Back

Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurtz

Family Name:	Lecythidaceae
Synonyms:	Barringtonia speciosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Common Name:	Putat Laut, Fish Poison Tree, Fish-killer Tree, Beach Barringtonia, Putat Gajah, Mindilla, Sea Putat, Barringtonia, Butun, Butong, Pertun, 棋盘脚树, 滨玉蕊

Barringtonia asiatica, also known as Putat Laut, has showy flowers with numerous filamentous stamens that are white with pink tips. The fruits and seeds are crushed and used as fish poisons as they contain toxic saponins.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Rounded
Maximum Height	15 m to 30 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Tropical Africa, Madagascar, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malesia, northern Australia, and Pacific Islands
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree up to 30 m tall, with a round crown of shiny, large, dark green leaves.
Trunk	The unbuttressed trunk has pinkish-grey bark.
Foliage	Its spirally arranged, stalkless leaves possess leathery leaf blades that are shiny dark green, drop-shaped, and 15–52 by 7–21 cm. Its fresh leaves are pinkish-olive with distinct pink veins, and wither yellow to pale orange.

Flowers	Its flowering stalk is 2 - 20 cm long,, found at the ends of the branches and more or less upright, unlike the hanging ones typical of other Barringtonia species. Each stalk contains 3 - 20 flowers. Its stalked flowers are bisexual, 15-cm wide, and appear fluffy because of the presence of numerous, white, pink-tipped stamens. Its strongly fragrant flowers also open around sunset in ones or two, in readiness for the nocturnal animal pollinators.
Fruit	Its 1–2-seeded fruits are 7–10 cm wide, with a broad square base tapering to two rounded sepals. The fruits mature from green to brown. They hang from branches, and have a tough, corky-fibrous husk that aids in their dispersal by water. Its seeds are oblong, and 4–5 cm long.
Habitat	It grows along sandy coasts and seashores. It occurs locally in Labrador Park.
Associated Fauna	It is the food plant for moth larvae of Dasychira spp. and Thyas honesta. Fruit bats and night-flying moths are attracted to its flowers and act as pollinators.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Latin Barringtonia, after Hon. Daines Barrington (1727–1800), English naturalist; Latin asiatica, asian; referring to the natural distribution of the plant.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: The wood is used to construct boats and huts. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree: There is currently one individual of Barringtonia asiatica listed as Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. Others: Oil extracts from the seeds are used as an illuminant. The fruits and seeds are used as fish poisons as they contain toxic saponins.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers) (Night, Dawn / Dusk, Day)
Landscape Uses	Coastal, Parks & Gardens, Shade Providing Tree / Palm
Thematic Landscaping	Economic Garden, Naturalistic Garden

SGMP Treatment
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks	Fruits may cause injury or damage when they drop. Do not plant tree at car parks and areas with pedestrain traffic.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Vertebrates (Bat))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Water)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Leathery, Thick

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Pink
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute, Obtuse
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Pinkish grey
Mature Bark Texture	Smooth

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink, White
Flower Size - Remarks	15cm across

Flowering Opening Time	Night (dusk to dawn)
Flower Lifespan on Plant	1 Night
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1451
Species ID	2744
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.