to light yellow.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds

Ecological function: The flowers attract pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant. This plant is bird-attracting.

Pollinator: Bees, butterflies, self-pollinate

Soil: Fertile loamy soils

Moisture: Moist, well-drained soils

Shade: No shade

Use: The fruits are edible. It is often used as souring agent for dishes and beverages.

Common name: Palm Grass, Weevil Lily, Hill Coconut

Malay name: Lemba

Scientific name: Molineria latifolia

Conservation status: Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

An evergreen plant that produces a cluster of leaves from the roots. Leaves are lance-shaped and pleated. It bears clusters of small, yellow flowers at the base of the plant. Fruits are white and egg-shaped.

Habit: Perennial herbaceous plant

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds or divisions

Ecological function: The flowers of this tree attract pollinators. It can be planted as a groundcover.

Pollinator: Ants, bees

Soil: No data

Moisture: Fertile, moist, well-drained soils

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Use: The fruits and seeds of this plant are edible. Its leaves are used as food wrap and replacement of cotton in making ropes, fishing nets and fabrics.

Interesting fact: The fruits of this plant temporarily modify the perception of taste as if the water or food tastes sweet, although it is actually not.

Common name: Stink Bean

Malay name: Petai, Nyiring

Scientific name: Parkia speciosa

Conservation status: Least Concern, Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

This tree is 15-45 m tall. Leaves are alternately arranged and branched into smaller leaflets. Flowers are compacted into pear-shaped cluster known as head. Fruits are long, straight or twisted pods that contain up to 18 seeds each. The seed pods are initially pale green and eventually turn blackish. Both flowers and fruits emit a foul odour.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds, buddings or cuttings

Ecological function: The flowers of this tree attract pollinators. Its fruits are food source for animals like birds. It improves nutrients availability in soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. It is a shade-providing species that is suitable for agroforestry system.

Pollinator: Bats

Soil: Loam, clay, organic soils

Moisture: Well-drained soils

Shade: Partial shade. It needs increasing light level as it matures

Use: The seeds are edible.

Common name: Rose Apple

Malay name: Jambu Mawar

Scientific name: Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry

Conservation status: Least Concern, Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A small, evergreen tree that grows up to 15 m tall. Tree crown is dense and spreading. Tree trunk is low-branching. Leaves are glossy, tapering and oppositely arranged. Bears clusters of white, fluffy flowers that are 5-10 cm wide. Fruits are round to egg-shaped, whitish to yellow, have a crown-like structure and smell like rosewater.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds, budding, air-layering or grafting

Ecological function: This tree is shade-providing. Its flowers attract pollinators.

Pollinator: Bees and other insects

Soil: Fertile loamy soils. It tolerates poor soils and saline soils

Moisture: It grows in both well-drained and waterlogged soils.

Shade: No shade. Partial shade for young plants

Use: The fruits of this tree are edible. Its leaves are used for perfumery. This tree is planted as an ornamental tree.

Common name: Malay Apple

Malay name: Jambu Bol, Jambu Susu

Scientific name: Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry

Conservation status: Least Concern, Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A small to medium-sized tree that grows up to 25 m tall. Tree crown is dense, rounded or conical. Tree trunk is straight and usually low-branching. Leaves are leathery and oppositely arranged. Flowers are reddish pink, clustered and somewhat fluffy. Produces reverse-egg-shaped fruit that are red, whitish or yellowish with white or pink streaks.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds, buddings, air-layering, grafting or stem cuttings

Ecological function: This tree is shade-providing. Its flowers attract pollinators.

Pollinator: Bees

Soil: Sand, loam, clay

Moisture: Well-drained, fertile soils

Shade: No shade

Use: The fruits, flowers, young leaves and shoots of this tree are edible. It is planted as an ornamental tree.