Found throughout the tropics, especially along coastal beaches, Porcupine’s Bell is a sun-loving, woody shrub with small, paired leaves and bright yellow flowers. The fruits are typical leguminous pods and blacken when ripe. A rattling sound is produced when the ripened pod is shaken. The flowers are highly attractive to butterflies alike the Common, Black-veined and Dark Glassy Tigers.

The Sea Almond or Ketapang is a fast growing tree that can easily attain a height of 30 metres. It is found naturally along sandy coasts throughout the Pacific and is highly tolerant of salt spray. The branches are arranged in flat, horizontal tiers, giving the tree a distinctive pagoda form. The Sea Almond is one of our few deciduous trees – twice a year, the leaves turn yellow, orange and finally a deep red before shedding, giving the landscape an autumnal ambience. The almond shaped fruits are dispersed by water and bats, which feed on the outer covering and discard the rest.

The Sea Bean is found prostrate along sandy beaches and rocky shores. It is easily recognizable by its nearly round, trifoliate leaves and pink flowers. The flowers are sweet scented and attract bees, which pollinate them. The fully developed fruits are about 15 centimetres long, and are black and woody when ripe. The flowers are used for flavouring and the seeds are edible when thoroughly cooked.

Rather rare in Singapore, Selunsar merah is found along rivers, coasts and forest. A medium sized tree, it can grow to 25 metres tall. It is an efficient colonizer and is often found growing on landslide areas. The bark is very smooth and beautifully patterned with hues of orange, brown, pink and grey. The heavy, durable wood is used for construction work in exposed conditions, like beams and posts for houses, bridges, wharves and jetties.

The Pacific Rosewood is rare in Singapore and occurs along beaches and at the back of mangroves. It has heart shaped leaves, and attractive pale yellow flowers that turn red and eventually purple with age. The wood, when soaked in water, produces an orange-yellow solution that dyes wool a deep brown. The young leaves can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable, and the sap is used in traditional medicine as an ointment for skin diseases.

From Ubin Tides, an NParks Publication