Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
flower
power
SINGAPORE
GARDEN
FESTIVAL 2010
A gift from the rain
forest - yams in history,
food, sex and medicine
Bamboozled
by Southeast
Asias bamboos
Revisiting the
Gardens masterplan
VOLUME 35, JULY 2010
24
Regular Features
10
Education Kindergarten
6 Conference 2010
Winnie Wong
Book Review
37 The Ginger Garden
Mark Hughes
Research Fellows
38 Botanical research fellows in
the Gardens 2009 2010
Articles Benito C. Tan, Serena Lee
10 Bamboozled by Southeast
Asias bamboos
Cover 29 Khoon Meng Wong
The Man Who Planted Trees,
Singapore Garden Festival
14 The re-discovery & conservation of
Editors Bulbophyllum singaporeanum
Chin See Chung Yam Tim Wing, Paul K F Leong, Derek Liew,
Mark Hughes Chew Ping Ting, William Ng Kar Huat
Kho Soo Pei
18 Revisiting the Gardens masterplan
Production Managers Peter How
Christina Soh
Mak Sin Chang 24 Flower Power Singapore Garden
Design Festival 2010
Splash Productions Pte Ltd Terri Oh
Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 National Parks Board
nparks_sbg_visitor_services@nparks.gov.sg www.sbg.org.sg www.nparks.gov.sg
message
from the director
On July 17 it poured outside the Suntec 42,000 species is less than 25% completed.
Convention Centre, causing flash floods However natural habitats are rapidly being lost
in parts of Singapore. Within its cool, with the consequent lost of species.
comfortable cocoon on levels four and six,
thousands of visitors enjoyed spectacular Plant species play critical roles in the natural
garden and floral displays, attended talks or ecosystem, play socio-cultural-religious roles
floristry demonstrations, shopped, or discussed and sustain societies. Many have vital economic
plants, gardens and flowers with experts and pharmaceutical value. Some have in the
present. It was the 3rd Singapore Garden past stimulated voyages of discovery or caused
Festival, a spectacular and inspiring show not social upheavals and have changed the course
to be missed, and 300,000 did not. of human history. Today, there are species that
remain unknown to science that may have
All members of the Gardens were actively the potential to provide incalculable benefits
involved with the show, working together as to all humankind. The task of exploration,
a team with the Garden Festival organising documentation and research has never been
crew. They were aided by hundreds of their more urgent.
colleagues from the National Parks Board and
volunteers. From 5 July when we took over As a garden and botanical institution with a
the space at Suntec, till show-time from 15 to long history of achievement in taxonomic
the 22, many of us were literally camped in the research we will continue to strengthen our
cavernous halls of levels four and six. research capabilities and take a leadership
position in documentation of the flora of the
An event like this illustrates perfectly the region. The Gardens has been supportive of
incredible capacity, creativity, energy and Flora Malesiana since its inception. We are
productivity of a motivated and collaborative therefore especially pleased to be able to host
team who are able to work long hours this symposium for the first time in Singapore,
together to stage complex multi-faceted and significantly, during the International Year
events. This success follows closely after the of Biodiversity.
successes in 2009 when we celebrated the
Gardens 150th anniversary by staging many While botanic gardens around the world
public events linked to our scientific and social celebrate the Year of Biodiversity, they will also
heritage, and history. need to review their individual strategies to
promote and implement conservation efforts.
As activities go somewhat back to normal after Botanic gardens as the only global net-work
the Festival, we resumed planning for a number of institutions dedicated to conservation have
of events that are important to our scientific a critical role to play in this area as well as to
and social roles. Three years ago, taking communicate plants and conservation to the
cognizance of the fact that the United Nations public. In addition to specialist events like the
had declared 2010 as the International Year of Flora Malesiana Symposium , the Gardens will
Biodiversity, we successfully bid to stage the 8th continue to stage public events to reflect its
International Flora Malesiana Symposium. science, history and public roles. The Gardens
team is working hard at this and our many
This Symposium is held once every three visitors will continue to be able to delightfully
years. It is the most important platform for connect with plants and the environment.
research exchange on the plant diversity of
the Malesian floristic region that includes
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Wong Wei Har
Brunei, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea.
This region contains the second largest rain
forest blocks in the world. Preparations for
the flora of the region started in the 1930s.
