Filicium decipiens - Fern-leaf tree

The plant
The fern-leaf tree is commonly known as so for its fern-like symmetrical leaves/leaflets. It is welcomed as a shade-provider for its dense crown.

The picture was taken on one of the evenings when everything is tinged with the orange like that of a 40-watt, warm light-bulb that you're guilty of not being eco-friendly enough.

I like how a yellow-green hue of the leaves were brought out. This colour is under-observed and not often appreciated - because it is usually too hot to think of anything when the sunlight is shining so orangely.

The personal-take
When I first noticed the tree, I didn't like it very much for being too bushy on a too-thin, flimsy trunk - it gave me the impression that it was too eager.

This tree was on the hot-planting-list about 2 years ago, I think, as I thought I saw it being planted rather commonly.

Nowadays, I appreciate its symmetry - that the crown is very naturally round (requiring little trimming), and the colour is very even because the leaves are so dense... but still wonder if it's too bushy to deserve its popularity. Perhaps I'm just not very used to bushy trees yet.

Of course, the "fern-leaf" reminds me of the milk powder/formula brand - totally unrelated.

Archontophoenix alexandra - Alexander Palm

The Plant
The Archontophoenix alexandra or Alexander Palm is quite common in landscapes. It used to be one of plants featured in "primary school textbook" - I feel it's like the yellow flame tree of palms because it's just as common. I think its popularity is perhaps partially due to how they are easy to maintain. It seems that landscapers like this palm so much that they even introduced similar ones - the Betel nut palm, the fox tail palm, and especially the carpentaria palm, from which it is difficult to distinguish the Alexander palm from. After comparing the photos, I think the one-distinguishing feature is the string-like flowers/inflorescence and vivid red fruits. The leaves are pinnate, arranged in a v-shaped formation.

The Pictures
I found it challenging to capturing the images of the tall palm trees - it was difficult to get the distinguishing features, and yet balance the composition of the frame - so that it was neither too sparse nor contained other clutter.

For the first time, I edited the pictures a bit (i'm usually too lazy) to adjust the colour, as it was taken with a strange white balance, thus the 2 pictures (taken at the same occasion) have different-coloured-sky. I hope my efforts helped to bring out the vivid red of the berries.

The Personal-take
Along the way from my home to the nearest bus-stop, I would have to walk pass a row of Alexander palm - the strings of jewel-like red beads of fruits are really cheerful.

I like the name, 'Alexander palm', after Princess Alexandra of Denmark. It reminds me, however, of the people named 'Alex' that I used to hang out, but have since drifted apart from then... A tinge of nostalgia, perhaps.

Phoenix roebelenii - Miniature date palm

The Plant & The Pictures
The Phoenix roebelenii seems to be enjoying some popularity recently, being featured in quite many new landscapes.

With a simple shape - a slender trunk and attractive bushy leaves - they should be quite easy to use in an arrangement.

I wonder though, if the feature on the left is an effective landscaping design. As the date plants grow higher, the height of the plants are bound vary, and the proportion of crown (the upper part of the tree, i.e. the part above the trunk) to the trunk and the proportion of the arrangement would be, well, out of proportion. Although I know that, by that time, the plants would most probaby be replaced (it's probably cheaper to replace than properly maintain), I wonder if it's being fair to the plants themselves, for not being...able to live out their full potential/ lifespan.

The Personal-take
I didn't think much of the plant when I took the pictures, but after researching on them and staring at them for sometime. I feel that they have a very classic outline and elegant form. It must be difficult to shape the trunk though.

Plumeria Rubra - The frangipani or chempaka or egg flower

The plant
Some time ago, the Plumeria Rubra was probably better known as the Frangipani. However, since the frangipani has quite bad press (for being associated with death, being usually planted at graveyards), I suspect, the local landscapers began to promulgate the name "plumeria". My mother calls it the egg flower, which I suspect is another name for the frangipani.

Very popular for its variety of colourful flowers, and its low maintenance need, the plumeria seems ideal for planting at the traffic islands at cross road junction, which are landscapes understandably difficult to maintain. Perhaps, it is ideal for planting at traffic islands also because it is not bushy (I suspect, when it is exposed to the sun, as seen from the bare tree on the left), thus, it doesn't obscure road signs.

The picture
The picture above was taken at Ang Moh Kio park from an overhead bridge. The silver skeleton of the plumeria gives off a cool feeling to the hot afternoon from after.

The picture (right) featuring a more typical popular plumeria plant, was taken along the road, somewhere in Eastern Singapore, if I remember correctly. The showy flowers were really very attractive and beckoning, especially how they were hanging down from above.

The personal-take
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the plumeria. Although I concede that it is very attractive and functional (with the low maintenance required), I can't help but feel that they're rather superficial. Perhaps, it's gotta do with how they have brittle branches which cannot withstand strong wind, and I like wind.

Maybe they don't mind getting their branches a little chipped, and the wind don't mind breaking it a little, and nobody minds anything, and I'm should just mind my own business and let everybody be happy.

