Professional Documents
Culture Documents
in
Tropical
Cities
Uvaria Tide
1st
Edition
Uvaria grandiflora
Cycads
875
Hedges
908
Fragrant
Plants
944
Seaside
Plants
953
Email: uvaria@hotmail.com
Palms
876
Ferns and
Fern Allies
880
Plants that
Attract
Butterfly
911
Plants that
Attract
Birds
917
Email: sharonjing22@gmail.com
Climbers
884
Jean W. H. Yong (John) finds bio-inspiration
in plant diversity and adaptations! He is an Associate
Professor at the Singapore University of Technology
and Design and runs the Green Solutions Laboratory.
John studied botany at the National University of
Singapore and later, biochemistry and physiology at the
Australian National University. He has written numerous
scientific papers as well as several plant-science books
such as The Physiology of Orchids in relation to the
Industry and A Selection of Plants for Greening of
Waterways and Waterbodies in the Tropics that greatly
improved the availability of tropical plant scientific
information to researchers, institutions, and the plant
industry sectors.
Trees
894
Email: jwhyong@gmail.com
Ground
Covers
Pellicieria rhizophorae (Tea Mangrove)
901
Indoor
Plants
922
Aquatic
Plants
930
Drought
Tolerant
Plants
936
Roadside
Plants
960
Plants for
Green
Roof
Planting
968
Plants
for the
Greening
of Vertical
Wall
971
Epiphytes
975
Mangrove
and
Mangrove
Associates
979
1st
Edition
in Tr o p i c al C i ti e s
ISBN 978-981-08-8071-2
Copyright C. M. Boo, Sharon Y. J. Chew, Jean W. H. Yong, 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of
the copyright owner.
Plants in Tropical Cities
Content
Acknowledgements III
How to use this book?
IV
Key to Icons
VI
Preface VIII
A 1
B 91
C 127
D 251
E 299
F 335
G 361
H 391
I 427
J 447
K 457
L 469
M 507
N 561
O 575
P 593
Q 681
R 683
S 705
T 785
U 831
V 839
W 851
X 857
Y 865
Z 867
Index to categories
Cycads
Palms
Ferns and Fern Allies
Climbers
Trees
Ground Covers
Hedges
Plants that Attract Butterfly
Plants that Attract Birds
Indoor Plants
Aquatic Plants
Drought Tolerant Plants
Fragrant Plants
Seaside Plants
Roadside Plants
Plants for Green
Roof Planting
Plants for the Greening of
Vertical Wall
Epiphytes
Mangrove and Mangrove
Associates
875
876
880
884
894
901
908
911
917
922
930
936
944
953
960
968
971
975
979
Hibiscus sp.
Commelina sp.
Acknowledgements
This book was produced with the objective to enhance the level
of awareness and interest in tropical plant species amongst the
general public, as well as to raise the standard of horticultural and
landscaping industry in tropical cities to a greater height.
We would like to thank the following colleagues and friends who
have rendered their support to make this book possible:Mr. Ali Ibrahim
Ms. Chew Ping Ting
Ms. Ng Yan Fei
Dr. Sheue Chiou Rong
Ms. Wong Wei San
Ms. Anne Ng
Mr. Heng Ming Yuan
Ms. Ng Yok Lan
Dr. Tan Swee Ngin
This book will not be comprehensive without the additional highquality photos to illustrate certain plant species. We would like to
express our heartfelt gratitude to the following individuals for the
contribution of photographs:Mr. Chua Jit Chen
Mr. Derek Yap
Dr. S. Chin Wong
Mr. Teo Nam Siang
III
Annonaceae
Barringtonia sp.
Key to Symbols
Plant Habits
S
Cl
Cy
Plant Care
Requirements
Prefers
full-shade
condition
Prefers
semi-shade
condition
Prefers full-sun
condition
Requires
occasional
spraying
Requires little
water for
maintenance
Requires
moderate
watering for
maintenance
Requires lots of
water for
maintenance
and to be given
on a regular
basis
Plant Use/Characteristics
Tropical natives Plants which
thrive well in the tropics, where the
climate is warm and generally moist
all year round. These plants are
found in Singapore and the
neighbouring countries.
Suitable for roadside planting
Trees or palms which require
little maintenance are suitable for
roadside planting. Generally, larger
trees and palms are planted along
main roads, whereas smaller trees
and palms are planted along minor
roads.
Suitable for seaside planting
These plants tend to be tolerant
of salt-sprays and the periodic
strong coastal winds. Some may
have varying degree of salttolerance to sea water.