Today more than 60 years later, taxonomic
documentation of this rich flora of some
1
Thejewels,
The jewels,
the cheats
the cheatsand and
the one-day
the one-day
wonders
wonders
2
You could almost categorise
them as horticultural rejects.
I am referring to the other orchids. The ones that do not bask in the limelight
except perhaps in scientific publications. They dwell most happily in the forest,
though occasionally, they may have to dodge the pilfering hands that could render
them as sought-after rare collectibles.
These are the species orchids of Southeast Asia and many of them are unglamorous
looking. They may not compare well to the horticultural chiseled looks of
Dendrobium phalaenopsis, the showy Vanda dearei, the dainty slipper orchid,
Paphiopedilum sanderianum or the proud beauty of Phalaenopsis amabilis that has
spawned multitudes of man-made hybrids. But they are inspiringly unique and have One day wonder: Dendrobium crumenatum
charming characters of their own. This article features three groups of species.
Paul Leong
Herbarium
Photos by Paul Leong
3
A spreading alien
fern in Singapore -
Tectaria incisa Cavanilles
4
The introduction of alien plants into
Singapore, intentionally or not, from other Tectaria incisa, can
regions of the world has a long history.
Often, plants with beautiful foliage and
grow up to about
colourful flowers and fruits are brought
to the island as garden plants. While
0.5 m in height.
many of these exotic plants fail to find It was probably
a niche outside the gardens without
human intervention, some do. Among first introduced to
the increasing number of introduced
alien plants that subsequently become Singapore in 1907
naturalised in situ, there is a little known
fern, Tectaria incisa.
as shown by a
Originally from Central and South
specimen collected
America, the exotic T. incisa belongs to from Bukit Mandai
the family Tectariaceae and was also
known under the synonym T. martinicensis kept at the Gardens
(Spreng.) Copel. Like other members
of the family, it can be recognised easily
Herbarium and
in the field by its large and somewhat
pinnately divided fronds that have
originally named
variously anatomosing veins, which Tectaria sp.
form numerous enclosed spaces called
areoles. In addition, the stipe, which is the first record of the species in 1907,
light to dark brown, is sparsely scaly. The this alien fern has spread further inland. A
pinnae or leaflets of the compound leaf 2009 survey of the island plant diversity
are entire in outline, and at most slightly revealed its presence in the Tyersal
undulating. In large plants, the basal pinna forest adjacent to the Singapore Botanic
has a downward pointing extension, the Gardens. Similarly, it was collected early in
basiscopic lobe. Likewise, the terminal 2010 from a forested site at MacRitchie
pinnae are lobed and, thus, having a fork- Reservoir Park by the second author.
like appearance. On the under surface
of mature and fertile fronds, rows of Already a weedy fern known in other
indusiate sori are positioned on the parts of the world, the spread of this fern
anastomosing veins, along both sides of across the island within a century is slow
the costules. The indusium is round to but alarming. It reflects the potential of
kidney shaped and attached to the leaf a non-indigenous fern to invade into the
blade at its margin. Habitat wise, this islands remaining primary and secondary
species favours disturbed and slightly forests, possibly threatening native ferns.
shady environments. Although at present, populations of
T. incisa remain to be found near and
Tectaria incisa, can grow up to about around forest edges, the possibility that
0.5 m in height. It was first recorded it will invade the natural forests remain.
Top:
in Singapore in 1907 as shown by a Further monitoring of the spread of A compound leaf of Tectaria incisa showing the
specimen collected from Bukit Mandai this species is needed to protect the fork-like terminal pinna or leaflet, and also two
native fern species on the island from basal pinnae, each with a downward extension
kept at the Gardens Herbarium and of a basiscopic lobe.
originally named Tectaria sp. Subsequently, being displaced.
Bottom:
the species was grown in the Plant House A historical specimen of Tectaria incisa collected
of the Gardens under its old binomial, T. A similar case on hand in Singapore is in 1922 from the Plant House of the Gardens by
martinicensis, as shown by two herbarium the establishment and spread of another R.E. Holttum and named Tectaria martinicensis.
specimens made by the former director alien fern, Adiantum latifolium Lamarck, an
Top, page 4:
of the Gardens, Prof. R. E. Holttum, in the introduced ornamental fern from tropical A mature plant of Tectaria incisa showing
years 1918 and 1922. About four decades America that has spread across the entire the pinnately compound leaf. Seen in the
background is the other invasive fern species,
later, the same species was spotted again island in semi-open places. Adiantum latifolium.
off Bukit Timah Road, an indication that
Benito C. Tan Bottom, page 4:
the fern had gradually gained expansion Herbarium A close up photo of the sori of Tectaria incisa
of range, probably through garden showing the location of each sorus inside an
activities and a subsequent escape from Jon Tan Siu-Yueh enclosed space of areole. Note the indusium of
the sorus is round to kidney shaped.
cultivation. Today, after 103 years since DBS, NUS
5
Dioscorea alata leaves are heart-shaped while the
square stems have narrow purple wings.
