Category: Species Guide: Craft Plants

Common name: Coconut Palm

Malay name: Kelapa, Nyiur

Scientific name: Cocos nucifera

Conservation status: Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A palm tree that reaches 30 m tall. It is crowned by large, feather-like leaves. Stem is straight, unbranched, have rings of scar. It bears small, clustered flowers and roundish fruits which turn from light green or yellow to brown when ripe.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds

Ecological function: The flowers of this plant attract insect pollinators. It is host plant of many butterflies and moths e.g. Hidari irava (coconut skipper) and Tirathaba rufivena (coconut spike moth). As this plant produces flowers and fruits all year round, it provides a stable source of food for wildlife.

Pollinator: Wind, insects

Soil: Sand, loam, clay, organic soils

Moisture: Moist, well-drained soils. It is drought-tolerant.

Shade: No shade

Use in crafting: The leaves of this plant are used as thatching materials or in making baskets and mats. Malay community uses the leaves to make ketupat, a traditional rice-based dish that is usually prepared for festive seasons.

Other use: The coconut milk that is processed from the freshly grated flesh has been traditionally used in Asian culinary. Coconut husks can be used as mulch to fertilise soil and conserve moisture. Coconut oil can be used for cooking or in manufacture of margarine, confectioneries, soaps and cosmetics. Coconut palm wood is suitable for making furniture, household utensils and tool handles.

Common name: Screwpine

Malay name: Pandan

Scientific name: Pandanus amaryllifolius

Conservation status: Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A shrub or small tree with long, slightly pleated leaves. Leaves are fragrant and spirally arranged.

Habit: Perennial shrub

Cultivation: It is planted by stem cuttings & suckers (side shoots that emerge from the base of a plant)

Ecological function: It is a host plant for moth caterpillars. It provides shelter for small vertebrates.

Pollinator: No data

Soil: Fertile loamy soils

Moisture: Well-drained soils

Shade: Partial shade, no shade

Use in crafting: The leaves of this plant are chopped and mixed with flowers to make potpourris. People weave the leaves into baskets and sleeping mats.

Other use: The leaves are used as food containers. People also use them to colour and flavour dishes or beverages. An essential oil extracted from the leaves has insect-repellent activity.

Common name: Henna Tree, Egyptian Privet

Malay name: Inai

Scientific name: Lawsonia inermis

Conservation Status: Cultivated, Native to Malaysia

Description

A shrub or small tree that reaches 2-6 m in height. Stem is slender and much-branched. Old branches can be spiny. It bears small, white, fragrant, clustered flowers. Fruits are round and brown in colour.

Habit: Perennial shrub or tree

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

Ecological function: The fruits of this plant are eaten by birds. It is used as a hedge plant. It provides shade. It is used for erosion control.

Pollinator: Self-pollinating

Soil: Sandy soils. It tolerates clay and stony soils.

Moisture: Fertile, well-drained or dry soil. Mature plants are drought-tolerant.

Shade: No shade

Use in crafting: The leaves of this plant are used to colour fingernails and to paint or decorate palms of hands and soles of feet. It is also used for hair-dyeing. The fibres of branches and stem bark are used to make baskets.

Other use: The flowers of this plant are used in perfumery. Its wood is used for fuel. This plant is used as an ornamental plant for its fragrant flowers.