Araucaria heterophylla - Norfolk pine

The Plant
The Norfolk pine, or Araucaria heterophylla, came from Norfolk island, a small island in the Pacific ocean. It has a distinctive shape and makes a great silhouette.

The picture and personal take

I'm not sure if I'm featuring the Norfolk pine here, or Cook's pine (Araucaria Columnaris or New Caledonian Pine), but after comparing the silhouette/ description, i think i'm closer to Norfolk pine.

The pictures were taken somewhere near city hall. I like how the colour of the tree contrasts with the church.

Peltophorum pterocarpum - The Yellow Flame Tree

The Plant
The Yellow Flame tree, or Peltophorum pterocarpum is a common wayside tree that has been around for ages, steadily growing to provide shade around our nation. It used to be the 'every-other-tree', but I seem to notice that in recent years, there are increasingly diverse trees being planted and the yellow flame is not exactly everywhere anymore. I suppose the road-sweepers may welcome the change, as they must be quite lot of work when they shed their tiny leaflets, often after dry weather. It came from the coastal areas of Peninsula Malaysia.

The Picture
Rather than featuring the Yellow Flame tree with an obvious picture of it blooming with its bright yellow inflorescence, I thought this was a nice take of the tree with its purple seedpods. These seed pods may remain on the tree for several months. Taken one evening at Dhoby Ghaut while watching the Thaipusam festival.

The personal-take
I remember that from a kitchen's window from my grandma's house, which was at the 4th floor of a HDB block, I would see 4 yellow flame trees. I used to imagine that these 4 trees were crazy and at odds with each other, because neither of them would ever bloom, shed, bear new fruit, or sprout new leaves at the same time. Still, it was nice to observe the four different seasons at one time.

My grandma has since moved. Perhaps I should visit back one day to see how the trees are doing.

I don't think just one post is enough to do the Yellow flame tree justice.

Caryota No - Giant Fishtail Palm

The Plant & Picture
Also known as the Caryota No, the trunks contain a starch that can be used to make sago. Sometimes I don't know how I can miss noticing the Giant Fishtail palms around me. It's a giant as seen in the picture on top, it easily grows to be as tall as a 5-storey carpark, dwarfing the other trees around it.

The picture (right most) also features the inflorescence, which can reach up to 2 metres in length. I think it looks like dread locks. Very pretty.

The Personal-take
Taken from the top level of the carpark at Ang Moh Kio central (it's really crowded on Sundays), I got a close up shot of the sprouting new leaf. I really like the different patterns and texture of the leaves when looked at from different perspective.

A Pair of Trees Full of Ferns

Oncosperma tigillaria - Nibong

The Plant
The Nibong palm has a nice name, no? Very catchy.
This palm originated from the mangrove swamps.
Researching about it in the older guidebooks, i suspect it was grown as an ornamental feature in parks and gardens - they're attractive in clumps. The newer guidebooks have excluded it. Perhaps their sharp spikes made them too hazardous?

The Pictures
Taken at Macritchie nature reserve.

The Personal-take
I most like how the sun shines from behind the spikes and make them look so quiet, exquisite and... fragile, ironically.
Whilst most plants with thorny parts are "defensive on the outside" but "soft on the inside", the Nibong is reported to have hard wood - used to support kelongs as it can withstand salt water.

Bird's-Nest Fern

The Plant
The "Bird's-Nest Fern" is actually a common name to refer to several species of the plant group, Asplenium genus, such as the "crow's-nest fern" and the "wild-bird's-nest fern".

The Photos
Usually growing high in the trees (above), the bird's nest makes an interesting silhouette. The particular fern below, though, was at a nice (low) height for a top down photo.

The Personal-take

If you don't remember anything from our primary-school science text-book (i'm referring to those who were born in the 1970s-80s)... you must at least remember the bird's nest fern right... When I was young, I really thought birds made nests out of these things. Something like a pelican would need such big nests. Come to think about it, I don't know why birds don't make nests out of these convenient looking homes.

These days, I observed that bird's nest ferns can grow to quite big... While this makes them look more majestic and grand by themselves, I do wonder if they kind of steal the limelight away from the trees, instead of playing a more "complementary" role.

Although, really, who said that they were supposed to be complementary anyway.

Sterculia Parviflora - Kelumpang Burong

The Picture... of a strange red thing

Came across this strange looking thing in a park in an estate.


The Plant & Personal-take

The plant is native to Singapore (from here to Northeast India). It was in the 2006 IUCN Red List for endangered species, so I guess it's good that they're planting it around. (Picture above shows a young plant, I think.)

Sterculia is taken from "Sterculius" (the god of manure) of Roman mythology. This is referring to the unpleasant aroma of the flowers of this genus.

This tree is a member of the mallow family (malvaceae) along with the hibiscus and durian. Staring at the red thing, which is actually a fruit (and not a flower as I first thought), I feel it does bear a strange resemblance to the hibiscus flower (in colour and contours?) and the durian fruit (as it too, splits up with weird seeds inside).