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.

Alseodaphne nigrescens in MacRitchie Forest: Extinct No More

Needless to say, the more we are out there ground truthing, the more likely we are of discovering and learning new things. One unforgettable 'Aha' moment of mine in MacRitchie forest - a long-thought extinct species - Alseodaphne nigrescens - rediscovered 2014.


Leaves drying jet-black. Peduncle swollen and red, deceivingly fruit-like. There are a few trees in MacRtichie forest.

A Spectacular Display of Fruits at MacRitchie Rain Forest

Come every June, there is a rhapsody in the air singing regeneration! May they grow and prosper!




Baccaurea griffithii - a rare sight!





Baccaurea racemosa - cauliflorous display of fruits

Baccaurea racemosa - blue jacketed seeds

Dacryotes laxa

Dacryotes laxa - ramiflorous display of hanging fruits

Garcinia nervosa - ramiflorous display of fruits

Garcinia forbesii

Horsfieldia superba - ramiflorous display of fruits

Horsfieldia superba

Dysoxylum cauliflorum - cauliflorous display of fruits



Xylopia malayana - fruit flips inside-out by self-action to expose seeds

Xylopia malayana - obscure green fruits ready to flip!

Ryparosa scortechinii: Philosophically at MacRitchie Forest

This species was once regarded as being survived by only 2 remnant trees in the 6-hectare Rain Forest in Singapore Botanic Garden. However, I found a few small to large trees in MacRitchie over the years.


It was quite unfortunate then that not long ago I found one of 'my tree, my old friend' knocked down by a  neighbouring giant. 'A Ryparosa scortechinii killed by a Calophyllum teysmannii', I mused morbidly. The question about reality felled on me at that moment. Only I knew... probably... if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?


Now you know. Here's the fruits and photos of my tree, my old friend... it's real.

Ailanthus integrifolia: Born to Fly

Presently found in MacRitchie forest, Ailanthus integrifolia is one of the rarest native emergent trees in Singapore today. It has a smooth bole that appears brilliant white from afar. Also impressive are its large winged fruits. Related to Tongkat Ali in the family Simaroubaceae.

 

Cyathea trichodesma: a new record found in MacRitchie wetland

A relatively recent 2009 discovery by Dr Benito Tan et al - Cyathea trichodesma - a tree fern species of freshwater habitat found in the stream valleys of Macritchie wetland.