Aquatic plants Plants which are
adapted to live in an aquatic
environment.
Drought tolerant plants Also
known as xerophytes with high
water-use efficiency. These plants
are either morphologically or
physiologically (or both) adapted to
periodic water deficit.
Indoor
Plants
Ornamental
flowers
Herbs
& Spices
Attracts
birds
Ornamental
foliage
Attracts
butterflies
VII
Acer sp.
Preface
The use of plants in landscaping goes
back a long way since 5000 years ago.
In ancient civilisations, the choice of
plants used for landscaping purposes
may take into consideration of their
botanical, cultural or mythological
significance. During the mid-20th
century and especially in urban cities,
plants were primarily grown for simple
aesthetic purposes within a man-made
environment.
There are many avenues for using plants
in our contemporary living environment.
Plants can be used simply to form
canopies that provide shade for any
desired place, such as those planted
along the road sides and in the parks.
Plants are also grown to form green
screens which block off unsightly views
from an aesthetic perspective. The variety
and availability of plants that can be used
for any landscaping activity is indeed
unlimited and this is especially true for
the warmer tropical and sub-tropical
cities. At present, a broad assortment of
plant species is used to meet the ever
increasing demand of compatible planting
materials for urban landscapes and
recreational areas.
Advancement made in the fields of
horticulture and plant sciences had helped
us to better understand the immense
potential of using plants to improve the
urban environment in which we live
in. Within this context, plants are no
longer cultivated solely for food, shade
or aesthetic purposes but for the added
IX
Begonia sp.
Acanthus ilicifolius
Abelmoschus esculentus
Malvaceae
Hibiscus esculentus
Abelmoschus sagittifolius
Malvaceae
Tuberose Mallow,
Abroma augusta
Malvaceae
2 A
Hibiscus sagittifolius
Bixa orellana
Butia capitata
Arecaceae
Malpighia crassifolia
Byrsonima crassifolia
Malpighiaceae
Byttneria maingayi
Sterculiaceae
126 B
Cerbera manghas
Cyrtosperma johnstonii
Araceae
Arbi
Cyrtosperma merkusii
Araceae
Cyrtostachys renda
Arecaceae
250 C
Cyrtostachys lakka
Delonix regia
Dypsis lutescens
Arecaceae
Dypsis madagascariensis
Arecaceae
Dysoxylum cauliflorum
Meliaceae
298 D
Stem Dysoxylon
Euphorbia sp.
Excoecaria agallocha
Euphorbiaceae
Excoecaria cochinchinensis
Excoecaria
cochinchinensis
Firestorm
Euphorbiaceae
334 E
Excoecaria bicolor
Fagraea fragrans
Friesodielsia desmoides
Annonaceae
Wedding Canange
Fuchsia Hybrids
Onagraceae
Ladies Eardrop,
Agavaceae
360 F
Grammatophyllum speciosum
Gynura procumbens
Asteraceae
Asteraceae
390 G
Helianthus annuus
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
Arecaceae
Hypolytrum nemorum
Cyperaceae
Hyptis capitata
Lamiaceae
426 H
Knobweed
Ixora congesta
Ixora Cultivars
Ixora Hybrid
446 I
Jatropha gossypifolia
Jacaranda obtusifolia
Bignoniaceae
Jackiopsis ornata
Rubiaceae
448 J
Knema globularia
Kaempferia elegans
Zingiberaceae
Limestone Kaempferia,
Kaempferia pulchra
Kaempferia galanga
Zingiberaceae
458 K
Lepironia articulata
Labisia pumila
Labisia pumila
Cultivar (Pink Leaf)
Primulaceae
Lablab purpureus
Fabaceae
470 L
Melaleuca cajuputi
Macaranga bancana
Euphorbiaceae
Macaranga tenuifolia
Macaranga conifera
Euphorbiaceae
Macaranga populifolia
Macaranga gigantea
Euphorbiaceae
508 M
Giant Mahang
Nymphaea cultivar
Nandina domesticax
Berberidaceae
Narcissus Species
Amaryllidaceae
Daffodil,
Nauclea orientalis
Rubiaceae
562 N
Oryza sativa
Ochanostachys amentacea
Olacaceae
Petaling, Tamggal
Ochna integerrima
Ochnaceae
Ochna kirkii
Ochnaceae
576 O
Passiflora sp.
