Guidebook for Malaysia

Guidebook for Malaysia

Compiled by
Lee Shin Shin
Aziah Muhamad
Joanne Tong

2015
 ®
Copyright 2015 by Wetlands International Malaysia

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be Acknowledgements

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, We are very grateful to the following people and agency
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior that have kindly supported the production of this book.
written permission of the copyright owner and publisher.
This book would not be the same without:
This book is printed with financial support from The
Financial support to print the book from
Global Environment Facility, Small Grants Programme
Global Environment Facility,
(GEF-SGP).
Small Grants Programme
First published 2015
Photos contributions from:
ISBN: 978-983-42276-6-1 • Jurgenne H. Primavera,
• Ron Yeo (tidechaser.blogspot.com),
Photography: Lee Shin Shin
Additional photos by/from: Jurgenne H. Primavera, • Sugumaran Manickam,
Ron Yeo, Sugumaran Manickam, Jonathan Davies and • Jonathan Davies,
Denise Cheah. • Denise Cheah

Published by: Text edited by Flora George &

Wetlands International, Malaysia Others who have kindly supported the project in various ways.
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 True Mangrove Species

Contents
Introduction i Ceriops tagal 39
Acanthus ebracteatus 1 Excoecaria agallocha 41
Acanthus ilicifolius 3 Heritiera globosa 43
Acanthus volubilis 5 Heritiera littoralis 45
Acrostichum aureum 7 Kandelia candel 47
Acrostichum speciosum 9 Lumnitzera littorea 49
Aegiceras corniculatum 11 Lumnitzera racemosa 51
Aegiceras floridum 13 Nypa fruticans 53
Avicennia alba 15 Osbornia octodonta 55
Avicennia lanata 17 Pemphis acidula 57
Avicennia marina 19 Rhizophora apiculata 59
Avicennia officinalis 21 Rhizophora mucronata 61
Brownlowia argentata 23 Rhizophora stylosa 63
Brownlowia tersa 25 Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea 65
Bruguiera cylindrica 27 Sonneratia alba 67
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza 29 Sonneratia caseolaris 69
Bruguiera hainessii 31 Sonneratia ovata 71
Bruguiera parviflora 33 Xylocarpus granatum 73
Bruguiera sexangula 35 Xylocarpus moluccensis 75
Ceriops decandra 37 Xylocarpus rumphii 77
Mangrove Associate Species

Contents
Allophyllus cobbe 79 Cynometra ramiflora 102 Morinda citrifolia 124
Ardisia elliptica 80 Derris trifoliata 103 Oncosperma tigillarium 125
Asplenium nidus 81 Dolichandrone spathacea 104 Oxyceros longiflorus 126
Barringtonia asiatica 82 Excoecaria indica 105 Pandanus tectorius 127
Barringtonia conoidea 83 Fagraea auriculata 106 Passiflora foetida 128
Barringtonia racemosa 84 Ficus microcarpa 107 Peltophorum pterocarpum 129
Caesalpinia bonduc 85 Finlaysonia obovata 108 Planchonella obovata 130
Caesalpinia crista 86 Flagellaria indica 109 Pluchea indica 131
Calamus erinaceus 87 Gardenia tubifera 110 Podocarpus polystachyus 132
Calophyllum inophyllum 88 Glochidion littorale 111 Pongamia pinnata 133
Calotropis gigantea 89 Gluta velutina 112 Premna obtusifolia 134
Canavalia maritima 90 Guettarda speciosa 113 Ricinus communis 135
Cassine viburnifolia 91 Hernandia ovigera 114 Sarcolobus globosus 136
Cassytha filiformis 92 Hibiscus tiliaceus 115 Scaevola taccada 137
Casuarina equisetifolia 93 Horsfieldia irya 1 16 Sesuvium portulacastrum 138
Cerbera manghas 94 Intsia bijuga 117 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 139
Cerbera odollam 95 Ipomea pes-caprae 118 Terminalia catappa 140
Clerodendrum inerme 96 Kleinhovia hospita 119 Thespesia populnea 141
Cordia dichotoma 97 Licuala spinosa 120 Vitex ovata 142
Cordia subcordata 98 Limahlania crenulata 121 Wedelia biflora 143
Crinum asiaticum 99 Melaleuca cajuputi 122 References 144
Croton heterocarpus 100 Melastoma malabathricum
Cynometra iripa 101 var. malabathricum 123
Introduction
This guidebook is designed as an easy and
practical field guide for those involved in
the field management of mangroves, for
students and those who are interested to
learn more about mangrove plants. This
guidebook uses simple descriptions and
a lot of photos to help distinguish species
more easily. Photos were taken from many
locations in Malaysia over the last 10 years
and through contribution from various
experts.

Mangroves can be defined as woody

vegetation types occurring in marine and
brackish environment. They are restricted to
the tidal zone, which is the strip of coast
starting from the lowest low water level up
to the highest high water level (spring tide).

Mangrove plants are generally divided into two groups, namely, i) True Mangrove
Species and ii) Mangrove Associate Species. True mangrove species thrive mainly
in a mangrove environment and do not extend into terrestrial plant communities
and are morphologically, physiologically and reproductively adapted to saline,
waterlogged and anaerobic condition. Generally, True Mangrove Species are
categorized as ‘exclusive’ species that are limited to the mangrove environment
and Mangrove Associate Species are categorized as ‘nonexclusive’ species that
are mainly distributed in a terrestrial or aquatic habitat but also occur in the
mangrove ecosystem.

Hence, this book has been split into two parts: part one highlights the True
Mangrove Species, part 2 deals with Mangrove Associate Species. We hope the
readers will find this guidebook helpful in identifying mangrove species in the field
and will be inspired by the rich biodiversity of our mangroves. Dedicated botanists
may refer to various reference books available for detail description of each species
especially “Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia” by Giesen et al. which is
available for free download at the Food and Agriculture Organisation website.
01 02

Acanthus
ebracteatus
Vahl. Ecology:
(ACANTHACEAE) Almost constantly found in or near
mangrove areas and seldom inland.
Local name: Usually found together with Acanthus
Jeruju (hitam) ilicifolius.

Distinctive Features:
Uses:
Very similar to A. ilicifolius but with
Flowers
Medicine: Fruit used as blood purifier and strong toothed leaves and flowers have
only one main enveloping leaflet • Usually white flowers.
dressing for burns, application on snake
bites and arrow poisoning. Leaves used (secondary ones are usually rapidly
to relieve rheumatism. Seeds to treat shed). Flowers usually white in colour.
internal worms.

Leaves
• Young leaves or leaves on ends of branches
may not have spines, while older branches
may have.
• Shinny leaves.
• Holly-like shaped leaves, where leaf edge is
toothed and deeply lobed with sharp
spines.

Fruits
• Fruit slightly flattened like nuts.
Green in color.

Shrubs
• An erect mangrove shrub
03 04

Acanthus
ilicifolius L. Ecology:
It is a short but robust sprawling herb
(ACANTHACEAE) that spread vegetatively through rooting
of its horizontal stems. Found in or near
Local name: mangrove area, seldom found towards
Jeruju puteh inland.

Uses: Distinctive Features: Flowers

• Normally pale mauve or violet in color.
• Has similar uses to Acanthus ebracteatus. Flowers have one main enveloping leaflet
subtended by two secondary ones. The • Infrequently in white color.
• Agriculture: fodder. leaflets remain attached throughout the • Bird and insect polinated.
life of the plant. Flowers are mauve or
violet in colour.

Leaves
• Young leaves or leaves on ends of branches
may not have spines, while older branches
may have.
• Smooth leaves.
• Has the distinctive holly-shaped leaves
similar to Acanthus ebracteatus. However
the leaf edge is less lobed.

Fruits
• Fruit slightly flattened like nuts.
• Green in color.

Shrubs
• Acanthus ilicifolius forming a large and thorny (and also inaccessible) vegetation patch.
05 06

Acanthus
volubilis Wall.
(ACANTHACEAE)

Local name:
Jeruju

Ecology:
Acanthus volubilis is a climbing herb Flowers
or shrub with many branches. Stems • White petals but turns brown when older.
twining around other trees and are thin,
smooth, green, and usually spineless.
Found in tidal mud among grasses
and herb plants in tidal mud area.

Uses:
• Medicine: Powdered seeds for
blood cleansing and ulcer cure.

Distinctive Features: Shrubs Leaves

• Often have tap root system developed and • Usually has smooth leaf edge and no spines
Flowers are smaller and white in colour. at times stilt roots grows from base stem to (young leaves), but some are slightly lobed
Differs from A. ebracteatus and A. support the plant. and have spines (older leaves).
ilicifolius by the absence of spines
on stems and leaves. It has slender, • Leaves are succulent to leathery.
sprawling to twining stems.

Fruits
• Fruits rarely formed, slightly flattened
like nuts.
• Green in color.
07 08

Acrostichum
aureum Linne.
(PTERIDACEAE)

Local name:
Piai Raya

Shrubs Leaves
• A large, clump-forming terrestrial fern • Young plants are more reddish in color than Acrostichum Speciosum.
Ecology: that can grow up to 4m tall.
A large, clump-forming terrestrial fern • Leaves stalks are long and distinctive,
that can grow up to 4m tall. Found along about 1-3m long.
brackish creeks, rivers and canals at the
rear-mangrove zone. Preference to
normal tides but does not tolerate
sea-water flooding as much as
Acrostichum speciosum. It prefers
bright, sunny areas.

Uses:
• Medicine: Rhizome and leaves.

• Construction: Roofing material.

Distinctive Features:
Prefers bright and sunny area as
compared to Acrostichum speciosum;
commonly found in disturbed areas. As
compared to A. speciosum, A. aureum is
taller, the young plants are more reddish
Leaves Leaves
(brownish in A. speciosum). The leaf tips
are blunt with a small short tip. • Tips of the longer, sterile leaflets are • Tops of fertile leaves are rusty-brown in colour but turn into dark brown later.
abruptly rounded or blunt, with a
short tip.
09 10

Acrostichum Ecology:
speciosum Found on muddy substrate, especially on

Willd. heaps of mud raised by mangrove crabs

above general ground. It prefers shaded
area and often inundated by the tides.
(PTERIDACEAE)

Local name:
Piai Laut Distinctive Features:
Differs from A. aureum by its smaller
total size, brownish-green young leaves,
Uses: pointed leaflets, and the dark brown
lower surface of fertile leaflets
Construction: It used as roofing material. covered with sporangia.
Leaves
• Brownish-green young leaves.

Leaflets
• Rusty, fertile leaflets at the top of the plant.
• Dark brown under surface of fertile leaflets
covered with sporangia.

Leaves
• Leave are elongated-pointed.
• Sterile leaflets have small and narrowly
pointed tip.

Shrubs
• It is a terrestrial fern, forming coarse clumps and grows to about 1.5m tall.
11 12

Aegiceras
corniculatum
(L.) Blanco
(MYRSINACEAE)

Local name:
Kacang-kacang; Kuku helang

Shrubs or small trees Flowers Fruits

• Erect, evergreen shrub or small tree. • Insect pollinated. • Strongly curved and pointed
Ecology: like small bananas.
• White color.
• Green to pink in colour.
Shrub or small tree grows up to 6 m tall. • Sweet-scented.
Found at fringes of brackish or almost • Fruit and seed well adapted to water
• Rich with nectar.
fresh water mangrove forest zone. It has dispersal.
been reported tolerant of a wide range
• Seeds semi-viviparously.
of salinity and soil, but prefers sandy
substrate.

Uses:
• Fishing: Bark contains saponin
used to stupefy fish.

• Ornamental: Flowers have strong

fragrance so often used as ornaments
and source of nectar.

• Food: Young leaves are edible.

Distinctive Features:
Fruits are strongly curved and Leaves
pointed like small bananas. • Leathery rounded-notched leaves.
• Bright and glossy green above and paler
green below, often with slight red midrib Roots Barks
below. • Roots running along the soil surface, • Bark is grey to brown, fissured and has
no obvious above ground roots. numerous lenticels.
• Salt excretion glands on leaf surface and
stalk (whitish and covered with salt).
13 14

Aegiceras
floridum
Roemer &
Schultes
(MYRSINACEAE)

Local name:
Teruntum
Photo: J.H. Primavera

Shrubs or tree Flowers Fruits

• An erect mangrove shrub. • The flowers have a sour odour • Green to red in color.
Ecology: and the petals are white. • Slightly curved and smaller than
A. corniculatum.
Shrub or small tree grows up to 4 m tall.
Found on rocky or gravelly substrates.
So far, not recorded in Peninsular
Malaysia but recorded in Sabah.

Uses:
• Construction: Source of
construction wood.

• Fuel: Source of fuelwood.

Distinctive Features:
This species is similar to A. corniculatum
but distinguished by having smaller
leaves, branched flower clusters and
smaller, slightly curved fruits.

Leaves
• Leathery rounded leaves. Roots Barks
• Bright and glossy green above and paler • Roots running along the soil surface. • Bark is grey to brown, fissured and
green below, often with slight red midrib has numerous lenticels.
below.
• Salt excretion glands on leaf surface and
stalk (whitish and covered with salt).
• Has smaller leaves than Aegiceras corniculatum.
15 16

Avicennia alba
Blume
(AVICENNIACEAE)

Local name:
Api-api putih

Shrubs or trees Flowers Fruits

• Shrub or tree grows up to 10 m tall. • Yellow to orange color. • Elongated and thin chili-shaped fruits.
Ecology: • Light green in color and surface wooly hair.
• Flowers smallest of the Avicennia.
Shrub or tree grows up to 10 m tall. • Sometimes fruits germinate while still on tree.
Occurs as pioneer species at sheltered
shores, along tidal river banks and
seashore, but has preference at the
bay entrances. A. alba tolerant very
high salinity.

