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Dillenia excelsa (Jack) Gilg var. excelsa
| Family Name: | Dilleniaceae |
| Common Name: | Purple Simpoh, Simpoh Inggu, Simpoh Lak |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Columnar, Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 25 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest, Riverine, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Medium-sized riverine tree, up to 25m height, with bushy columnar crown. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves medium-large (15-30cm long), glossy green, prominently-veined, with slightly serrate margins, lacking stipules at blade-petiole junction. Young leaves reddish. Species is deciduous in regions with seasonally-dry climates. |
| Flowers | Large (8-10cm across) and showy, petals bright yellow, typically 5 nos., with pinkish recurved apical stigma in centre, contrasted by numerous dark to purplish-red taller inner stamens, surrounded by shorter and more reflexed yellow outer stamens. Produced singly or in few-numbered clusters, upward-facing. Unopened buds enveloped by fleshy dark red to reddish-green sepals. Flowers open early in morning and last for 1 day, with petals being shed by late afternoon or evening. Rich in honey and pollinated mainly by Apis dorsata (Honey Bee). |
| Fruit | Dehiscent follicles (around 3cm across), ripening to translucent white and splitting to reveal star-shaped whitish interior, pulp-free, lined with brown seeds covered by red aril. Seeds and aril eaten by birds. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Local Conservation Status: Native, critically endangered. |
| Habitat | Mid-canopy tree of primary and secondary rainforests, occurring mainly on wet alluvial sites (freshwater swamps and periodically flooded riverbanks), sometimes on ridges and hillsides. |
| Cultivation | Hardy tree. Withstands sandy to clayey, and even alkaline limestone soils. Avoid planting too deep or having soil piled on top of rootzone, as species does not tolerate root burial or compaction. Propagate by seeds or stem cuttings (which strike easily -- fencing made from cut trunks or branches have been known to sprout luxuriantly.) |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Dillenia' named by Linnaeus in honor of Johann Jakob Dillen (Dillenius, 1684-1747), esteemed German physician, botanist and professor at University of Oxford. Species epithet 'excelsa' means 'tall', alluding to the tree's height. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb and Spice) Others: Medicinal: Plant sap used to treat chest infections. Young leaves used as poultice for swelling. Timber: Wood used for pilings, railway sleepers, fencing, plywood, interior joinery and panelling. Not durable and should be treated. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for planting along roadsides, in parks and gardens for its bright yellow flowers, rand eddish young foliage. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm, General, Riverine |
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden, Bioswales / Sunken Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | Sandy, clayey soils |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird Attracting |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Aaptos suberitoides. Seeds eaten by birds) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site) |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Leathery, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.0 (Tree - Dense Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | 1 Day |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Follicle |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29066 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3383 |
| 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. |