Pachira aquatica
Malvaceae
Bombacopsis glabra
Pachira glabra
Malvaceae
594 P
Quisqualis indica
Quassia amara
Simaroubaceae
Quassia indica
Simaroubaceae
Quisqualis indica
(Single Petal)
Combretaceae
682 Q
Rhizophora stylosa
Radermachera Kunming
Bignoniaceae
Rapanea porteriana
Primulaceae
Kicar, Kicar-Kicar
Myrsine porteriana
Raphanus sativus
Brassicaceae
684 R
Radish,
Senna alata
Sabal palmetto
Arecaceae
Saccharum officinarum
Poaceae
Sugarcane, Tebu,
Saccharum spontaneum
Poaceae
706 S
Tunera subulata
Tabebuia aurea
Bignoniaceae
Tabebuia argentea
Roble Cimarron,
Tabebuia hypodidiction, T.
neochrysantha, Tecoma heterotricha,
T. ochracea
Tabebuia haemantha
Bignoniaceae
Tabebuia ochracea
Bignoniaceae
786 T
Utricularia aurea
Uncaria cordata
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Uncarina grandidieri
Pedialiaceae
832 U
Victoria amazonica
Vallaris glabra
Apocynaceae
Bread Flower,
Orchidaceae
840 V
Singapore Orchid,
Wodyetia bifurcata
Wallichia disticha
Arecaceae
Wallich Palm,
Waltheria indica
Malvaceae
Sleepy Morning,
Washingtonia robusta
Arecaceae
852 W
Xanthorrhoea johnsonii
Xanthophyllum flavescens
Polygalaceae
Xanthophyllum affine
Xanthophyllum obscurum
Polygalaceae
Kiu, Nyalin
Xanthophyllum vitellinum
Polygalaceae
858 X
Yucca aloifolia
Youngia japonica
Asteraceae
Yucca aloifolia
(Variegated)
Asparagaceae
Yucca gloriosa
Asparagaceae
866 Y
Zingiber ottensii
Zamia fischeri
Zamiaceae
Fernleaf Cycad,
Zamia furfuracea
Zamiaceae
Zamia pumila
Zamiaceae
868 Z
Zamia integrifolia
Cycads
Ceratozamia
robusta
Dioon edule
Zamia furfuracea
Cycas clivicola
Dioon spinulosum
Zamia pumila
Cycas edentata
Macrozamia
moorei
Cycas revoluta
Zamia fischeri
174
241
242
242
270
271
868
868
513
868
Palms
Acoelorraphe
wrightii
Arenga
hookeriana
Bismarckia nobilis
Adonidia merrillii
Arenga pinnata
Bismarckia nobilis
Silver
Aiphanes horrida
Arenga
undulatifolia
Borassodendron
machadonis
Archontophoenix
alexandrae
Arenga
westerhoutii
Borassus
flabellifer
Areca catechu
Asterogyne
martiana
Butia capitata
Areca triandra
Beccariophoenix
madagascariensis
Calyptrocalyx
micholitzii
Areca vestiaria
Bentinckia
nicobarica
Carpentaria
acuminata
10
17
29
68
70
71
71
71
72
72
72
105
107
109
109
113
113
126
148
161
Uncarina
grandidieri
Washingtonia
robusta
Ziziphus
mauritiana
Uvaria grandiflora
Xanthorrhoea
johnsonii
Ziziphus
nummularia
Vanilla planifolia
Yucca aloifolia
Zornia diphylla
Vanilla planifolia
Variegata
Yucca aloifolia
(Variegated)
Zoysia Species
Vitex trifolia
Yucca gloriosa
832
838
841
841
846 847
852
859
866
866
873
873
874
874
866
Fragrant Plants
Agelaea
borneensis
Alstonia scholaris
Anisomeles
indica
Aglaia
duperreana
Alstonia
spathulata
Annona
cherimola
Aglaia odorata
Amorphophallus
atroviridis
Anredera
cordifolia
Allium tuberosum
Amorphophallus
paeoniifolius
Antigonon
leptopus
Aloysia virgata
Amorphophallus
titanum
Arachnotryx
leucophylla
Alstonia
angustifolia
Anaxagorea
javanica
Areca triandra
Alstonia
angustiloba
Angelonia
angustifolia
Aristolochia
grandiflora
23
24
24
33
37
41
41
42
42
47
47
47
50
52
53
54
55
60
65
71
74
Roadside Plants
Syzygium
syzygioides
Tectona grandis
Tristaniopsis
whiteana
Syzygium
zeylanicum
Terminalia brassii
Washingtonia
robusta
Tabebuia aurea
Terminalia
calamansanai
Wodyetia
bifurcata
Tabebuia pallida
Terminalia