Uses:
• Medicine: Sap used for pregnancy
prevention. Resin and ointment from
seeds used for treating skin diseases
and wounds.

• Food: Seedlings are eaten as a

vegetable after cooked.

Distinctive Features:
Long slender leaf, chili-shaped fruits
with pronounced beak, pioneer species.
Leaves Roots Barks
The tree looks silvery-white from a far
distance. • Long pointed leaves. • Pneumatophores roots that are thin and • Bark is grayish or brownish.
• Glossy green color on top and very pale finger-like, covered with lots of lenticels. • Surface maybe warty or smooth.
whitish undersurface. Hence from a far • It aids in land building process by
distance, the tree looks silvery-white • Pale, powdery mould often grows on
accumulating mud through its complex older stems.
in appearance. horizontal root system.
17 18

Avicennia
lanata
Ridley
(AVICENNIACEAE)

Local name:
Api-api berbulu, Api-api bulu

Flowers Fruits
• Fragrant flowers covered with very fine • Fruit shaped more like heart shape than
Ecology: hairs. chili fruits. Fruit flatten and more wrinkly
in appearance.
Tree grows up to 30 m tall. Found Trees • Orange-yellow in color.
• Green to yellowish in color.
growing in groups along the east coast • Tree has cylindrical stem, not buttressed.
of Peninsular and also at Johor. Prefer • Covered with dense woolly hair texture.
grow on sandier soil.

Uses:
• Medicine: sap used for pregnancy
prevention; resin and ointment from
seeds to treat skin diseases and
wounds.

• Fuel: Wood used as firewood.

• Food: Fragrant flowers produce nectar

and is good to produce quality honey.
Seeds eaten as vegetables after boiled.

Distinctive Features:
Leaves under surface with yellowish-
white hairs, fruits covered with dense Leaves
woolly hair. Roots Barks
• Leaves are round in shape and • Pencil-like pneumatophores. • Dark grey and smooth bark.
has no pointed tip.
• Upper surface dark green, under surface
has dense yellowish-white powdery hairs.
• The dense hair on leaves reduce water loss
by trapping a layer of insulating air.
19 20

Avicennia
marina
(Forssk.) Vierh.
(AVICENNIACEAE)

Local name:
Api-api jambu

Shrubs or trees Leaves Flowers

• Shrub or tree grows up to 10 m tall. • Leaves elliptical with round tip. • Petals yellow to orange in colour.
Ecology: • Waxy surface with strong odour
• Leaves dark green upper surface,
white to light grey lower surface. and abundant nectar.
Shrub or tree grows up to 10 m tall.
Occurs as pioneer species on sheltered • Lots of sunken grandular dots on upper
shores. High salinity tolerance and surface.
colonises many tidal habitat types.

Uses:
• Medicine: Leaves used to treat
burns and resin from bark used as
contraceptive.

• Paper: wood served as good-quality

pulp for paper production.

• Food: Edible fruits.

Distinctive Features:
Leaves elliptical with round tip,
grayish-light green fruits with fine hair.
Leaves Fruits Barks & Roots
• Leaf with salt glands, salt crystals form • Fleshy, grayish-light green color fruit • Bark is green-grey in colour,
on upper surface of leaves to exclude (never yellow), covered with fine hair. mottled and peeling in patches.
excessive salts.
• Shape more of small tear-drops • The roots has pencil-like
with a short beak. pneumatophores with lots of lenticels.
• Sometimes fruit germinate on parent plant • Complex horizontal roots system aids
• Fruit opens when ripe either after in speeding up land-building process.
absorption of water or consumption by ants.
21 22

Avicennia
officinalis L.
(AVICENNIACEAE)

Local name:
Api-api ludat

Flowers Fruits
• Rancid smell. • Fruit roundest of all Avicennia
Ecology: mangrove species found in Malaysia.
• Orange-yellow in colour.
• Densely covered short hair on surface,
Tree grows up to 12 m, commonly occurs • Covered with soft short hairs on surface. yellowish and with short beak.
along tidal river banks and river mouths.
• Larger flower than other Avicennia spp.

Uses:
• Food: Edible fruits.

• Fuel: Wood as source of firewood.

• Medicine: Resin used as contraceptive.

Distinctive Features:
Young leaves hairy, flower larger than
other Avicennia spp.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Rounded leaf tip and leaves shape • Has pencil-like pneumatophores. • Bark is smooth, yellowish-green to
slightly elongated. brownish-grey. Lenticels are also found on
• Dark green color on upper surface, the bark.
and yellowish-green or bluish-grey
under surface on mature leave.
23 24

Brownlowia
argentata
Kurz.
(TILIACEAE)

Local name:
Dungun, Durian laut

Shrubs or small trees Flowers Fruits

• At low tide, the roots exposed. The high • Woody and buoyant fruit, dispersed by
• Tiny flowers (less than 1 cm).
Ecology: tide mark can be observed from the water.
whitish leave during low tide. • Emerging at the terminal flower head.
• Scaly and heart-shaped.
Shrub or small tree with much-branching. • Pale orange to salmon pink in colour.
Found in the landward margins of
mangroves and along brackish river.
It trailing in the water and during low
tide, the roots exposed.

Uses:
• Wood used as timber.

Distinctive Features:
The leaves shape very similar to Hibiscus
tiliaceus and Thespesia populnea. The
difference is the leaves of Hibiscus are
ashen white underneath, Brownlowia
are brownish and Thespesia are green.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Stiff but thin, ovate and heart-shaped • Photo showing high tide water mark, • Greyish-brown or grey-mottled, flaky
with pointed tip. the roots exposed during low tide. smooth bark.
• Upper surface is glossy and smooth.
• Under surface covered with brownish
hairy scales.
25 26

Brownlowia
tersa
(L.) Kosterm. Ecology:
(TILIACEAE)
Found in mangrove swamps and along
stream where mud accreting. Also found
Local name: on sandy shores or firm mud, along with
Dungun air Nypa. Normally grows in groups.

Uses: Distinctive Features:

Fruits
• Fuel: Sometimes used as fuelwood. Lanceolate leaves with lower surface • Woody and buoyant fruit, dispersed by
covered with a dense layer of tiny, water.
• Wood: Sometimes used for fencing. hairy scales.
• Scaly and heart-shaped.

Photo: J.H. Primavera

Flowers Leaves
• Tiny flowers (less than 1 cm). • Thin or leathery, lanceolate in shape,
rounded base and pointed tip.
• Emerging at the ends of branches in
clusters on stalks.. • Upper surface is glossy and smooth.
• With five pink petals with yellow base. • Lower surface is grey-green and covered
with a dense layer of tiny, hairy scales.

Shrubs
• A shrub with branches covered with dense layer of scales.
27 28

Bruguiera
cylindrica
(L.) Bl.
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Berus-berus, Berus putih, Beus,
Bakau belukap, Bakau berus, Bakau
puteh, Bakau kecil, Bosang

Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Flower cluster consists of 3 flowers. • Slightly curved cylindrical fruits.
Ecology: Flowers are white but turn brown with age. • Green to purplish green in colour.
Tree grows up 15 m tall. Grows in • 8 calyx lobes detaches with calyx.
groups on firm clay substrate behind the • Lots of fruits with high regeneration
Avicennia zone (on the seaward side of potential but growth is slow.
mangrove). Able to grow on newly
established substrate which is not Trees
well-drained.
• Grows into huge tree.

Uses:
• Fuel: Source of firewood.

• Food: Young roots of the embryos

are eaten with sugar and coconut in
some places.

Distinctive Features:
Small white flowers, with 8 calyx lobes
in flowers and fruits.

Roots Barks
• Kneed pheumatophores with small • Grey bark with few small corky lenticel.
Leaves buttress.
• Pointed leaves.
• Thin.
29 30

Bruguiera
gymnorrhiza
(L.) Lamk. calyx
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Tumu merah, Berus merah, Bakau
besar, Betut, Tumbus, Tumu, Tumus

Trees Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Tree grows up to 30 m tall. • Large flowers with reddish to pink calyx. • Spirally-rolled and round in cross section.
Ecology: Light to bright red in color, covered with • Straight, blunt hypocotyls, round in
“powder”. cross-section or slightly ridged.
Tree grows up to 30 m tall. Often found
in the transition zone between mangrove • Petals white but turn brown as it ages.
and inland forest. Grows well in areas • Pollinated by birds and insects.
with low salinity and well-aerated soil,
especially along coastal fish ponds,
brackish and tidal rivers.

Uses:
• Timber: Red and hard timber, used for
foundation piling, mine timbers, house
posts, furniture and cabinet works.

• Fuel: Wood is source of firewood and

charcoal.

Distinctive Features:
Big red calyx on flowers and fruits, leaves
smooth and thick, under surface no black
dots, pointed tip but without an abrupt
slender tip.
Leaves Roots Barks
• Red young shoots. • Stem based buttress with numerous • Bark dark grey to brown, usually smooth
• Leathery and thick leaves with pointed tip. knee roots. with lenticels.
• No black dot under surface and often
reddish as well.
31 32

Bruguiera
hainessii
C.G. Rogers
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Berus Mata Buaya
Photo: Ron Yeo Photo: Ron Yeo

Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• 10-lobed pale green to pinkish sepals. • Cigar-shaped and slightly thickened
Ecology: Photo: Ron Yeo towards the end, slightly curved up.
• Petals are white and hairy.
Occurs at relative dry areas where it is
inundated for only a few hours a day.
Bark is brown to grey with corky, Trees
with yellow-brown lenticels. • Tree grows up to 30 m tall.

Uses:
• Fuel: Wood is source of firewood.

• Construction: Construction material.

Distinctive Features:
Bark is brown to grey with corky,
yellow-brown lenticels.

Photo: Ron Yeo Photo: Ron Yeo

Roots Barks
• Short buttress often with lenticels, • Brown to grey with corky, yellow-brown
and knee roots. lenticels.

Leaves
• Pointed leaves.
33 34

Bruguiera
parviflora
(Roxb.) W. & A. calyx lobes slender
ex Griff.
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Lenggadai, Lenggadis, Mengkadai

Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Yellowish-green petals. • Light hypocotyls allow easy water dispersal.
Ecology: • Thin, cylindrical and smooth.
Shrubs or Trees • Calyx lobes are straight, not curved.
Shrub or small tree grows up to 5 m tall. • Slender evergreen shrub or small tree. • Insect pollinated.
Tend to associate with Rhizophora
species towards the seaward part of the
forest zone. The species typically forms
single species stands at infrequently
inundated areas, along tidal waterways
and coastal fish ponds. Grows on
consolidated mud, sands, calcareous
sands, brackish and hyper saline soils.

Uses:
• Wood is source of firework, charcoal
and pulp.

Distinctive Features:
Tiny flowers with slender calyx lobes,
hypocotyls thin, cylindrical and smooth.

Leaves Roots Barks & Roots

• Pointed leaves with black dots on the • Knee roots. • Grey, fissured bark and a slightly flanged
undersurface and turns yellowish-green as base.
it ages.
35 36

Bruguiera
sexangula
(Lour.) Poir.
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Tumu berau, Busing,
Tumu mata buaya

Leaves Flowers
• Leathery leaves with black dots • Bird pollinated.
Ecology: on the under surfaces. • Large, downward pointing flowers.
Tree may grow up to 30 m tall. Occurs • Calyx is yellow, yellowish-brown or reddish.
along tidal waterways and coastal fish • White petals but turn brown with age.
ponds in wetter conditions. Grows on
a variety of substrate types that are
infrequently submerged.

Uses:
• Fuel: Wood is source of firewood &
charcoal.

• Medicine: Roots and leaves used to

treat burns. Fruit used in application
for shingles (herpes virus disease).

Distinctive Features:
Greenish yellow calyx.
Photo: Ron Yeo

Tree Fruits Barks & Roots

• Tree may grow up to 30 m tall. • Hypocotyls dispersed by water. • Flanged stem base.
• Spirally-rolled and ridged. • Knee roots, stilt roots occur as well.
Angular hypocotyls.
37 38

Ceriops
decandra
(Griff.) Ding Hou
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Tengal, Tengar, Landing-landing

Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• White petals but turns brown as it ages. • Calyx is covered with lenticels or is warty.
Ecology: • Slender hypocotyls is sharply ridged,
Shrubs or small trees only warty towards the tip.
Small tree or shrub grows up to 5 m tall.
Occurs scattered throughout tidal forest • Small tree to shrub. • Dark red cotyledonary collar (see inset).
but commonly at tidal waterways and
bordering coastal ponds. Prefers sand
or mud substrate.

Uses:
• Timber: The timber is most durable
of all mangrove species. Used for
house construction, railway sleepers,
paving blocks and tool handles.

• Dye: Bark used for tannin and dye.

Distinctive Features:
Fruits erect and shorter than C. tagal,
cotyledonary collar dark red in mature
fruit.

Leaves Barks & Roots

• Rounded glossy green leaves • Brown, rarely grey or cream, smooth to flaky bark.
• Leaf shape and size very variable • Small stilt roots.
depending on light and water conditions
experienced by the plant.
39 40

Ceriops tagal
(Perr.) C. B. Rob.
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Tengar, Tengah

Shrubs or small trees Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Small tree or shrub. The species • White petals but turn brown as it ages. • Warty, smooth or slightly ridged, angular,
Ecology: degenerates into a bushy shrub under slender and often rather short.
• Calyx lobes are erect in flower.
unfavourable growth condition. • Calyx lobes recurved in fruits.
Small tree or shrub up to 6 m tall. Grows
at freshwater influence area, where it is • Yellow cotyledonary collar.
inundated by spring tides with well-
drained soils. Also occurs along brackish-
water fish ponds and prefer clay substrate.
May coexist with Ceriops decandra but
usually more abundant.

