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Intsia bijuga (Colebr.) Kuntze
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Afzelia bijuga (Colebr.) A.Gray, Afzelia cambodiensis Hance, Afzelia retusa Kurz, Macrolobium bijugum Colebr. |
| Common Name: | Merbau Ipil, Merbau Ayer, Ipil, Kwila, Kayu Besi |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 50 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From East Africa through Southern India and Singapore, Southeast Asia to Northern Australia, and Polynesia. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree that can grow up to 50 m tall, with up to a 250 cm diameter at breast height for the trunk, and can have buttress roots up to 4 m tall and 2 m wide. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have 1–3 pairs of thinly leathery leaflets that are oppositely arranged. Each leaflet is broadly oval, egg-shaped or drop-shaped, and 2.5–18 by 1.5–12 cm. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are in flowering shoots (inflorescences) that are up to 17 cm long. Its flowers are bisexual. Its white or pink flower petals are 6–30 by 10–35 mm. |
| Fruit | Its fruits are woody pods that have one cavity and one row of seeds, that are oblong, slightly flat, are brown or black when ripe, and 8.5–28 by 4–7.5 cm. Its seeds are hard-coated, 2–3.5 cm in diameter, and 0.8 cm thick. |
| Habitat | It grows usually in coastal areas, but also in inland forests, up to 600 m altitude. It occurs locally in Lim Chu Kang, Pulau Pawai, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin, and Western Catchment Area. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are probably pollinated by insects. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Latin Intsia, derived from the Malayalam name for Acacia intsia; Latin bijuga, two pairs joined, referring to its leaves having two pairs of leaflets sometimes. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Seeds Food (Fruit & Vegetable): Its fruit seems to be laxative. Its seeds can be eaten. Others: It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It can be grown along roads, parks or large gardens, or in coastal areas, as it can tolerate their hot, sunny, windy, and frequent salt spray conditions. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Beachfront / Shoreline |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery, Thin |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate, Compound (Even-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate, Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Green, Pink, Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black, Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1678 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2971 |
| 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. |