6
There are over 600 species of Dioscorea There are however, certain areas of the
world where root and tuber crops are
(family Dioscoreaceae) distributed still important as carbohydrate staples.
They are, for example, an important food
throughout the tropical world with in many parts of West Africa where they
also play a significant role in socio-religious
a few from temperate regions. life. In Nigeria and Ghana, an annual Yam
Festival is held to celebrate this food and
Sago or starch from palms was to offer it to gods and ancestors as a
Today, the peoples of tropical and
extracted chiefly from the swamp sago, thanks giving. Today, Nigeria is by far the
sub tropical Asia predominantly have
Metroxylon sagu, and to a lesser extent worlds largest producer of yams.
cultures based on the growing and
M. salomonense and M. amicarum in the eating of rice as a staple food.
Melanesia and Micronesia respectively. In Now the most common species grown
The language of food, the rituals of a
the upland areas of Borneo, Eugeissona for food are Dioscorea cayenensis and
meal and the recipes of side-dishes,
utilis was a key species providing starch. D. rotunda in Africa, D. trifida in tropical
evolved around the eating of rice.
America, D. alata, D. bulbifera and D.
The socio-religious events of farming
Other important starch staples like esculenta in tropical Asia and D. opposita
revolved around the growing of rice.
corn (Zea mays), tapioca (Manihot in China, Japan and Korea. In the last
Rice cultivation is thought to have began
esculenta), potato (Solanum tuberosum) two years, imported fresh tubers of D.
over 5000 years ago in Asia. Carried
and taro (from Xanthosoma spp.) are opposita have become a standard item
by migrating communities, it gradually
recent introductions. These crops of in Singapore markets. Yams, because of
spread throughout Southeast Asia,
tropical American origin were brought their fair vitamin C content and ability to
replacing the yam-taro-sago cropping
by Europeans to the east, in the decades store well for five to six months without
complex. While still important, these
following their discovery of America refrigeration, were important as food
ancient crops are now secondary
in 1492. on ships during trans-oceanic voyages.
to rice.
7
The tuber harvested on 26 March 2010 was cut
on 8 April 2010, two weeks after harvesting (the
discolouration on the lower left is due to an
injury caused during harvesting). This photo taken
on 8 May 2010 shows that the cut surface has
completely healed and sealed.
Below:
The tuber with a 1 cm thick slice taken off the
sealed and healed cut surface on 10 May 2010. The
tuber inside still looks and feels fresh. A repeat cut
was made on 8 June 2010 with the same results.
At this time, about 2.5 months after harvest, the
tuber started sprouting.
8
Bulbils from Dioscorea alata.
They are commercially extracted from winged. It is grown by planting a tuber properties when first encountered
Dioscorea and a number of other plants. or part of a tuber. As fresh tubers need must seem nothing short of divine.
As Dioscorea is a very large genus with a resting period of two to four months,
about 600 species and many species nothing will happen after planting. One Yams are truly one of the miraculous
contain diosgenin or related steroidal day though, a vigerous stem will emerge! gifts from the rain forest.
compounds, it is likely that many As the stem climbs, a support should
compounds remain to be discovered. be provided. Any structure, including a
Today, wild yam extracts and creams section of a fence in a sunny spot, where
are sold over-the-counter, apparently for a 4 to 7 metre stem can twine would be
their oestrogen-like effects. Elsewhere sufficient. After 7 to 10 months the leaves
yams are used in traditional medicine and stems will start drying. It is now
with Dioscorea opposita a common time for the hardest and most satisfying
ingredient in Chinese medicine where part of growing a yam, digging the large
it is a tonic. It also enters into various tuber out without damaging it. The tubers
Chinese herbal recipes to treat a wide are typically lobed with a rough, dark
range of ailments. coloured skin and are usually 2 to 10
kgs in weight, but may exceed 50 kgs.