Uses:
• Medicine: An extraction of the bark is
used in obstetrical and haemorrhage
cases.

• Dye: Dye from the bark used in

batik industry.

Distinctive Features:
Fruit hanging, longer than C. decandra,
cotyledonary collar yellow in mature fruits. Leaves Roots Barks
Calyx lobes recurved in fruits. • Rounded, glossy green leaves. • Knee roots. • Grey, occasionally brown, smooth bark.
• Often have an inwardly curled margin. • Low buttress.
41 42

Excoecaria
agallocha
L.
(EUPHORBIACEAE)

Local name:
Buta-buta, Kayu buta-buta Male flowers Female flowers

Male flowers Fruits

• Male flowers are catkin like, • 3-lobed fruit (a capsule).
Ecology: Trees
elongated flower clusters.
• Small deciduous tree. Leaves turn orange
Small deciduous trees grows up to 10 m to bright red before shedding. This gives • Has sticky pollen and nectar producing
tall. Commonly found in the landward the entire tree a reddish appearance. glands present at end of the leaflets
margins of mangrove and river banks, below the flowers .
it required freshwater input. Particularly Female flowers
common as regenerating species in
• Female flowers much smaller.
logged over forest or disturbed forest.

Uses:
• Medicine: The roots are used to
treat toothache and swellings.

• Wood: useful for carving and

produce sulphate-paper pulp.

Distinctive Features:
White latex is present in trunk, stems and
leaves (poisonous), leaves turn orange
and red before shedding.
Leaves
• Toothed leaf edges.
• Two glands at the base of each leaf.
• The white sap is poisonous and used Roots Barks
to kill fish, also causes blistering and
• Roots run along the surface of the soil. • Smooth but somewhat warty, grey bark.
temporary blindness to humans (local
name “buta-buta” or blind refer to this • Knotted roots and covered with lenticels.
property).
43 44

Heritiera
globosa
Kostermans
(STERCULIACEAE)

Local name:
Dungun besar

Leaves Fruits
• Stiff, leathery leaves. • Woody, rounded, shiny-brown fruit, with a
Ecology: • Dark green upper surface and grayish- shallow ventral crest that is extended at the
white under surface. far end into a beak or wing, slightly
Tree grows up to 25 m tall. It occurs recurved.
behind the tidal zone of mangrove belt,
mostly on freshwater river systems that
are less influenced by tides.

Uses:
• Wood: The wood is heavy and hard
and is used as construction material.

Distinctive Features:
Snake-like buttress, woody and rounded
fruits.
Trees
• Tree grows up to 25 m tall.

Roots Barks
• Roots with buttressed trunk. • Dark or grey fissured bark.
• The buttresses are well developed
and snake-like.
45 46

Heritiera
littoralis
Dryand.
(STERCULIACEAE)

Local name:
Dungun laut Photo: J.H. Primavera

Leaves Flowers
• Stiff, leathery leaves. • Without petals. Cup-shaped sepal, reddish
Ecology: • Dark green upper surface and greyish-
and hairy inside and green and hairy
outside.
Tree grows up to 25 m tall. It occurs in white under surface.
the landward margin of mangrove, on
sandy and rocky coasts.

Uses:
• Wood: The heavy and durable wood
is used as building material for canoes,
house posts and boat planking.

• Medicine: The fruits and seeds are

used for treating diarrhoea and
dysentery. Trees
• Poison: the roots are used • Tree grows up to 25 m tall.
as fish poison.

Distinctive Features: Photo: J.H. Primavera

Similar like H.globosa, distinguished by

the elongated, larger fruit and shorter
leaf stalk. Fruits Barks and Roots
• Woody, green to purplish or brown fruit. • Buttressed trunk and dark or grey,
Central ridge or keel. fissured bark.
47 48

Kandelia
candel
(L.) Druce
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Berus-berus, Beras-beras, Pulut-pulut,
Mempisang, pisang-pisang laut
Photo: Ron Yeo

Shrubs or small trees Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Shrub or small tree, up to 7 m tall. • White flowers with numerous stamens. • Green long cylindrical and may have
Ecology: reddish tint.
• Calyx lobes are recurved.
Shrub or small tree, up to 7 m tall. Found
scattered along the banks of tidal rivers
among other mangroves plant species.
It is rare and occupy a narrow niche.

Uses:
• Fuel: Wood is source of firewood.

Distinctive Features:
White flowers with numerous stamens.
Calyx lobes are recurved.

Leaves Barks Roots

• Leaves narrowly oblong-elliptic to • Grayish to reddish-brown bark. • Most times does not have proper
obovate-oblong with a margin that is buttress or pneumatophores.
usually curled inward. • Smooth and has lenticels.
• Roots may appear braided at the
base of the trunk.
49 50

Lumnitzera
littorea
(Jack) Voigt.
(COMBRETACEAE )

Local name:
Teruntum Merah

Trees Flowers Fruits

• Tree grows up to 10m tall. • Bisexual red flowers. • Vase-shaped fruits, corky and buoyant.
Ecology: • The tree in the above photo has developed • Water dispersal.
• Bird pollinated.
extensive knee-shaped pneumatophores.
A spreading evergreen tree grows • Strongly scented.
up to 10 m tall or more. Commonly
found on soft and muddy substrates
at the landward fringe of mangroves.
Occasionally found at sheltered rocky
coast. This tree produced highly
durable timber.

Uses:
• Timber: highly durable timber. Suitable
for making bridges, wharves, cart
axles, flooring and sleepers. The
rose-like scent and attractive wood
texture is good for making furniture.

Distinctive Features:
Red flowers, small leathery leaves.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Upper and lower surface of the leaves • Knee-shaped pneumatophores. • Fissured and dark brown bark.
are almost the same.
• Fissured along the long axis of the trunk.
• Slightly fleshy and leathery.
• Has distinctive red color stems.
51 52

Lumnitzera
racemosa
Willd.
(COMBRETACEAE)
Ecology:
Local name:
Teruntum putih Evergreen shrub or small tree grows
up to 8 m tall. Usually found on sandier
and consolidated mud substrate areas.

Uses: Distinctive Features: Leaves Flowers

• Upper and lower surface of the leaves • Bisexual stalkless white flowers.
• Timber: Durable timber. It is suitable White flowers, found on sandier are almost the same. • Weakly scented but rich with nectar.
used as construction material such as substrate. Lumnitzera littorea and
to build bridges, ship building and Lumnitzera racemosa are rarely found • Slightly fleshy and leathery. • Insect pollinated.
furniture. in the same area.

• Tanning: Bark has tanning properties.

Fruits Barks
• Fibrous and woody fruit. • Longitudinally fissured rough bark.
• Distinctively compressed.
• Water dispersal.

Shrubs or small trees

• Evergreen tree to small tree (smaller than Limnitzera littorea).
53 54

Nypa
fruticans Female flower
Wurmb.
(ARECACEAE)
Male flower

Local name:
Nipah

Shrubs Flowers
Ecology: • Nipah appears not to have trunks with • Sticky pollen and pollinated by
leaves growing directly out of the ground. Drosophila flies.
Grows on soft and fine substrate. Found
between tidemarks up estuaries with • Bisexual flower clusters sprout
considerable mixture of freshwater and from near the top of stem.
rarely inundated mangrove zone. Sweet
• Flowers yellow to orange colour.
syrup extracted from stem to produce
alcohol, sugar and vinegar; fruits called • Female flower is a spherical head.
“buah atap”or attap chee are used in local • Male flower is bright yellow catkins,
desserts. Fronds used as roofing material found at the lower branches.
and also made into umbrellas, hats, mats,
baskets and cigarette papers; leaf steam Spherical cluster of female flowers, protected
fibers as ropes, brooms and brushes. by bracts. Flower heads with mainly male
flowers.

Uses:
• Food: Sweet syrup extracted from stem to
produce alcohol, sugar and vinegar. Fruits
called “buah atap”or attap chee are used
in local desserts.

• Construction: Fronds used as roofing

material and also made into umbrellas, Fruits
Leaves
hats, mats, baskets and cigarette papers. • Spherical fruiting body. Individual fruits
• Long erect fronds and slightly curved.
are brown and fibrous.
• Household: Leaf stem fibers used to About 4 - 9m long.
make ropes, brooms and brushes. • One white, egg-shaped seed per fruit.
• About 100 – 120 leaflets per palm frond.
• Fruits are fibrous and disperse by water.
• Upper surface of leaflet is shinny green
Sometimes, seeds germinate on the
Distinctive Features: and lower surface is sort of powdery green
parent plant (viviparous).
in color.
Palm, form pure communities
along river side.
Seedling
55 56

Osbornia
octodonta
F. Muell.
(MYRTACEAE)

Local name:
Myrtle Mangrove

Leaves Flowers
Ecology: • Thin- leathery leaves with swollen leaf • Flowers appear in groups of 1 - 3, with no
stalks. petals.
Occurs at fringing tidal waterways and • There are 8 calyx lobes and white in colour.
exposed sites as well but not in freshwater • The leaves when crushed have a
flooded area. Not specific to substrate distinctive aromatic smell. • Pollinated by insects.
type but associated with Avicennia and
Sonneratia species on sandy or gravelly
shores.

Uses:
• Medicine: The crushed leaves can be
used as insects repellent. The bark used Shrubs
to treat toothache and as a cooking A shrub or small tree grows up to 7 m tall.
herb.

• Timber: Durable, extremely heavy, very

hard and strong; durable wood even
when contact with soil.
Distinctive Features:
• Construction: Bark occasionally used
for caulking wooden boats; used as Crushed leaves with aromatic smell, the
railroad sleepers, posts and housing only true mangrove species with such a
construction. characteristic, flowers with no petal.

Fruits Roots & Barks

• The fruit is encased by the calyx tube, • Barks are brown in colour and smooth.
does not open when ripe, contains 1 - 2 • Roots sometimes has pneumatophores,
seeds. but are usually absent.
• Covered with silky hair that trap air to aid
in buoyancy and disperse by water.
57 58

Pemphis
acidula Leaves
• Small and fleshy
J.R. Forst. & leaves are densely
covered with silky
G. Forst. hairs.
Ecology:
(LYTHRACEAE) Flowers
Shrub or small tree. Occurs at the • White flowers.
Local name: landward margin of mangrove, above the
Bungor high tide level on sandy beach and rocky
outcrops.
Fruits
• Reddish fruits turn
brown when matured.
Uses: Distinctive Features: • Fruits are encased in
Photo: Sugumaran Manickam a bell-like structure.
Material for tools: Hard and durable Small and thick leaves.
wood used for hand tools, anchors, White flowers and bell-like fruits.
walking canes, fence posts and novelties.

Photo: Sugumaran Manickam

Photo: Sugumaran Manickam

59 60

Rhizophora
apiculata
Blume
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Bakau minyak, Bakau tandok,
Bakau akik, Bakau puteh, Akik.

Trees Flowers Fruits

• Tree grows up to 30 m tall. • Yellow flowers grow on very short stalk. • The fruit is cylindrical, green in colour
Ecology: with purple tinge.
• The calyx tube is brownish yellow to
Tree grows up to 30 m tall. It is dominant
reddish and recurved.
mangrove species forming pure stands
at exposed mangrove forest area where
frequently flooded with normal high
tides. Grows on deep, soft, and muddy
soils; does not like firm substrates
mixed with sand.

Uses:
• Wood: The wood is heavy and hard
used for foundation piles, beams,
furniture, firewood and making of
charcoal.

• Reforestation: This species commonly

used in mangrove rehabilitation and
plantation forestry.

Distinctive Features:
Leaves Roots Barks
New leaf shoots are red.
• Dark green leaves with light green zone • Arching stilt-roots and sometimes • Dark grey and chequered.
along the midrib. aerial roots from the branches.
• Young shoot is red in colour.
61 62

Rhizophora
mucronata
Lamk.
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Bakau belukap, Bakau gelukap,
Bakau jankar, Bakau hitam,
Bakau kurap.

Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Yellow calyx 4 white petals with densely • Dull brownish-green fruit is elongated
Ecology: hairly margins. to egg-shaped. Very rough at base.
• Long flower stalks. • Cylindrical hypocotyls, rough and warty.
Tree grows up to 27 m tall. Found in
same localities as R. apiculata, but • Seedlings often predated by crabs.
tolerate to sandier and firmer substrate.
Most times growing in groups near or on
the banks of tidal creeks and in estuaries,
rarely far from tidal water. Grows best in Trees
deeply inundated areas, on firm soil rich • Tree grows up to 27 m tall.
in humus.

Uses:
• Fuel: Main source of fuel wood
and charcoal.

• Fishing: Tannin in the bark used for

dying especially fisherman nets and
ropes.

Distinctive Features:
“Collar” of hypocotyls is green. New leaf
shoot is green but tinted with a little red. Roots Barks
• Stilt roots and aerial roots growing • Gray to black bark.
from lower branches. • Horizontally fissured.

Leaves
• Leathery leaves.
• Young shoot is light green in colour.
63 64

Rhizophora
stylosa
Griff.
(RHIZOPHORACEA)

Local name:
Bakau belukap, Bakau gelukap,
Bakau jankar, Bakau hitam,
Bakau kurap.