catappa
Xanthostemon
chrysanthus
Tabebuia rosea
Terminalia
mantaly
Xanthostemon
Species (Orange
Flower)
Talipariti tiliaceum
Terminalia
mantaly Tricolor
Xanthostemon
Species (Pink
Flower)
Tamarindus
indica
Tristaniopsis
obovata
Xanthostemon
youngii
783
784
786
787
787
794
795
799
799
800
800
801
801
827
827
852
854
860
861
861
861
Tecoma stans
798
Agave
angustifolia
Marginata
Alysicarpus
vaginalis
Callisia repens
Agave
desmettiana
Arachis pintoi
Carissa
macrocarpa
Agave potatorum
Arachis pintoi
cultivar orange
flowers
Carissa
macrocarpa
Nana
Agave tequilana
Asparagus
densiflorus
Sprengeri
Carissa
macrocarpa
(Variegated)
Alternanthera
ficoidea
Axonopus
compressus
Carpobrotus
edulis
Alternanthera
sessilis
Axonopus
compressus
Pearl Grass
Chrysopogon
zizanioides
Alternanthera
sessilis Red
Beaucarnea
recurvata
Codiaeum
variegatum
Cultivars
22
22
22
23
43
44
44
44
65
65
81
89
89
104
143
159
159
159
161
186
206
Acanthus
ebracteatus
Allophylus cobbe
Barringtonia
racemosa
Acanthus
ebracteatus
(Variegated)
Ardisia elliptica
Brownlowia tersa
Acanthus
ilicifolius
Avicennia alba
Bruguiera
cylindrica
Acanthus volubilis
Avicennia marina
Bruguiera
gymnorhiza
Acrostichum
aureum
Avicennia
rumphiana
Bruguiera hainesii
Acrostichum
speciosum
Barringtonia
asiatica
Bruguiera
parviflora
Aegiceras
corniculatum
Barringtonia
edulis
Caesalpinia crista
12
12
19
34
69
87
88
88
97
98
98
119
120
121
121
122
129
Pandanus
tectorius Sanderi
Scyphiphora
hydrophylacea
Talipariti tiliaceum
Tricolor
Pemphis acidula
Sonneratia alba
Talipariti tiliaceum
var. purpurascens
Podocarpus
polystachyus
Sonneratia
apetala
Terminalia
catappa
Planchonella
obovata
Sonneratia
caseolaris
Thespesia
populnea
Rhizophora
apiculata
Sonneratia ovata
Xylocarpus
granatum
Rhizophora
mucronata
Talipariti tiliaceum
Xylocarpus
moluccensis
Rhizophora
stylosa
Talipariti tiliaceum
Dwarf
Xylocarpus
rumphii
600
610
651
663
689
690
690
728
747
748
748
749
794
794
794
794
800
806
863
863
864
Scaevola taccada
718
Genus Name
Abelmoschus 2
Aberia 285
Abroma 2
Abrus 3
Abutilon 3
Acacia 4, 300, 485,
569, 711
Acalypha 5, 6, 7
Acanthopanax 310
Acanthus 1, 8, 9
Acapillaris 76
Acer VIII, 9
Acetosella 592, 591
Achras 185, 522, 662,
663
Acmella 10
Acoelorraphe 10
Acokanthera 788
Acorus 11
Acrostichum 12, 644
Acrotrema 12
Actinodaphne 13
Actinophloeus 679
Actinoscirpus 13
Adansonia 14
Adelaster 356
Adenanthera 14, 337
Adenia 15
Adenium 15
Adenoropium 450
Adhatoda 528
Adiantum 505, 16
Adina 17
Adinandra 17
Adonidia 17
Adinootrys 140
Adipera 733
Aechmea 18, 19
Aegiceras 19
Aegiphila 603
Aeschynanthus 20
Aeschynomene 737
Afardisia 68
Afgekia 21
Agapanthus 21
Agathis 21
Agati 737
Agave 22
Agelaea 23
Ageratum 23, 24
Aglaia 24
Aglaonema 25, 26,
27, 28
Anisophyllea 54
Annona 54, 55
Anoectochilus 55
Anredera 55
Anthactinia 15
Anthocephalus 564
Anthurium 56, 57
Antia 204
Antiaris 58
Antidesma 58, 59
Antigonon 60
Antrophyum 60
Aphanamixis 61
Aphelandra 61, 699
Aporosa 62, 63
Aporum 257
Aptenia 64
Aquilaria 64
Arachis 64, 65
Arachnotryx 65
Aralia 338
Aralidium 65
Araucaria 66
Archidendron 67
Archontophoenix 68
Archytaea 649
Ardisia 68, 69
Arduina 159
Areca 70, 71, 637
Arenga 71, 72
Arfeuillea 73
Argyreia 73, 763
Aristolochia 73, 74, 75
Arrabidaea 715
Artabotrys 75
Artanthe 638
Artemisia 76, 230
Arthrophyllum 77