The greater yam, Sometimes bulbils, like aerial potatoes,
Dioscorea alata develop in leaf axils.
This ancient crop plant, now no
longer found in the wild, was probably The flesh of the tubers and bulbils are
domesticated in continental Southeast white or reddish purple. They have
Asia. Early explorers and migrants took amazing keeping properties as well as a
it on their boats, aiding its dispersal to remarkable property to heal. A large yam
Madagascar, New Guinea and the Pacific. can be eaten a section at a time. The cut
It is now planted all over the tropics and surface will heal, quickly sealing off and
is the most widely cultivated yam. protecting the remaining of the tuber. Chin See Chung
Dioscorea alata is a variable species When next required, another section Principal Botanist
with twining stems that are square and can be sliced off. This storage and healing Photos by Chin See Chung
9
Article
Bamboozled
by Southeast Asias bamboos
M. Sugumaran
10
The grass family (Poaceae) is our most subsequent confirmation of its natural
valuable plant family, yielding staples and occurrence as wild, freely seeding stands
numerous food items (just think: wheat, in Peninsular Thailand. Was this bamboo
rice, oats, sugar, barley, fodder for livestock, carried along with the ancient migrations
and youd be on the right track), of people from the Asian mainland across
crafting materials, fibre, ornaments to Borneo?
the list goes on. And, of course, grasses
include bamboos! Bamboos, too, have In Southeast Asia, the plant world
been a useful natural resource for human continues to yield amazing examples
society since ancient times. They are of rare and unique species that are the
grasses but mainly develop woody stems very hallmark of tropical rain forests.
and have a complex branching system The undoubtedly native bamboos are
(there are also herbaceous bamboos, but full of interesting examples too. Who but
these are fewer and generally rarer). They residents familiar with forest life would
can invade rainforests, which otherwise expect there to be twining bamboos,
have relatively few grass species. exemplified by the genus Dinochloa
(headquartered in Borneo, where
There is still much to be discovered there are most species), which have
about the wilderness and its biodiversity. pencil-thin culms twining up tree trunks?
In Borneo, surely Southeast Asias most Dinochloa bamboos (buluh badan) are
11
Idealised sequence of five cycles or orders of branch development in a Schizostachyum bamboo, with branch
elongation marked by initial increase in number of leaves, and branch senescence marked by subsequent
loss of leaves following onset of flowering development (arrows) at branch tips.
14
The re-discovery &
conservation of
Bulbophyllum
singaporeanum
The Central Nature Reserve Branch, and primary forests, with the Nee Soon
Conservation Division, National Parks Stream running through it. The plot we
Board, in collaboration with the Gardens, visited is about 10 m above sea level
National Biodiversity Centre and Pulau and generally flat with thick leaf litter, but
Ubin, has been carrying out a series surface water is visible within the gaps
of tree flora surveys from 2008 to among the root mat at some portions
2010 at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve of the plot. Most of the trees within the
and the Central Catchment Nature plot have trunks of around 30 to 60 cm
Reserve. During these surveys an orchid girth, and the plot has an average tree
thought to be extinct in Singapore height of around 27 m. The tree canopy
and last collected more than a century coverage within the plot is around 70%.
ago was rediscovered - Bulbophyllum This means that there is a 30% canopy
singaporeanum. opening, contributed by several tree-fall
gaps. There are a few big trees belonging
Thirty-six circular sampling plots, each of to the Sapotaceae family, e.g., Palaquium
a diameter of 50m, have been established xanthochymum, with trunk girth of around
at selected sites within the reserves. 2-3 m and with magnificent stilt roots.
The aim of the surveys is mainly to There are also abundant amounts of
record and measure tree species for climbers, some belonging to the genera
long-term monitoring of growth, forest Pandanus and Korthalsia that are typical of
health, vegetation succession, etc. The the wet primary forest flora.
sampling plots cover a wide variety
of forest micro-habitats, from young
secondary forests to mature primary
Pg 14, top left:
forests, from sites at top of hill knolls to The flowers of Bulbophyllum singaporeanum emit a
sites near stream valleys. One of these foul smell which resembles rotting fish.
sampling plots was sited in the Nee Soon Pg 14, Bottom left:
Freshwater Swamp, which we visited it on These seed capsules of Bulbophyllum singaporeanum
17 February 2009 and re-visited on 2 and resulted from artificial pollination.
3 March 2010. Pg 14, Bottom right:
Bulbophyllum singaporeanum climbing up the trunk
of a large forest tree.