Trees Flowers Fruits (hypocotyls)

• Tree grows up to 10 m tall. • Whitish to yellowish petals. • Elongated pear shaped brown fruits.
Ecology: • Cylindrical hypocotyls.
• With long slender style.
Tree grows up to 10 m tall. Grows on a
variety of tidal habitats on mud, sands,
coarse grits and rock, preferring bank of
tidal rivers.

Uses:
• Fuel: Source of firewood and charcoal.

Distinctive Features:
Very similar with R. mucronata, can be
distinguished by the longer styles in
R. stylosa, larger leaves and fruit
(hypocotyls) in R. mucronata.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Leathery leaves. • It has prominent stilt roots and • Smooth grey to black, fissured bark.
• Regularly spotted on under surface. well developed rooped branched
Pointed leaf tip. stilt-roots.
65 66

Scyphiphora
hydrophyllacea
Gaertn. f.
(RUBIACEAE)

Local name:
Chengam, Cingam.

Shrubs Flowers Fruits

• Small Tree or shrub grows up to 3 m tall. • Whitish pink flower. • The fruit is a capsule with 6 - 8 ridges,
Ecology: green, ion tight bunches.
• Insect or self-pollinated.
• The fruit turns whitish when mature.
Small Tree or shrub grows up to 3 m tall.
It is commonly found on mud, sand and • Fruits disperse in large quantity but
rocky substrates on riverbanks influenced germination rate is low.
by tides, and inland edges of mangroves.

Uses:
• Wood: Used for carving utensils and
for fence posts and firewood.

• Medicine: The leaf extract is used

to treat stomach problems.

Distinctive Features:
Small whitish pink flowers. Twigs and leaf
stalk are reddish and resinous young
shoots. Fruits with ridges.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Twigs and leaf stalks are reddish. • Prop-roots in larger trees. • Rough, brown bark.
Resinous young shoots.
• Leathery and shinny leaves on the upper
surface.
67 68

Sonneratia
alba
J.E. Smith
(SONNERATIACEAE)

Local name:
Perepat , Pedada, Pidada.

Flowers Fruits
• Flowers bloom at night and last for short • Calyx lobes spread with 6-7 prominent sepal.
Ecology: time. Normally shed in the next morning. • Green sepals outside and red inside, the red
• Pollinated by hawk-moths, birds and inside faded away as the fruit developed.
Tree grows up to 20 m tall. It is a pioneer
species in the seaward mangrove zone, fruit eating bats. • Buoyant fruits as the seeds have air-bearing
grows on consolidating mud and sands, • It has numerous long white stamens. tissue.
Trees
rock, coral and gravel at coastal locations • Long stamens are soon shed as fruit
that are sheltered from strong wave, also • Evergreen spreading tree.
developed.
in estuarine areas and around offshore
island. Fireflies congregate on the trees
at night. Lots of morphological variation.

Uses:
• Wood: The wood is considered
strong construction material for all
kinds of interior work (furniture,
musical instruments, cabinet making).

• Food: The sour fruit is edible.

Distinctive Features:
Mature leaf petiole is yellow, calyx lobes
spread in fruit (S. ovate calyx lobes erect
in fruit).

Leaves Roots Barks

• Leathery leaves, broadly obovate and • Conical and corky pneumatophores. • Cream color to brown, with smooth fine
round. longitudinal fissures.
69 70

Sonneratia
caseolaris
(L.) Engl.
(SONNERATIACEAE)

Local name:
Berembang

Trees Flowers Fruits

• Sonneratia caseolaris with very strong, • Flowers white pom-pom like. • Sepals are spreading away from
Ecology: vertical pneumatophores. the fruit horizontally flat.
• Thread-like stamen are pink to gradually
white color. • Very big berry fruits, almost like small
Tree grows up to 15 m tall with weeping
melon.
branches. Occurs in less saline parts of
mangrove forest, near the banks of tidal • When fruit is very mature and big, sepals.
rivers in brackish water where tidal can hardly “grip” the fruit.
influence is still present.

Uses:
• Food: The sour young fleshy fruit
is edible or made into pickle.

• Household: Pneumatophores also

used as a substitute for corks and
making wooden soles of shoes.

Distinctive Features:
Mature leaf petiole with reddish-pink
base, red and white stamen (red on
lower part, white in upper part), Young tree Old trunk
pneumatophoes well developed, Leaves
glossy fruits. • Leaves variable in size.
• Tip of most leaves has a minute recurved Roots Barks
tip. • Slender and pointed like spear • The bark light to dark brown, cracked
• Mature leaf petiole with reddish-pink base. pneumatophores. on old trunk and lenticellate on young
tree.
71 72

Sonneratia
ovata
Backer
(SONNERATIACEAE)

Local name:
Gedabu

Trees Flowers Fruits

• Small tree grows up to 5 m tall. • Flowers have no petals. • Big berry shaped fruit.
Ecology: • The calyx lobes enfold/grip to the fruits.
Small tree grows up to 5 m tall. It grows
on muddy soil at brackish mangrove
zone, less saline areas.

Uses:
• Fuel: Source of firewood.

• Food: Young fruits can be eaten.

Distinctive Features:
White pom pom flowers. Leaves are
almost round shape. The calyx lobes
of fruit grip to the fruit.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Leave shape almost round. • Vertical pneumatophores. • Cream-coloured to brown.
• Shiny, dark green leaves which are
slightly bulging.
73 74

Xylocarpus
granatum
Koen.
(MELIACEAE)

Local name:
Niri, Nyireh, Nyiri, Nyireh Bunga

Flowers Fruits
• Oval shaped petals and white in color. • Fruits are huge and heavy (1 - 2 kg), woody
Ecology: and round like melon.
• Yellowish brown color.
Tree grows up to 20 m tall. Found at
Trees • Fruit with four compartments filled with
brackish or low salinity mangrove areas
and along banks of tidal creeks. Often • Tree grows up to 20 m tall. 6 – 16 big, tetrahedrally-shaped woody
grows fairly gregariously. seeds. It is interesting to see how the seeds
are arranged like a puzzle.

Uses:
• Timber: The wood is used to produce
high quality furniture and cabinet
works.

• Household: Oil from seeds can be

used for lamp oil and in hair grooming.

• Medicine: Bark used to treat cholera,

fruit and seed used to treat diarrhoea.

Distinctive Features:
Undulating snake-like roots, big hard
melon-like fruit.

Leaves Roots Barks

• Leaves are round to egg-shaped. • Saucer-shaped horizontal pneumatophores. • Yellowish-light brown color.
• Leaf tips are rounded to very blunt, • Undulating snake-like roots. • Thin, flaking bark.
seldom with short point.
• On young stems, bark is wrinkled.
• Thick, leathery leaves.
• Trunks are often hollow especially on older
trees.
75 76

Xylocarpus
moluccensis
(Lamk) M. Roem.
(MELIACEAE)

Local name:
Nyireh batu

Trees Flowers Fruits

Ecology:
• Tree grows up to 20 m tall. • Yellowish petals. • Fruit smaller than X. granatum,
Tree grows up to 20 m tall. Preferred sandier contains 4 – 10 seeds.
• Oblong to egg-shaped petals.
substrate, found at sandy coast and banks of
tidal creeks.

Uses:
• Wood: The wood has very nice texture
and used by Mah Meri group from Carey
Island, Selangor to make beautiful craft.

• Medicine: Seeds used to treat

stomachaches. Bark to treat
intestinal problems.

• Tanning: Bark as tannin source

to treat fishing nets.

Distinctive Features:
Fruit smaller than X. granatum and
green in colour, pointed pneumatophores.
Leaves Roots Barks
• Oval to egg-shaped. • Has small buttress. • Trunk has deeply fissured surface.
• Thin and leathery leaves. • Pneumatophores are pointed,
conical- and saucer-shaped.
77 78

Xylocarpus
rumphii
(Kostel.) Mabb.
(MELIACEAE)

Local name:
Niri, Nyireh Photo: Ron Yeo Photo: Ron Yeo Photo: Ron Yeo

Trees Flowers Fruits

• Tree grows up to 10 m tall. • Flowers tiny white to pinkish in clusters. • Fruits are small compared to X. granatum &
Ecology: X. moluccesis.
• Fruits are shinny green, turn brown as it
• Occurs at exposed shores, rocky cliffs,
ripens.
often near the surf.

• Prefers to sandy substrate and high

tides.

Uses:
• Household items: Used as patterned
wood for handles of traditional knives
(Kris).

• Fishing, textile, leather: Bark used for

tannin and dying cloth.

• Medicine: kernel of seeds

to treat stomach aches. Photo: Ron Yeo

• Construction: Wood for boat making. Photo: Ron Yeo Photo: Ron Yeo

Distinctive Features:
Leaves Roots Barks
Usually found on sandy or rocky beaches, • The leaves are oval to nearly heart-shaped • With neither conspicuous buttresses • Finely fissured bark.
fruit green in colour and smaller than with prominent pale veins. nor pneumatophores. • Greyish on surface, inner bark bright pink
X. granatum and X. moluccensis.
• Thick and leathery. to red.
Mangrove
Associate
Species
79 80

Allophyllus General Description:

Erect or scrambling shrub. Leaves always in groups
Ardisia General Description:
Shrub. Twigs are swollen at the base and
cobbe of 3, has sharply and deeply indented leaf edge.
Flowers are white, small and arranged in a short
elliptica detachable. Leaves are fleshy. Flowers are
non-fragrant, white or pink color, and star-shaped.

(L.) Raeusch spear-like flower cluster. Fruits are green, smooth

and round, hang in bunches. As it ripens, it Thunberg Flowers and fruits are arranged in umbrella-like
cluster. Fruits are round reddish-purple berries,
SAPINDACEAE gradually turns from orange to red. Those plants MYRSINACEAE and turns black as it ripens. Commonly found
occupying mangrove and along muddy coasts at estuarine, sandy and muddy coasts.
are found to have shrubby habit. It also grows
Local name: on sea-shores, secondary forest, brushwood Local name: Uses:
Tumbit kayu, Sepoh and hedges. Jambulan pantai, Mata pelanduk,
Mata itek, Mata ayam, Penah, • Medicine: Leaves used to treat scabies;
English name: fruits to treat intestinal worms.
Uses: Periah
Tit-berry
• Food: Edible fruit. English name: Distinctive Features:
• Medicine: Leaves used as mouth wash. Sea-shore Ardisia
Flowers are white or pink and star-shaped. Berry
fruits, reddish-purple and turns black as it ripens.
Distinctive Features:
Leaves always in group of 3. Tiny white flowers
arranged in short spear-like arrangement.
81 82

Asplenium General Description:

Epiphytic fern with a stout, erect rhizome. Leaves
Barringtonia General Description:
Small to medium sized tree, young leaves are
nidus are rose-petal-like arranged to collect leaf debris
as nutrient source, hence the distinctive bird’s nest
asiatica pinkish olive with pink leaf venation. Leaves are
also rather thick and leathery. Leaf tip is blunted.

Linné shape. It has dense root structure with numerous

fine brown root hairs. Leaves are long green (L.) Kurz Flowers are large, sweet scented, pom-pom-like
(numerous stamens) with greenish-white petals.
ASPLENIACEAE ribbon-like with black midrib, leaf edge is wavy. LECYTHIDACEAE Stamens are white at base, gradually turn to pink
Linear spore sacs are found on the surface of at tip. Flowers bloom in the night and pollinated
mature leaf. It is found at shaded and dry habitat. by nocturnal animals (especially moths). Fruits
Local name: Local name: are green, cubic, blunt pyramid-like, browns as it
Paku sarang burung, Paku Uses: Butong, Butun, Pertun, Putat laut matures. It has fibrous corky husk to aid in water
pandan, Paku langsuyar buoyancy. Found at many sandy substrate areas,
• Household: Common ornamental plant. English name:
such as coastal forest, sea shores, beaches, and
English name: Sea Putat sandy coasts. Also found at rocky shores and
• Leaves used in combination with rasped
Bird’s-nest fern occasionally in mangroves. Likewise, grows
coconut as shampoo.
well when planted inland.
Distinctive Features:
Uses:
Bird’s nest shaped fern.
• Medicine: Juiced seeds used to kill
ecto-parasites, such as lice.
• Fuel: Seed oil used for burning.

Distinctive Features:
Pink to white pom-pom flowers. Fruit cubic,
pyramid-like shape. Young leaves are pinkish olive
with pink leaf venation.
83 84

Barringtonia General Description:

A dense bush or short tree scarcely branched.
Barringtonia General Description:
Shrub or a small tree. Leaf edge is toothed. Leaves
conoidea Found on submerged mud banks and standing in
water during high tide. Leaf tip pointed. Flowers are
racemosa clusters at end of branches. Flowers are large,
strongly scented and arranged in spear-like

Griff white and pom-pom like (numerous white stamens,

only style is pink). Flowers blooms from night to (L.) Spreng arrangement. Petals are green or pale rose-color,
edges are recurved and pale pink. Lots of white
LECYTHIDACEAE midday or later. Fruit is buoyant to aid in water LECYTHIDACEAE stamens that may be tipped with either red, white
dispersal, and has a conical shaped with 8 blunt or yellow. Flowers bloom in the night and pollinated
protruding edges fruit shape. A riverine species, by small bats and moths. Fruit is water buoyant, egg
Local name: but also found in brackish, tidal estuaries and Local name: or oval-shaped with 4 to 6 faint grooves. It occurs
Putat ayer estuarine mangroves. Putat ayam along tidal rivers and areas with regular sea water
input. Also found at beaches, freshwater swamps,
English name: English name:
Uses: edge of peat swamp forests and hillsides. It grows
River Putat Common Putat well when planted inland.
• Fishing: Seed, bark or root contains saponins, used
as fish poison in combination with Derris (tuba).
Uses:
Distinctive Features: • Fishing: Bark and fruits contains saponin,
used as fish poison.
Flowers all white (except pink style). Fruit are
inverted conical shape with 8 blunt protruding • Food: Young leaves and fruits eaten as
edges. salad or vegetable.

