The urban-sprawl is in our midst, spreading its tentacles not only radically, but also skywards. These urban-octopuses look both sterile and dehumanizing. Modern buildings with their emphasis on functional and minimalistic design fail at times to consider the aesthetics. True, attempts are being made to preserve Singapore’s old charms and masterpieces of time but the results are unimaginatively restored to look urbane and conforming.

The old buildings and houses in the city, although tarnished by time, testify to that human aspect of our lives…imperfect but down to earth. On them, nature shows its tenacity by finding a foothold on concrete. The presence of vegetation on buildings is a sign of coexistence.

Most of the ferns found in this survey are epiphytes, normally found perched on trees with their roots more or less exposed to the air or covered in humus. Other plants found here, while looking like epiphytes, are normally terrestrial. All these plants are rooted on walls and in wall crevices where dirt and detritus, either wind borne or from crumbling concrete, have accumulated. For their survival, these ‘urban epiphytes’ collectively speaking, have to adapt to varied conditions like exposure, water stress and strong wind.

Spores and microscopic organisms are prevalent in the air. Old walls offer a unique habitat for their proliferation. The presence of algae and lichens will prepare the way for mosses and other pioneers like ferns to grow. As wind-blown particles and dirt build up, higher plants including garden escapes like pot-herbs used for medicine and ornamental purposes will make their appearance when their seeds or propagules land by chance. Fig trees brought in by birds seem to luxuriate in this seemingly harsh urban setting.

The search for urban epiphytes took me to backlanes and urban renewal sites in parts of the city. I was anxious to photograph such occurrences before they all disappear.

New buildings that have come up during the last forty years of progress are less conducive habitats for plants, one of the reasons being that modern buildings use more steel, glass and synthetic materials.

Footholds for plants to establish like rain gutters, surface drain pipes, ledges, balconies and ornate fittings are largely missing in the new-age design. Many of the pre-World War II, and colonial buildings have either been demolished or restored, minus urban epiphytes.

There is a genuine case for getting rid of destructive big fig trees which can tear down walls once they get established. But for other species, perhaps we need to modify our views and try to accept and conserve them at some cost.

With the move towards roof-top and vertical greenery, a real challenge is to further introduce, establish and maintain such ‘Gardens in the Sky’. These ‘urban epiphytes’ or should I coin the term ‘urban ecophytes’ are nature’s curiosity that are universally seen in the cities of the world.

Ali Ibrahim
Pulau Ubin
(From Gardenwise-The Newsletter of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Vol XVIII, January 2002 ISSN 12-1688)