Artocarpus 77, 78,
79, 603
Arum 47, 622, 624, 859
Arundina 79, 80
Arundo 80, 629
Asclepias 81, 147, 377
Asparagus 81, 82
Aspidistra 83
Aspidopterys 83
Aspidium 569
Asplenium 83, 84
Assa 802
Aster 772
Asterogyne 85
Asteromyrtus 85
Astyposanthes 769
Asystasia 85, 86
Ataccia 790
Atractocarpus 86
Averrhoa 87
Avicennia 87, 88
Axanthes 834
Axonopus 89
Azadirachta 90
Azolla 90
Azukia 845
Baccaurea 92
Bacopa 93
Baeckea 93
Baeobotrys 513
Baikiaea 94
Balanocarpus 564
Ballota 53
Balsamaria 145
Bambusa 94, 95
Baphia 96
Barleria 96, 97
Barringtonia VI, 97, 98
Basella 99
Bassia 513
Bauhinia 99, 100, 101,
102, 103, 104
Beaumontia 104, 105
Beccariophoenix 105
Begonia X, 106
Beilschmiedia 107
Belamcanda 439
Beloperone 455
Bentinckia 107
Berrya 107
Biasolettia 404
Bignonia 51, 448, 511,
523, 715, 786
Bihai 396, 400
Billbergia 109
Biota 646
Bismarckia 109
Bixa 91, 110
Blechnum 110
Bletia 79
Blighia 111
Blumea 111
Blumeodendron 112
Bobea 814
Boerhavia 112
Bombacopsis 594
General References
Anonymous (1970) Selected Plants and
Planting for a Garden City: Forty Popular
Climbers. Ministry of Law and National
Development (National Development
Division), Singapore.
An
Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment
and Sustainable Development. Tien Wah
Press Pte Ltd, Singapore.
Ng PKL, Sivasothi N (1999) A Guide to
the Mangroves of Singapore 1: The
Ecosystem and Plant Diversity. Singapore
Science Centre, Singapore.
Ng PKL, Wang LK, Lim KKP (2008)
Private Lives: An Expos of Singapores
Mangroves. The Raffles Museum of
Biodiversity Research, National University of
Singapore, Singapore.
Plant
Websites
http://www.anbg.gov.au/
mistletoe/epiparasitism.html
http://www.asianplant.net/
http://www.bsi.org/
http://florafaunaweb.nparks.
gov.sg/
http://floraofsingapore.
wordpress.com/
http://www.floridata.com/
http://www.frim.gov.my/
http://www.natureloveyou.sg/
http://www.orientalaquarium.
com/
http://www.pfaf.org/
http://www.theplantlist.org/
Cycads
875
Hedges
908
Fragrant
Plants
944
Seaside
Plants
953
Email: uvaria@hotmail.com
Palms
876
Ferns and
Fern Allies
880
Plants that
Attract
Butterfly
911
Plants that
Attract
Birds
917
Email: sharonjing22@gmail.com
Climbers
884
Jean W. H. Yong (John) finds bio-inspiration
in plant diversity and adaptations! He is an Associate
Professor at the Singapore University of Technology
and Design and runs the Green Solutions Laboratory.
John studied botany at the National University of
Singapore and later, biochemistry and physiology at the
Australian National University. He has written numerous
scientific papers as well as several plant-science books
such as The Physiology of Orchids in relation to the
Industry and A Selection of Plants for Greening of
Waterways and Waterbodies in the Tropics that greatly
improved the availability of tropical plant scientific
information to researchers, institutions, and the plant
industry sectors.
Trees
894
Email: jwhyong@gmail.com
Ground
Covers
Pellicieria rhizophorae (Tea Mangrove)
901
Indoor
Plants
922
Aquatic
Plants
930
Drought
Tolerant
Plants
936
Roadside
Plants
960
Plants for
Green
Roof
Planting
968
Plants
for the
Greening
of Vertical
Wall
971
Epiphytes
975
Mangrove
and
Mangrove
Associates
979
i n Tr opi c a l Ci ti e s
in
Tropical
Cities
Uvaria Tide
1st
Edition
Uvaria grandiflora