Distinctive Features:
Attractive spear-like flowers arrangment. Fruit with
egg or oval-shaped with 4 to 6 faint grooves.

Photo: Jonathan Davies

85 86

Caesalpinia General Description:

A coarse climbing vine. Small leaves, feather-like
Caesalpinia General Description:
Climbing vine with partially prickly branches.
bonduc arrangement. Young leaves densely covered with
yellow hairs and smoothen as it matures. Stems,
crista Scented bisexual flowers grow in long clusters.
Bright yellow petals, topmost veined with red.

(L.) Roxb. branches and leaf midribs are armed with hooked
prickles. Scented unisexual flowers grow in branched L. The fruits are flat pods with a small beak. Seeds
are black and flat. It occurs at landward edge of
LEGUMINOSAE clusters. They are yellow color, often with reddish LEGUMINOSAE mangroves and river banks.
streaks. The brown thorny pods bear with one or
two seeds which are oval shape, pearly-grey or Uses:
Local name: olive-green. It mainly occurs at dry habitat such Local name:
Bonduc, Akar kelinci as beaches and landward edge of mangroves, Mata kijang, Kaniker, • Medicine: Seeds used as malaria and parasitic
especially disturbed sites. It forms dense bushes Sompini, Bonduc worms treatment; leaves to treat Hepatitis A.
English name:
in secondary inland forests as well.
Nicker tree English name: Distinctive Features:
Uses: Crested fever nut
Prickly branches. Fruit is flat pod that has a beak.
• Household: Local celebration ornamental plant.
• Medicine: Root used to treat stomach pain
and to improve appetite.

Distinctive Features:
Many plant parts armed with hooked prickles
(stems, branches and leaf midrib). Pods have
rigid thorns. Seeds are oval shaped, pearly-grey
or olive-green in colour.
87 88

Calamus General Description:

Multiple-stemmed climbing palm (rattan). It has
Calophyllum General Description:
Tree. Grows densely, usually crooked, leaning
erinaceus whip-like hooks at leaf tip to aid in climbing. Leaf
sheaths are orange to yellowish-green and very
inophyllum or even growing along the ground. It contains sticky,
yellow or white latex. Leaf tip is rounded or notched.

(Becc.) Dransfield densely armed with grayish-brown spines. Leaf

edge and leaf veins at bottom of leaves have short L. Leaves have very numerous, fine, parallel veins. They
are also shiny and dark green above, with a pale
ARECACEAE bristles. Flowers and fruits are in long clusters. Fruits GUTTIFERAE midrib. Flowers grow in long cluster and sweet-
are round and covered vertically with straw-colored scented. Petals are white and golden pom-pom-like
scales. Form as thickets at the landward edge of (numerous stamens). Fruits are round, green and
Local name: mangroves or landward margin of coastal sandbars. Local name: buoyant. Occurs at non-swampy, sandy beaches,
Rotan bakau Bintangur laut, Penaga laut, and occasionally found at mangrove. Usually
Uses: Naga, Menaga found at transitional habitats.
English name:
Mangrove Rattan • Little commercial use as the canes are too stiff English name:
Uses:
and hard. Alexandrian Laurel
• Food: Salted fruit eaten as snack.
Distinctive Features:
• Urban forestry: Common planted in
Climbing palm with spines almost all over the plant. recreation parks and opened air parking lots.
• Medicine: All part of the tree has traditional
medicinal uses.

Distinctive Features:
White petals and golden pom-pom-like flower.
Leaves with very fine and parallel veins. Round
green fruit.
89 90

Calotropis General Description:

Small shrub. Young stems and leaves are densely
Canavalia General Description:
Creeping herb. Plant tip sometimes twines. Leaves
gigantea covered with white, cottony hairs at the bottom.
Leaves are fleshy. All plant part exude lots of white
maritima have three fleshy leaflets. Flowers are in long stalks,
reddish-violet color with a white streak down the

(L) R. Br. irritant latex when cut or damaged that can also
cause blindness. Flowers have a distinctive “crown” Thouars middle. Fruits are bean-like pods. It occurs at sandy
beaches, dunes or nearby areas. Occasionally, it may
ASCLEPIADACEAE at the centre. Petals are smooth, white, lilac or LEGUMINOSAE be found landward edge of mangroves.
purple color. Fruits are round to boat-shape,
encapsulating many seeds with long, silky white Uses:
Local name: hair. It occurs as a weed at open waste ground, drier Local name:
Remiga, Rembiga localities, at beaches and sometimes at mangroves. Kacang laut, Kekara laut • Food: Young pods and seeds edible after boiling.
Flowers used as spice.
English name: English name:
Uses: • Soil erosion prevention: Suitable as ground cover
Sodom’s Apple Bay Bean
crop against soil erosion on eroding coastal land.
• Household: Stem made into fibre; floss from seeds
used in making stuffed pillows.
Distinctive Features:
• Medicine: Fresh leaves used to treat swelling and
rheumatic pain; root extract used as tonic. Latex Creeping habit. Reddish-violet flowers with white
used to treat leprosy, laxative, worm treatment or streak at the middle. Bean-like fruit pod.
for wound disinfectant.

Distinctive Features:
Unique “crown” at the center of the purple to
white flowers. Seeds have silky, long white hair.
91 92

Cassine General Description:

A small tree or shrub. The leaves are light green,
Cassytha General Description:
Thread-like, semi-parasitic plant that grow in a
viburnifolia shiny under surface and with notched leaf edge,
initially with glands in each notch. The flower
filiformis massive tangle on host plants. It does not root nor
does it have visible leaves. The vine produced

(Juss.) Ding Hou clusters occur at the end of the branches. Fruits
are corky and narrowed at the base, green and Linn. suckers which attached to host plant. Flowers are
tiny and yellowish-white. Fruits are small, round and
CELASTRACEAE then turn into yellow when matured. It occurs LAURACEAE yellowish-green berries. Found covering many shrub
along tidal rivers and mangroves. and small tree species at seaside areas.

Local name: Uses: Local name: Uses:

Barak laut Cemar, Akar pengalasan
• Fishing: Husk of fruits used to stupefy fish. • Household: Juice used in tonic shampoo.
English name: English name:
Unknown Dodder-laurel, • Medicine: Juice to treat intestinal worm infestation.
Distinctive Features:
Devil’s Gut, Love Vine
Light green leaf with notched leaf edge Distinctive Features:
and fruits with narrowed base.
Thread-like plant covering the host plant. No visible
leaves and does not root.

Leaf edge
with notch
93 94

Casuarina General Description:

Large tree, conifer-like appearance. The leaves are
Cerbera General Description:
Small tree or shrub. Bark has milky white sap
equisetifolia tiny-teeth-like scales arranged in whorls at the joints
of the twigs. There is no broad leaves but with
manghas which can cause blindness. Roots are visible,
running along the soil surface, but does not have

L. needle-like twigs. Male and female flowers grow

on separate trees. Female flowers are pink to red L. aerial roots and pneumatophores. Leaves cluster
at end of branches. Top leaf surface glossy green,
CASUARINACEAE puffy-ball-like, male flowers are tiny flowers on long APOCYNACEAE pale green below. Withering leaves are orange.
spear-like arrangement. Fruit are spiky spherical Flower is white with a purple to orange-red “eye”.
head, first green, then brownish. When matures, Flower trumpet-shape, where petals drop. Fruit is
Local name: it releases seeds through wind dispersal. It is Local name: red, mango-like appearance (hence the scientific
Aru, Ru, Waru common on sandy coasts and low dunes, but Pong-pong, Buta-buta name) with a blunt beak and when eaten can cause
also in sandy mangrove areas. Light demanding death. This plant is a tree of coastal swamp forest
English name: English name:
and nitrogen fixing plant. or beach vegetation, preferring well-drained sandy
Horsetail, Coast She-oak, Pink-eyed Cerbera soils.
Australian oak, Whistling pine Uses:
Uses:
• Fuel: Source of firewood and charcoal.
• Medicine: Oil from seeds and young fruits used to
• Textile: Resin used for tanning.
cure skin itches, rheumatism and common cold.
Bark, sap and leaves used as purgative and
Distinctive Features: abortion inducer.
Conifer-like tree appearance.
• Fishing: Poisonous seed oil used to kill fish.
• Fuel: Source of charcoal and firewood.

Distinctive Features:
White flowers with purple to orange-red “eye”. Fruit
mango-like appearance with blunt beak. Ripe fruit is
red.

Female flowers Male flowers

95 96

Cerbera General Description:

Small tree. Bark has milky white sap which can
Clerodendrum General Description:
Erect, drooping or straggling shrub, sometimes
odollam cause blindness. Withered leaves are orange brown.
Fragrant flowers, white with a yellow centre. Fruits
inerme a climbing plant or a small tree. Young twigs are
purplish that are heavily covered with short hairs.

Gaertn. are round mango-like appearance. It is green when

unripe; later turns pink and finally dark purple. This (L.) Gaertn. Leaves are thin and fleshy with pointed leaf tip.
Lower leaf surface have dark green dots. Flowers
APOCYNACEAE plant is found in coastal forest and landward VERBENACEAE are white trumpet-like, where the tube part is pale
mangrove edge. The roots run along the lilac. Stamens protrude out from the flowers like
surface of the soil. reddish to purple upward curved threads. The fruit
Local name: Local name: is round shaped, with flattened top. Upon maturing
Pong-pong, Buta-buta, Nyan Uses: Gambir laut it blackens, dries and breaks into 4 lobes. Mainly
• Medicine: To treat intestinal worms. found at brackish or marine areas.
English name: English name:
Yellow-eyed Cerbera • Urban forestry: Common roadside tree Wild Jasmine, Seaside
Uses:
in Kuala Lumpur . Clerodendrum, Indian Privet,
Glorybower • Medicine: Seeds and roots used to treat fish and
• Household: Intertwined mesh of fibre from marine animals poisoning. Wound treatment made
rotted fruit used in dried flower arrangement. from leaves.

Distinctive Features: • Household: Ornamental plant.

White flowers with a yellow centre. Fruit mango-like Distinctive Features:

appearance. Ripe fruit is dark purple.
Flowers are white trumpet-like with red to purple
“threads” curving up and outwards. Matured fruits
are black and breaks into 4 lobes.
97 98

Cordia General Description:

Tree with drooping branches at the ends. Leaves
Cordia General Description:
Small tree with dense, round crown. It is usually
dichotoma are variable in shape, but rarely almost round with
pointed leaf tip. Papery to slightly leathery leaf
subcordata low, with crooked branches emerging just above
the ground. Leaves tip are blunt or rounded, rarely

G. Forst texture. Secondary leaf veins are mostly whitish

and prominent below leaf surface. Young plants’ Lam. pointed. Flowers are large and trumpet-shaped, clear
orange or pinkish orange. Fruit nearly round shaped.
BORAGINACEAE leaf edge is strongly toothed. Flowers are bell- BORAGINACEAE It is green color, ripening to yellow. Buoyant fruit
shaped, petals curve backwards; white, cream or aids in water dispersal. Usually found at sandy or
green color. Fruits are egg-shaped, with a variety gravely beaches, and landward edge of mangroves.
Local name: of colors from white, pale green, pink, orange or Local name:
Nona Burung, Petekat, yellow. It also contains a sticky, slimy pulp. Many Bala laut Uses:
Sekendal, Sekendai plant parts are quite variable in shape and size.
English name: • Medicine: Leaves used to treat stings
Found mainly at low altitudes. Also occurs inward
English name: mangrove areas, low coastal hills, inland riverine
Sea Trumpet and bites of fish.
Cordia Tree forests and on limestone.
Distinctive Features:
Uses: Large light orange flowers and trumpet-shaped.
• Household: Fruit used as a glue as
it contains a sticky gum.
• Medicine: Fruit and bark for medicinal use.