Habitat of the plot under study
The Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Above:
The canopy of Nee Soon Swamp Forest.
is a wet-forest area of around 80 ha, Some unidentified epiphytic orchids can been
consisting of a mixture of old secondary seen growing on this branch.
15
The study 100 years later), our rediscovery of the be fully opened leaf is completely purple.
On our first visit we took a tree flora plant in Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp The rhizomes are covered closely with
inventory and carried out plot mapping. changed this status. As well as collecting the leaf sheath, and is about 4 mm thick.
We also looked for orchids in the vicinity, a herbarium specimen as a permanent The distance between the pseudobulbs
and it was noted that orchids are relatively record, a second specimen was collected is about 10cm. The flower scape is about
prolific in the area as we managed to from a plant growing on a Palaquium 1.5 cm long, covered with several sheaths,
locate five species just through a cursory xanthochymum and grown at the orchid and the portion of inflorescence which
survey. We re-visited the plot in 2nd to nursery. It flowered in May and allowed bears the flowers is 4 cm long, with many
3rd of March this year. In addition to us to confirm its identity. It is actually small flowers. Each flower is pale purplish
the tree flora re-inventory, two officers rather easy to identify the plant even green in colour with dark purple spots,
devoted themselves solely to a search when it is not in bloom because of its not open completely, and the pedicel and
for orchids within and near the plot. distinctive vegetative characteristics. Each ovary are 5 mm long. The concave dorsal
While the trees are being measured and pseudobulb is about 5 cm long and 6 sepal measures 10 by 5.5 mm, and is
recorded, the tree inventory team also mm wide, and slightly flattened. It bears keeled on the back. The mentum is 4 mm
made it a point to look up tree trunks narrowly linear dark glossy green leaves, long, at an obtuse angle to the ovary. The
and branches for any epiphytic orchids. about 30 cm long by 4 cm wide, the lateral sepals are 1.4 cm long, their lower
All in all within the two days in March underside of which is suffused with a edges continuing almost in the line of the
this year, around 14 species of orchids degree of purple. The youngest, yet to mentum, with the area toward the apex
were found around the area, including
the exciting rediscovery of Bulbophyllum
singaporeanum.
Bulbophyllum singaporeanum
The first specimen of Bulbophyllum
singaporeanum was collected in 1889. The
species was formally described in 1896
by Henry Ridley, the first Director of the
Gardens under the name Bulbophyllum
densiflorum. Ridley based his description
on specimens collected from Kranji,
Selitar, Bukit Timah, Bukit Mandai and
Choa Chu Kang, all collected within a
span of six years (the specimen collected
by Ridley from Choa Chu Kang in 1894
was actually from Chan Chu Kang. These
two localities were commonly mixed
up when translating Ridleys writing
from his herbarium labels). A few years
later in 1911, the famed German orchid
taxonomist Friedrich Richard Rudolf
Schlechter discovered that Robert Allen
Rolfe, a British botanist, had already
described a Bulbophyllum species in 1892
using the name Bulbophyllum densiflorum.
As no two species can have the same
botanical name, he renamed Ridleys
Bulbophyllum densiflorum as Bulbophyllum
singaporeanum in honour of the place
where the plant was discovered. At that
time, the plant was only known to occur
in Singapore, although subsequently it
has been recorded from the lowland rain
forests of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.
16
strongly keeled and acute. The petals are
7 mm long by 3 mm wide, with a pointed
apex. The lip is 6 mm long, 4 mm wide at
the base, curved strongly, with a pointed
tip, its upper surface deeply grooved
throughout, almost to the tip. Our
observations in the nursery on our living
specimen show the flowers emit a very
unpleasant smell which resembles that of
rotting fish. Small flies were observed to
fly around the flowers.
Conservation
Bulbophyllum singaporeanum is notoriously
known to be picky and not easy to
grow in cultivation. A few cuttings were
collected and grown in our nursery. The
cuttings were mounted on fern bark
which is covered by a layer a sphagnum
moss. They were placed under 50% shade
and watered twice a day. One of the
cuttings flowered on 4 May 2010, and
several flowers were pollinated
with the aid of a magnifying glass. It is
very exciting to report that pollination
was successful and several seed capsules
have formed! We hope to collect
seeds and propagate these species for The natural habitat of Bulbophyllum singaporeanum.
subsequent reintroduction.
