Vitex vestita: A Rare Glimpse in the Shadow of Giants in MacRitchie Forest

While Vitex pinnata is a familiar tree found almost everywhere in Singapore, and even lend its vernacular name to Jalan Leban (off Thomson Road), her little sister Vitex vestita is exceptionally rare, occurring primarily in the shadow of our Dipterocarp giants in MacRitchie forest.
Here is a rare glimpse for you! : )



Beautiful MacRitchie Forest



Leaflets dancing with the occasional sunbeam



Inflorescences



Zygomorphic flower

Fruits turning from green to yellow to red

Hairs on the underside of leaflets



Smooth scaly bark

Helicia petiolatus: A Rare Gem in MacRitchie Forest

A Day with Helicia petiolatus

Darkness robs the canopy of its depth

And the sharp edge gleans a silhouette

With telling tails of tales

That shines a light on suggested eons

Marching past the continental drift

Moved me to this spot

Afoot

A point of Biogeography

A wink through window chink

so fast changed O Protea

Understorey view

Tantalizing tail of tales

Anthesis defined

A young inflorescence at last! Proteaceae!

Leaves turning a yellow clue.

Long leaf stalks - petioles - with swollen ends.

Smooth lenticellated bark.

Leaves dead but telling... turning silvery brown above but dark brown below.