Distinctive Features:
Fruits are egg-shaped and sticky with slimy pulp.
99 100

Crinum General Description:

A ground-dwelling herb. Leaves arrangement is
Croton General Description:
Small tree. Leaf edge is strongly wavy, where upper
asiaticum spring-onion-like; leaves are long with a pointed tip.
It has a fleshy underground bulb. Flowers are sweet
heterocarpus part is round toothed. Withering leaves are bright
orange-red. Flowers are arranged as clusters on

L. scented and have long white petals with red styles.

Fruit is irregularly rounded and white. Usually found Müll. Arg. spear-like arrange at the end of branches. The
flowers are pale green, whitish or slightly pink
AMARYLLIDACEAE in shaded areas, but may also occur in areas fully EUPHORBIACEAE color. Fruits are round, green, bluish-green to
exposed to the sun. Also found at freshwater yellowish capsule. Fruit clusters drops like rats’
swamps and sometimes in sandy mangroves. tails. Found at primary forest near the coast, peat
Local name: Tend to be smaller at sandy areas and larger Local name: swamp, freshwater swamp but especially along
Bakong, Bawang hutan at freshwater and brackish swamps. Melokan, Sari pelanduk tidal creeks and rivers.
English name: English name:
Uses: Uses:
Poison Lily Rat-tailed Croton
• Household: Ornamental plant. • Ecology: Host plant for the lac insect.
• Medicine: Purgative and treating of foot sores.
Distinctive Features:
Distinctive Features: Strongly wavy leaf edge. Fruit cluster drops like
rats’ tails.
Flowers with numerous long white petals.
101 102

Cynometra General Description:

Small tree. Leaves grow in pairs. The lower pair
Cynometra General Description:
Tree with leaves grow in pairs. The lowest pair of
iripa of leaf is smaller than the upper pair. The leaf tip
notched. Flowers are white, with numerous bent
ramiflora leaves is smaller than the upper pair. Young leaves
are white or red. The flower clusters. Flowers are

Kostel. styles, thread-like. The irregular fruit ‘pod’

is woody, green and turn brown when ripen, with L. white and soon turn brown. Flower styles are
straight. Fruit are brown woody ‘pod’, oval to
LEGUMINOSAE a distinct beak. Its surface is deeply wrinkled and LEGUMINOSAE slightly circular shape. Its surface is deeply wrinkled,
covered with short hairs. Fruit is buoyant. It is found often covered with short hairs. Found at landward
in mangroves, littoral scrub, on or near the beach. edge of mangroves, often on heavy, firm soil.
Local name: Local name:
Kateng, Katong laut Uses: Kateng, Katong laut Uses:
English name: • Medicine: Seeds and leaves have medicinal English name: • Timber: Source of construction timber.
Unknown properties. Unknown
• Household: Ornamental plant.
Distinctive Features:
Distinctive Features:
Leaves grows in pairs. Fruit is deeply wrinkled
Fruit surface is deeply wrinkled and covered with
with a distinct beak. Flower has bent thread-like
short hairs. Fruits are oval to slightly circular shaped.
projections.
103 104

Derris General Description:

A woody, often rambling climber. Bark has orange
Dolichandrone General Description:
Evergreen tree. Trunk often crooked. Leaves have
trifoliata lenticels. Dark red young stems with prominent
lenticels as well. Flowers are white or pale pink
spathacea hairy hollow cavities in between the secondary
veins for insect inhabitants. Flowers are large,

Lour. color, and occur in drooping clusters. Fruit are

round and flat coin-like pods, green first, turning (l.f.) K. Schum. trumpet-shaped, and white to greenish-white or
yellow. Flowers are fragrant with frilled petal edge.
LEGUMINOSAE brown and woody as they ripen. Air cavities in the BIGONIACEAE Blooms at dusk and drops the flowers before
fruit pods are adaptation to water dispersal. It sunrise. The fruits are long pods, horn-like and
grows on muddy and sandy substrates on the have hard, leathery partitions. Numerous dark grey
Local name: landward mangrove edge. It has preference to Local name: seeds, rectangular shape and arranged in many
Tuba laut high freshwater input. Poko kulo, Tuj, Kaju pelok rows. This plant is limited to the landward
mangrove edge, banks of tidal rivers and
English name: English name:
Uses: estuaries, and beach vegetation.
Derris Mangrove Trumpet Tree
• Fishing: Its tuberous roots are well known
Uses:
to use for stupefying fish.
• Medicine: Tea made from leaves used to treat
Distinctive Features: mouth infections.
Climber. Fruit are flat coin-like pods.
Distinctive Features:
Large trumpet-shaped flowers, with frilled petal
edge. Fruit is long-horn-like pod.

Photo: Jonathan Davies

105 106

Excoecaria General Description:

Small tree. It contains white latex. The trunk is
Fagraea General Description:
Epiphytic, rarely terrestrial, shrub or climber.
indica short and not buttressed. Bushy crown, branches
usually upright and more or less dropping twigs.
auriculata It has a pair of “ears” at the bottom of leaf
stalk. Leaf midrib is prominent, greenish yellow.

(Willd.) Muell. Arg. Leaf stalks are reddish. Leaf edge is finely toothed.
Green flowers occurs in clusters on long spear-like Jack Flowers are cream color, huge trumpet shape,
petals curls backwards. It has large flower (over
EUPHORBIACEAE arrangement. Fruit is a round with woody capsule, GENTIANACEAE 30 cm wide). Fruits are capsule, grayish-white
green and turns to almost black as it ripen. Fruits and when ripen. Found in primary and secondary
seeds are poisonous. Found in tidal river banks and rainforests, often along clearings, river-banks,
Local name: sea shore. Also occurs in freshwater swamp forests, Local name: sometimes in mangrove swamps on tidal
Gurah along rivers and in evergreen lowland forest. Pelir musang waterways.
English name: English name:
Uses: Uses:
Mock Willow Unknown
• Dye: Leaves used to make black dye for yarn • Household: Sticky fluid under the fruit
and rattan. epidermis is used as glue.
• Fishing: Young fruits produce latex used to • Ornamental.
poison fish.
Distinctive Features:
• Food: Ripe seeds used as a vegetable or condiment.
Large trumpet shaped cream color flowers.
• Household: Hard round seeds are used by children
Has a pair of “ears” at the base of leaf stalk.
as marbles.

Distinctive Features:
Contains white latex. Branches with drooping twigs
and leaf stalks are red.
107 108

Ficus General Description:

Medium sized strangler fig tree. Leaves sometimes
Finlaysonia General Description:
Slender, twinning, woody climber. It releases white
microcarpa have reddish tinge. Leaf tip pointed and oval
to egg-shaped. The tree often has a spidery
obovata latex from broken surfaces. Bark is light brown and
papery. Leaf stalk is thick and often red. Many parts

L.f. appearance, with no real trunk being discernable.

This plant possesses many aerial roots which may Wall. of the plant are slight hairy such as flower stalk,
flower and fruit. Flowers are noxious-smelling,
MORACEAE later develop into pillar roots. Fruits are small and ASCLEPIADACEAE flower stalks violet, petals greenish yellow, inside
round figs. They are at first pale green later turning purple or brownish-yellow. Fruits are green and
blueish-black. Provide fruits for birds and small fleshy, much like a pair of fleshy horns of a buffalo,
Local name: mammals. It is found in swamp forest, riparian Local name: smooth, and with a short, curled back tuft of hair. It
Jawi-jawi, Jejawi, Lunok forest, coastal swamps or along the landward Daun korpo laki-laki, is found in mangrove and on borders of tidal creeks
mangrove edge. Frequently found at lowlands. Kalak kambing and fishponds.
English name:
At rocky areas it may be in a dwarf form with
Malayan banyan English name:
creeping habit. Uses:
Unknown
• Food: Young leaves eaten as vegetable and salad.
Uses:
• Household: Ornamental plant. Distinctive Features:
• Medicine: Roots used for treatment of toothache. Flower parts are mostly purple and yellow color and
Bark and leaves for headache and juice from the hairy. Fruit shaped like buffalo horns.
leaves used externally to treat colic.

Distinctive Features:
Extensive aerial roots and pillar roots. Bluish-black
figs.
109 110

Flagellaria General Description:

A climber. It has a long stem and long leaves. The
Gardenia General Description:
A shrub or tree. Resinous twigs and buds, where
indica leaf tip is curled into a tendril that winds around all
available props. Flowers grow in clustered spear-like
tubifera resin is pale yellow. Flowers are creamy white later
orange-yellow, very fragrant. Petals are shaped as

L. arrangement. Individual flowers are solitary, and

white. Fruits are round, smooth, shiny, pink to Wall. a blunted butter knife. Fruits nearly round, pale
apple green, splitting open to reveal the orange-
FLAGELLARIACEAE orange berry. It is a common climber in a variety RUBIACEAE red interior. It is found in lowland, hill forests and
of forest from moist forests, swamp forests, landward margin of mangroves.
peat swamp forests, riparian forests and edge
Local name: of mangrove. Local name: Uses:
Rotan Tikus Chempaka utan,
Pekan heran, Mentiong • Medicine: Resin used to prepare mosquito
English name:
Uses:
repellent.
False rattan, bush cane, whip vine • Household: Used to make baskets. English name:
• Household: Ornamental plant.
Water Gardenia, Canbi Resin Tree
• Medicine: Young stems and leaves used as
shampoo to combat baldness. Leaves used Distinctive Features:
as plaster on wounds.
Flowers orange-yellow, petals shaped as a blunted
butter knife. Fruit interior bright orange-yellow.
Distinctive Features:
Climber with leaf tip curved into tendril.
Pink to orange coloured berries.
111 112

Glochidion General Description:

Erect shrub or small tree. The leaves are leathery
Gluta General Description:
Large shrub or small tree. Occasionally grows
littorale and shiny, with blunted tip, almost round shaped.
The flowers are small frequently green or yellowish-
velutina numerous and branched stilt roots. It has black-
stained trunk as it excude a clear sap that blacken

Bl. green colour, occur in clusters. No petals. The fruit is

red and partially covered with fine hairs. The top of Bl. as it exposes to the air, an indication it is of the
poisonous family tree, Anacardiaceae. Sap is known
EUPHORBIACEAE the fruit is slightly compressed, with longitudinal ANACARDIACEAE to cause blisters and blindness. Leaf veins are
grooves. It is also pinkish-white to reddish color. slightly raised on both leaf surfaces. The flower
Many small and bright red seeds encapsulated in a clusters at the ends of branches. Petals white, with
Local name: fruit. Found at coastal shrubs and open forests, on Local name: some pink along the edges. The pale brown fruit has
Jambu kera, Selensur tidal riverbanks, sea cliffs and peat swamp forests. Rengas ayer, Rengas pantai irregular tuber-like ridges, especially near the base,
often infested with ants. It occurs along banks of
English name: English name:
Uses: tidal rivers, often found submerged up to trunk in
Monkey apple Black Varnish Tree the freshwater or slightly brackish zone. Commonly
• Medicine: Leaves used to treat blood in stools, found at Nypa vegetation area (landward or fresh-
dysentery and tonsillitis. Concoction of leaves water edge of mangroves).
also used to treat stomachache. Also used for
childbirth bathing.
Uses:
• Food: Edible fruit.
• Source of timber.
Distinctive Features: Distinctive Features:
Flowers have no petals. Fruit is pinkish-white to
Black-stained trunk. Fruit is pale brown and has
reddish color with flattened top and longitudinal
irregular tuber-like ridges.
grooves.
113 114

Guettarda General Description:

Spreading shrub or small tree. It has many-stems,
Hernandia General Description:
Tree. Tree trunk is shortly buttressed as the base.
speciosa crooked, with a rounded crown. Leaves hairy on
both sides, leaf shape quite rounded with small
ovigera Leaves are large and almost heart at shaped. The
fragrant flowers are hairy and creamy-white. Fruit

Linn. pointed leaf tip. Flowers are white, fragrant and

trumpet-shaped. Yellow color at base of flower. L. has black hard seed encapsulated by a white or pink
fleshy and round exterior. The fleshy exterior has a
RUBIACEAE Flowers blooms at sunset and pollinated by moths. HERNANDIACEAE hole on the top, resembling a lantern. This plant
Fruits are acorn-like, with a fruit pith. It is green, is found at lowland rainforest on coastal plains
and then turns whitish or pinkish as it matures. and alluvial flats. Particularly found at Baringtonia
Local name: This plant occurs on rocky, sandy sea shores Local name: vegetation along the seashores.
Selar Makan and edge of mangrove. Buah keras laut
English name: English name:
Uses:
Uses:
Sea Randa, Beach Gardenia Sea Hearse, Jack-in-the-box Tree • Household: Oil from the seed used for
• Medicine: Bark used to treat dysentery, making candles and lamp oil.
wounds and abscesses.
Distinctive Features:
• Accessories: Fragrant flowers used as
hair accessories and necklaces for women. Almost heart-shape leaves. The fruits are white or
pink and fleshy exteriorly, and encapsulates a black
Distinctive Features: seed inside, lantern-like.
Fruit almost acorn-like.
115 116

Hibiscus General Description:

A spreading tree. Leaves are densely hairy with
Horsfieldia General Description:
Medium to tall tree. It is often with steep buttresses,
tiliaceus short hair underneath. Broad leaflets at the base of
the leaf stalk. Flowers have a distinctive “hibiscus-
irya sometimes stilt roots but produced knee-roots at
tidal areas. The tree crown often has drooping

L. like” appearance. When blooming (day blooming),

the color is pale yellow with a brownish-purple (Gaertn.) Warb. branches. Leaves arranged in two rows along a
twig, long and narrow with a pointed tip. Flowers
MALVACEAE centre. The flowers turn purple upon withering the MYRISTICACEAE are small and bright orange-yellow color, sweet
next day. Fruit when splits, opens into 5 segments lemon-scented. Fruits are round and smooth, where
with minutely hairy seeds. Very commonly found at at first yellow, then turn bright pinkish orange or
Local name: all sandy and rocky shores of South East Asia. It Local name: reddish. The flesh inside the fruit is pink, with a
Baru, Baru-baru, tends to also associate with mangrove areas and Pianggu, Penggu bright red seed coating. Found along rivers and
Bebaru, Bebaru bulu. river banks as well. Characteristics are very similar near coast, especially in swampy areas, in the
English name:
to Thespesia populnea. tidal zone and mangrove edge.
English name: Unknown
Sea Hibiscus Uses: Uses:
• Medicine: Roots are used as medicine • Household: Fruit used to extract wax which is
to treat fever. suitable for candle making.
• Ornamental: Shade tree in garden.
Distinctive Features:
Distinctive Features: Drooping branches. Flowers sweet lemon-scented.
Fruit with color range from pinkish orange to red.
Tree with yellow hibiscus flower at marine or
riverine areas. Fruit also readily open while still
on tree.
117 118

Intsia bijuga General Description:

A deciduous tree. Trunk slightly buttressed, with
Ipomea General Description:
Perennial herb. It has a thick taproot. Leaves have
(Colebr.) Kuntze spreading crown. Leaves are almost round and have
hairy lower midrib. Flowers have only 1 petal, with 4
pes-caprae a notched tip. Stems are long and creeping on the
sandy floor beach, rooted at the nodes. Flowers are
LEGUMINOSAE long red styles. Petal is white at first, later turning
red or orange. Fruit is flat pod. Grow at mangroves (L.) Sweet. funnel-shaped, with colour range from pink, reddish
purple or violet. Flowers bloom early morning and
and sandy beaches. A mangrove edge species, CONVOLVULACEAE wither by the afternoon. Fruit is round to slightly
Local name: often found at drier part of swamp areas. flattened dry capsule. Commonly found on sandy
Merbau ipil beaches but also at sea shores, occasionally along
Uses: Local name: waysides, ditches and canals.
English name:
Batata pantai,
Borneo Teak • Timber: Good and hard quality timber, with little Daun katang, Tapak kuda Uses:
shrinkage or warping, used for houses and
bridges. English name: • Medicine: Seeds used to treat stomachache and
Beach Morning Glory, Railroad Vine cramp. Leaves made into a poultice and applied to
• Medicine: Bark and leaves used to treat diarrhoea.
swellings, boils and ulcers. Juice of stems to treat
• Food: Seeds are fried, soaked for a few days, bites and stings.
then boiled and eaten.
Distinctive Features:
Distinctive Features: Purple “Morning glory” flowers creeping along
Flowers with white single petal and 4 long red the sandy beaches.
styles. Tall tree with spreading crown.
119 120

Kleinhovia General Description:

Small to medium sized tree. Trunk has powdery
Licuala General Description:
Medium sized palm. Leaves are fan-shaped and
hospita surface. Many plant parts hairy, such as twigs,
newly developed fruits and leaves. Leaves are
spinosa heavily armored with spines at leaf stalks. Fruits are
round, bright orange to red. It has preference for

L. almost heart-shape. Flowers grow in long clusters

that protrude out from the tree canopy in pink color, Wurmb. areas exposed to the sun. It occurs in open, swampy
ground and river banks in coastal areas. Also occurs
STERCULIACEAE upper flowers are yellowish. Fruit shape is similar to ARECACEAE at landward mangrove edge.
starfruit or carambola (Averrhoa carambola), where
it has thin walls. Found at open country and along Uses:
Local name: river banks, including tidal areas and landward edge Local name:
Temahau of mangroves. Also found in a variety of forest types Palas, Palas duri • Horticulture: Often cultivated in parks.
such as primary lowland forest, coastal forest and • Food: Leaves used largely as food wrappers,
English name: English name:
well developed secondary forest. where young leaves used to make ketupat palas.
Guest Tree Spiny licuala palm, Mangrove
Uses: fan palm, Good luck palm
Distinctive Features:
• Medicine: Bark and leaves are poisonous, Fan-shaped palm leaves.
used for removing ecto-parasites.
• Timber: Some finely patterned wood is used for
making much-prized handles of Javanese kris.

Distinctive Features:
Numerous long clusters of pink flowers protrude out
from the tree canopy. Leaves almost heart shape.
Fruit shape similar to starfruit.
121 122

Limahlania General Description:

A large tree with tiers radiating branches.
Melaleuca General Description:
Large shrub to tall evergreen tree. Crown is
crenulata Tree structure similar to Terminalia catappa (Sea
Almond). The trunk and branches are thorny but
cajuputi grayish-green and bushy. Bark whitish grey or
grayish-brown, often tinged with orange-brown

Maingay ex Clarke disappear as the tree matures. Large leaves with

rounded leaf tip and with tiny, round toothed Roxb. color, texture papery flaky. Crushed leaves has the
characteristic tea-tree-like smell. Young parts such
K.M. Wong & leaf edge. Leaves clusters at end of twigs. Very
prominent leaf veins on lower surface of leaf.
MYRTACEAE as twigs and leaves are covered with silky hairs.
Flowers are long and white, spear-like arrangement
S. Sugumaran Fragrant flowers, cream color, turning yellow with
age. Fruits are green, oval and fleshy. It occurs in Local name:
with a fluffy appearance (numerous stamens). Fruits
are small brown woody capsule. Found at swampy
GENTIANACEAE wet lowland habitats, tolerating full-strength sea Gelam, Kayu puteh ground near the coast and landward edge of
water. mangroves. It also coppices readily and can
English name:
withstand repeated fires.
Local name: Paperbark tree,
Uses:
Malabera, Birah White-wood, Melaleuca Uses:
• Urban forestry and land remediation: Roadside
English name: tree in Malaysia. It is also used for afforestation • Horticulture: Roadside plants.
Cabbage Tree of tin tailing as it is highly tolerant of heavy metals
• Fuel: Source of firewood.
and acidity.
• Construction: Wood is hardy and can withstand
• Wood: Used for piling and a source of firewood.
moist conditions and resist termites. Used in
construction.
Distinctive Features:
• Food: Honey production.
Trunk and branches have short thorns (young
plants). Leaf veins very prominent at leaf bottom. • Medicine: Leaves yield cajuput oil
(minyat angin in Malaysia).

Distinctive Features:
Flowers long white fluffy appearance. Bark papery
texture. Crushed leaves has tea tree oil smell.
123 124

Melastoma General Description:

Shrub. Leaves vary greatly in terms of
Morinda General Description:
Small evergreen tree. Leaves broad and fleshy.
malabathricum var. hairiness and shape, but most times
leaves are pointed at both ends (leaf
citrifolia The flower head has many “eyes”, where flowers
emerge and turn into fruit after fertilization. Flowers

malabathricum base and leaf tip). Flowers are purple

pink or white color (mostly purple), L. are white. When fruit ripens, is tolerant to a wide
range of habitats in terms of moisture conditions,
stamen and style are yellow. Fruits are soil fertility to alleviation. Widely cultivated, but
L. berries that turn deep purple (almost
RUBIACEAE
commonly found wild along the coast, including
black) when ripe, almost bell-shape. rocky coasts and landward mangroves edge. It is
MELASTOMACEAE An extremely variable species, with Local name: often infested with large red weaver ants. Rotting
many subspecies, varieties and forms Mengkudu besar, Mengkudu ripe fruit has a terrible stench.
Local name: recognized. Found in sunny and moist daun besar, Kemedu
Senduduk locations. Also at disturbed areas, Uses:
secondary scrub, river banks and
English name:
English name: landward edge of mangroves. Great Morinda, Indian Mulberry • Medicine: Leaves used in combination with
Singapore Rhododendron coconut to treat stomach disorders and childbirth
relief. Fruits used to treat wounds and taken as
Uses:
anti-diuretic.
• Medicine: A poultice of the leaves is
• Food: Fruit eaten raw with salt or with curry.
used to treat burns. Leaves used to
Young leaves eaten as vegetable.
treat diarrhoea and vaginal infections.
Roots used to treat rheumatism and • Dye: Root bark used to extract yellow to
arthritis. deep orange dye color.
• Food: Young leaves eaten as
vegetable. Fruits edible as well. Distinctive Features:
Egg-shaped fruits with many “eyes”.
Distinctive Features:
Purple pink or white flower with yellow
stamen and Style. Fruits are bell-shape,
almost black when ripe.
125 126

Oncosperma General Description:

Erect, very spiny, tall palm forming clumps.
Oxyceros General Description:
Semi-woody climber with inverted hook-like thorns
tigillarium Leaves are large, feather-like appearance. Leaves
are slightly grayish, giving the palm a silvery
longiflorus on the stems. Leaves wrinkled. Flowers are first
white and then turn yellow. Fruits are small,

(Jack.) Ridl. appearance. Leaf stalk is brown-scaly and very

thorny. Flowers grow in long cluster bunches. Male (Lam.) T. Yamazaki round, hard and green in colour.

ARECACEAE flower yellow color, shorter bunches and thicker. RUBIACEAE Uses:
Whereas the petals of female flowers are almost
round. Round fruit, that first dark green, later • Medicine: Most plant parts have medical
Local name: turning to very dark purple. Often found at the Local name: properties. Roots used as insecticidal and insect
Nikong, Nibung landward edge of mangroves, at the transition zone Akar berdara laut repellent. Seeds used as a tonic to induce appetite,
between mangroves and freshwater swamp forest. bark astringent used to treat diarrhoea and
English name: English name: dysentery.
Hollow stems are often occupied by small bat
Nibung Palm species.
Unknown
Distinctive Features:
Uses: White flowers, inverted hook-like thorns on stems,
• Timber: Hard and resistant to sea water, wood small, round and green fruits.
borers and termites. It is often used in coastal
construction as stakes of large straps and poles
supporting stilted coastal villages. Also used for
flooring when split into strips.
• Ornamental: Tall clumps of splaying trunks with
their fine, feathery crown makes it desirable in
a large park.

Distinctive Features:
Palm grow in clumps. Sharp thorns on stem. Fruit
dark purple when ripe.
127 128

Pandanus General Description:

An erect, evergreen, coarsely branched palm-like
Passiflora General Description:
Ground herb, occasionally a vine. Stems densely
tectorius tree. Stilt roots developed around the stem and
aerial roots from the branches. Leaves sword
foetida covered with long hairs. It has spiraling tendrils
that grows next to the leaves. Leaves are

Sol. shaped, arranged in spirals and with spiny leaf edge

and midrib. These spines are white or with dark tip, L. 3–lobed, yellowish green and sparsely hairy.
Leaves are also foul smelling when crushed.
PANDANACEAE slender and slightly curved. Male flower tiny and PASSIFLORACEAE Flowers are white color. Fruits are round berry,
fragrant, surrounded with large showy white bracts. glossy yellow to orange enclosed by a “soft
Female flower head also bract-surrounded, feathery cage” (which is actually modified
Local name: pineapple-like shape. The fruit have many prism-like Local name: leaves). It is an invasive species at some areas.
Pandan laut sections, resembling pineapple, orange or red color. Timun dendang, Occurs both in wet areas and areas with long
Found growing along the beaches where it prefers Timun padang, Timun hutan period of dry season. Also found at hedges,
English name:
sandy substrate. shrubs, wasteland, roadside, plantation and
Common Sea-shore Srewpine English name: mangrove edges.
Uses: Stinking Passion Fruit, Wild Water
Lemon, Love in a Mist Uses:
• Food: Edible fruits and leaves.
• Food: Young leaves eaten as vegetable.
• Handicraft: Leaves used for weaving baskets,
Seed aril tasty and edible (taste like cultivated
mats, hats and rope.
passion fruit but slightly bitter). Young fruit
poisonous.
Distinctive Features:
• Medicine: Parts of the entire plant used to
Fruits orange or red color, pineapple-like structure, treat coughs and sore throat.
with many separate-able prism-like sections.
• Ground cover: Planted to control Imperata
grass and erosion.

Distinctive Features:
Yellowish berry enclosed in a “soft feathery
cage”. Showy white flowers. Leaves are lobed.
129 130

Peltophorum General Description:

Small to medium tree. Tree crown is umbrella
Planchonella General Description:
Small to medium sized shrub or tree. White latex is
pterocarpum shaped. Brown hairs cover the young twigs. Leaves
are feather-like arrangement. Leaves shed after dry
obovata present in trunk and branches. It has a dense crown,
also bushy and coppery. The coppery appearance is

(DC.) K. Heyne spell. Flowers are sweet-scented and bright golden

yellow with deep orange pollen. Petals are crinkled (R.Br.) Pierre because the twigs, buds, leaf stalks and undersides
of young leaves are rusty brown and scruffy. Leaf
LEGUMINOSAE and wavy. Fruits are a purplish-brown pod and SAPOTACEAE tip rounded. Leaves usually velvety below and
winged all the way around. Found at rocky and smooth above. Flowers are small and greenish-
sandy shores, occasionally along mangrove edge white, said to smell like pandan. Fruits are small
Local name: or at limestone area. Local name: berry, sometimes woody, green. Commonly found
Jemerlang Laut Menasi, Misi at rocky and sandy sea coasts, inland sandy heaths,
English name:
Uses: English name:
limestone hills, secondary forests and occasionally
mangroves edge.
Yellow Flame • Ornamental: Planted as an ornamental or shade Sea Gutta
tree, especially along roadsides and in gardens.
Uses:
• Dye: Bark provides yellow-brown color used for
• Timber: Wood used as timber but cracks easily
dyeing batik cloth.
and not very durable.
• Medicine: Used to treat gastric disorders and
compresses are used to treat sprains. Distinctive Features:
• Agriculture: Leaves used to feed goats and cattle. Crown coppery in appearance.

Distinctive Features:
Bright showy yellow flowers. Leaves are feather-like
arrangement. Fruit purplish-brown pod and winged
all the way round.
131 132

Pluchea General Description:

Erect shrub or dwarf shrub. The whole plant
Podocarpus General Description:
Shrub or small tree. A conifer, hence, it produces
indica covered with short soft hairs, later becoming
smooth. Leaf edge is sharp and fine-toothed.
polystachyus seeds but not flowers. Leaves often crowded at
the twig tips and are narrowly long and pointed.

(L.) Less. Flowers are tiny, purplish or white, and thread-like.

Fruits are also tiny, with a ring of hairs at the top. R.Br. ex Endl. Male plants produce long cream colored cones
that release whitish, powdery pollen. Female
ASTERACEAE Seeds are fluffy and winged like silky parachutes PODOCARPACEAE plants produces cones which has a rounded part
to aid in wind dispersal. It grows on clay and saline attached which eventually becomes the red swollen
soils. Also likes sunny or slightly shaded areas. Often receptacle eaten by animals. Green ripe seed is
Local name: found in brackish marshes and other saline habitats Local name: attached at the bottom. Primarily found at sandy
Beluntas including mangroves, occasionally found in forested Podo laut, Jati bukit beaches but at poor soil areas as well such as
land at low elevation. limestone and coastal heath forest. Also can be
English name: English name:
found at swampy and landward edge of mangrove
Indian Fleabane, Indian Pluchea, Sea teak
Uses: forest.
Indian Camphorweed
• Medicine: Reduce fevers, used as a tonic to treat
Uses:
ulcers, and a diuretic ingredient for herbal baths.
Juice of leaves used to treat dysentery • Timber: Excellent timber,
used for furniture and house interior.
Distinctive Features:
• Horticulture: Cultivated in gardens.
Thread-like tiny purplish or white flowers.
Distinctive Features:
It has long and pointed leaves. Red swollen
receptacle attached to ripe green seed.
133 134

Pongamia General Description:

Tree. Crown is irregular in shape, shaggy and dense,
Premna General Description:
Small to medium tree, occasionally climbing or
pinnata but has large and wide canopy. Leaves are almost
heart-shape. Bark exude strongly crushed bean pod
obtusifolia straggling shrub. At sea shores, it may assume a
creeping/low shrub habit. Leaf shape is variable

(L.) Pierre odor. Flowers are purplish to pinkish-white, typical

pea flower shape, and strongly fragrant. Fruits are R. Br. with a pointed tip. Crushed leaves have a unpleasant
smell. Small flowers re greenish-white/yellow, grows
LEGUMINOSAE flat brown, bean-like pods that are somewhat oval VERBENACEAE in large bunched clusters. Fruits are small, round,
with a little beak at the tip, also smooth. Each pod reddish to black berries. A highly variable species,
contains one seed. Occurs at non-swampy beaches, hence lots of variation in leaves, habit and flower
Local name: occasionally at landward mangrove edge. Flowers Local name: clusters type. Grows in wide range of soil, but
Kacang kayu laut are very frequently transformed into round galls Sayur kambing prefers well-drained soils. Usually found near
which might be mistaken for fruits. the sea. Branches easily root when planted.
English name: English name:
Indian Beech Premna
Uses: Uses:
• Fishing: Poisonous seeds and • Timber: Hard and durable wood, and has
roots used as fish poison. an attractive pattern, used for machete handles.
• Medicine: Seeds yields pongam oil used for • Medicine: Leaves used to improve lactation.
medicinal purposes. Decoction of the leaves used Boiled leaves used to relieve itchiness.
to treat cough. Juice of leaves used for itches,
• Agriculture: Used as fodder for sheep and
herpes and gonorrhea. Young shoots used to treat
goats (hence the common name in Malay).
rheumatism.
• Ornamental: Unique trunk texture make it
• Ornamental: Commonly planted in tropical coastal
a preference for bonsai horticulture.
areas as it is salt and exposure tolerant. Also
planted as a shade tree along roads.
Distinctive Features:
Distinctive Features: Black berries. Greenish-white small flowers
in dense clusters.
Fruits are flat smooth pods, almost oval shape with
a little beak at the tip. Canopy is large and wide.
135 136

Ricinus General Description:

A large, smooth, woody herb or small tree. Leaves
Sarcolobus General Description:
Twining, shrubby climber. It is
communis are hand-shaped with pointed leaf tip, leaf edge
saw-toothed. Leaves and stems are often reddish
globosus sparsely hairy on the upper leaf surface,
especially on the veins. Flowers are small

L. green. Flowers have no petals and arranged in a

spear-like cluster arrangement. Male flowers are Wall. and starry, yellow with longitudinal purple
streaks. Fruits are warty and brown,
EUPHORBIACEAE yellowish-green and female flower with 3 red stigmas. ASCLEPIADACEAE almost round shape. The thick fleshly
Fruits are spherical spiny capsules, at first green, later part of the fruit is rich in milky latex.
turning brown, covered with soft spines. When ripe, it Commonly found at muddy mangrove.
Local name: splits open to release pale-silvery coloured seeds that Local name: Seeds that retain their wing-like edge
Jarak is marked with many black lines and stripes, zebra-like Kambing-kambing, float on water.
pattern. Occurs at landward edge of mangroves, and Peler kambing
English name:
at waste ground as weeds. Seed coat is poisonous Uses:
Castor Oil Plant to animals.
English name:
Unknown • Food: The fruit peel is used for
making preservatives, after being
Uses:
soaked in salt water for three days
• Medicine: Production of castor oil which is used and subsequently boiled in syrup.
as a lubricant and purgative. Leaves used to treat Also used in making sambal.
headaches, as a poultice for boils and as a cure
• Poison: Seeds are poisonous.
for rheumatism.
• Agriculture: Oil cake used as fertilizer. Leaves Distinctive Features:
used as fodder. Leaves used to feed silkworms.
• Poison: Seeds have poisonous protein (ricinin). Climber with brown warty almost round
fruit. Flower starry shape, yellow color.
Distinctive Features:
Leaves hand-shaped and pointed leaf tip, leaf edge
saw-toothed. Distinctive zebra-patterned seeds.

Male Flower Female Flower

137 138

Scaevola General Description:

Robust, erect or spreading shrub occasionally
Sesuvium General Description:
Spreading, creeping and succulent perennial
taccada develops into a small tree. Leaves are succulent
and densely crowded at end of branches. Flowers
portulacastrum herb. Stems are bright red that roots at the
nodes. Flower is star-shaped with a yellow

(Gaertn.) Roxb. are white or pale yellow and covered with fine white
hair, wavy flower edge. It has a distinctive “half (L.) L. pointed tip. Flowers are pink with numerous
pink or pinkish-violet stamens, with a yellow
GOODENIACEAE flower” shape with style curving over the petals. AIZOACEAE center. Fruit is capsule-like, round and smooth.
Petals sometime have violet stripes. Fruits are white Commonly found in dense patches along
and fleshy. Typically found in beach communities, landward mangrove edge, mudflats, sand dunes
Local name: especially at sand dunes. Also occurs on rocky Local name: and in areas that are irregularly inundated by
Ambong-ambong, beaches and in mangrove communities but only Saruni Air tides. Also found at rocky beaches between
Merambong, Pelampong in sandy, well-drained areas. coastal fish ponds and along tidal creeks.
English name:
English name: Sea Purslane
Uses: Uses:
Sea-lettuce Tree
• Medicine: Many parts of this plant used as • Food: Edible leaves after washing thoroughly
ingredient in local medicines. and properly cooked.
• Timber: Small wood size but resistant to
Distinctive Features:
sea water and used for making nails for canoes.
Creeping herb. Bright red stems. Flowers are
• Household: Pith of young twigs can be easily
pink with numerous pink stamens.
carved into ornaments (such as small flowers,
birds etc.)

Distinctive Features:
White “half-flower” shape with a style curving over
the petals.
139 140

Stachytarpheta General Description:

Erect, large woody herb or dwarf shrub.
Terminalia General Description:
Medium to tall deciduous tree. It grows in typical
jamaicensis Old stems often marked with white blotches.
Leaves are dark green, with wrinkled appearance
catappa pagoda-shaped tree architecture. Leaves are large
spatula-shaped and clusters heavily at branch tip.

(L.) Vahl. between the secondary leaf venation. Leaf edges

are saw-toothed-like. Flowers are dark violet L. Leaves turn orange or red before dropping. Flowers
are white or pale green (sepals), no petals. It is
VERBENACEAE arranged on very long spear-like arrangement. COMBRETACEAE star-shaped and grow on a long cluster spear-like
Occurs at sunny or slightly shaded areas. Also arrangement. Male flowers at end whereas female
found at moist areas, waysides, secondary at bottom. Fruit is somewhat almond-shaped,
Local name: forest, rice field, along streams, landward edge Local name: green and turns yellow as it ripens. It is thick and
Blue Snakeweed of mangroves, and brackish water fishponds. Ketapang has a fibrous outer coating that aids in water
Often grows gregarious. dispersal. Occurs at sandy or rocky beaches
English name: English name:
and on the landward edge of mangroves.
Blue Porterweed, Indian or Singapore Almond
Uses:
Light-blue snakeweed Uses:
• Medicine: To treat rheumatism, throat
infections, and as an anti-diuretic and • Ornamental: Often planted as shade-tree.
for purifying the blood.
• Timber: Good quality reddish wood,
• Ornamental: Planted as hedge for used for house, boat building and planks.
fencing of fields.
• Food: Edible fruit kernel, has fatty oil
similar to almond oil.
Distinctive Features:
• Medicine: Tannin of bark used as an astringent
Dark violet flowers growing on very long
to treat dysentery and leather tanning. Leaves
spear-like arrangement.
applied to treat rheumatism.

Distinctive Features:
Pagoda-shaped tree where leaves turn orange
or red before seasonal shedding. Flowers are
star-shaped.
141 142

Thespesia General Description:

Tree. Young leaves with brown scale. Leaves
Vitex ovata General Description:
Shrub, ground lying to creeping, occasionally a small
populnea heart-shaped and shiny green. Old leaves sometimes
have hollow cavity (that may house ants) located
Thunb. tree. Entire plant especially the leaves are strongly
aromatic. Leaves covered with silky hairs. Flowers

(L.) Soland. between the main leaf veins at leaf base. Main leaf
veins are yellowish and distinct. Flowers are bell-
VERBENACEAE are purplish mauve to lilac blue, surface is hairy.
Fruits are dark (reddish) brown when dry and
ex Correa shaped, light yellow with a purple center. Fruit is
compressed round to broadly egg-shaped, green Local name:
round. It is a highly variable species. Found as beach
vegetation, on sandy dunes and sandy landward
and turning brown as it ripens. Occurs at sandy Lenggundi, Lagundi, edges of mangroves.
MALVACEAE Lemuning, Muning, Demundi
and rocky areas, towards the landward edge of
mangroves. Seeds are water dispersed and
English name: Uses:
Local name: remain dormant in seawater for many months,
Bebaru Chaste Beery, Vitex, Chasteberry, • Medicine: Used as female remedy, to suppress
hence it has wide distribution.
Monk’s pepper, Cloister pepper sexual desire, controlling and regulating the
English name: female reproductive system. Can help control
Indian Tulip Tree,
Uses:
acne.
Pacific Rosewood, Portia Tree • Timber: Light timber source and fibre.
• Household: Kept in cupboards to deter
• Medicine: Leaves and fruits used as medicine. cockroaches.
• Ornamental: Planted as roadside tree.
Distinctive Features:
Distinctive Features: Many plant parts are velvety hairy.
Flowers are purple.
Young leaves have brown scale. Leaf heart-shaped
with distinct leaf veins. Fruits not readily opening
while still attached to tree.
143

Wedelia General Description:

Straggling to climbing perennial herb. Stem is
REFERENCES
biflora angular. Flowers are bright yellow sunflower-like
(same family as sunflowers). Occurs mainly along Burkill, I. H. 1993. A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Products of the

(L.) DC. or near the coast, at sandy beaches and mangrove

edges. May also occur in coconut plantation, dry
Malay Peninsula. 3rd printing. Publication Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia,
Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-1240; volume 2: 1241- 2444.
ASTERACEAE rice fields, river banks and in secondary forests.
Field, C.D. 1995. Journey Amongst Mangrove. International Society For
Uses: Mangrove Ecosystem. South China Printing, Hong Kong. 140pp.
Local name:
Daun Songa • Medicine: Used for external application such Giesen, W., S. Wulffraat, M. Zieren & L. Scholten. 2006. Mangrove guidebook for
as cuts, insect bites, ulcers, sores, scabies and Southeast Asia. FAO and the Pacific & Wetlands International. 769 pp.
English name: swelling. Juice from leaves taken internally to
Beach sunflower, Wedelia treat constipation, stomach pain and abdomen Kitamara, S., C. Anwar, A. Chaniago & S. Baba. 1997. Handbook of Mangroves in
healing after childbirth. Roots to treat gonorrhea. Indonesia, Bali and Lombok. JICA and ISME. 119 pp.
Flowers a violent purgative.
Mastaller, M. 1997. Mangroves: The Forgotten Forest Between Land and Sea.
• Ground cover: To prevent erosion and water loss. Tropical Press, Kuala Lumpur. 200pp.
Distinctive Features: Nilus, R., A.Y.C. Chung, J.T. Pereira, J.B. Sugau, J. Tangah, S. Sabran & R.F.Y.
Yellow sunflower-like flowers for climbing herb. Chong. 2010. Mangrove of Sabah – An Introduction to the Flora and Fauna.
Sabah Forestry Department. 151 pp.

Peter, .K. L. Ng & N.Sivasothi. 1999. A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore I:

The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity. Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.

Polunin, I. 1994. Plants and Flowers of Malaysia. Times Editions Pte. Ltd, Singa-
pore. 160 pp.

Primavera, J.H., R.S. Sadaba, M.J.H.L. Lebata & J.P. Altamirano. 2004. Handbook
of Mangroves in the Philippines – Panay. SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department,
Iloilo, Philippines. 106 pp.

Tan, R. 2008. Text index of land plants on Singapore shores. Retrieved from
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/plantindex.htm

Tomlinson, P. B., 1986. The Botany of Mangroves. Cambridge University Press,

Cambridge, U.K. 419 pp.

Watson, J.D. 1928. Mangrove Forests of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest
Records No. 6. 275 pp.

Wong, K.M. & M. Sugumaran. 2012. Studies in Malesian Gentianaceae II: A

taxonomic framework for the Fragraea complex, including the new genus
Limahlania. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 64(2): 481 – 495.
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