Paul K F Leong
Herbarium
Derek Liew
NParks Conservation Division
17
Article
Revisiting the
Gardens masterplan
Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) with its partners conducted a course on the management
of botanic gardens some months back. The International Certificate in Botanic Garden
Management in the Asia-Pacific Region is a comprehensive 3-week course equipped to arm
students from a diverse range of countries with knowledge on all relevant aspects of the
subject. Although not part of the botanical or scientific fraternity, I found myself contributing
a lecture to one of the modules. This was at the request of the Gardens as it was felt that the
physical aspects of setting up a botanic garden was something the students needed to know,
and that SBG provided a good case study.
Images of the old gardens (image source: Singapore Historical Postcards, The National Archives)
Mui Hwang
Backdrop in the tropics and this had to be done series of continual modifications. SBG
A large part of the present SBG grounds holistically. celebrated its 150th anniversary last year
was laid out by the British during the so perhaps it is an appropriate moment,
colonial period when the Gardens The outcome was a new masterplan somewhat belated nonetheless, to take
served as an agricultural experimental which was drawn up jointly by the stock of what has been done.
station and botanical institution. Since National Parks Board, the Public Works
then, the Gardens evolved to become Department, and Jones & Jones an Seamless integration
a popular recreational green lung in American landscape design consultancy It s probably little known now, but one of
the heart of the city and an important firm. This masterplan provided the the main achievements in the masterplan
tourist attraction in post-independence framework for a series of improvements was a bold stroke of integration. Prior
Singapore. A new initiative to transform implemented in a coordinated fashion to 1988, the Gardens was effectively
the Gardens was put forth in 1988. About over the next 20 years transforming the dissected into two by Cluny Road,
that time Singapore went through one of Gardens to what it is today. resulting in two distinctly different
its periodic rebranding exercises and the portions. The portion closer towards
Gardens then found itself the subject of a Those of us of a certain vintage will still Napier Road was the well-established
major remake to enhance its international remember what the Gardens was like old garden, while other portion closer
profile and standing. Although tourism before. Simply called the Botanic Gardens, towards Bukit Timah was a relatively new
was the key aspect driving the make- (Singapore was added subsequently as tract of land returned to SBG as a result
over, necessitating the creation of new part of the re-branding) it was redolent of the relocation of the adjacent university
horticultural displays and visitor amenities with history especially the role it played campus in the 80s, and considerably less
it was soon realized that other aspects of in the propagation of rubber. To most of developed and visited. A decision was
the Gardens had to be strengthened in us, it was a charming but laid-back place. taken to expunge Cluny Road along the
tandem. These include diverse botanical Its grounds were beautiful and well-cared, stretch where it dissected the Gardens,
collections in ex-situ conservation, and apart from the Orchid Enclosure resulting in one part of Cluny Road
scientific research programmes, public which the Japanese tourists loved, it didnt renamed as Cluny Park Road while the
education and outreach, businesses and have many big-ticket attractions. The other was diverted to join up with Evans
visitor services. The vision was to turn the masterplan changed that. Over a period Road. This helped integrate the two
Gardens into the premier botanic gardens of 20 years, the Gardens underwent a halves of the Gardens seamlessly the
18
The old black and
white bungalow on top
of the knoll, formerly
the residence of the
Gardens Director
during the colonial days,
was renamed Burkill
Hall and became the
events and reception
space for SBG.
join is located within the footprint of the having its own independent access. Three
Nassim Visitor Centre and Palm Court. quite separate cores were carved out and
The EJH Corner House, which now each has its distinct identity eg the Central
houses the upmarket Les Amis restaurant, Core has most of the big attractions
used to overlook a bend in the now- including the orchid collection, while
expunged section of Cluny Road and an the Tanglin Cores focus is on heritage,
underground pedestrian tunnel which scientific education and public outreach.
used to connect the two garden halves The potential of the Bukit Timah Core,
is probably buried somewhere under the with its focus on education and discovery,
water fountain. centering around the Ecolake, economic
plant collection and more recently the
Overcoming geography Jacob Ballas Childrens Garden, however,
Most visitors are aware of the distinctive will be fully realised only when the MRT
site configuration of the Gardens as station is ready and the public linkages
it appears on the signage boards and properly formed. The core concept
brochures. You will notice the Gardens incidentally also allowed the development
is remarkably long and extended (about to be implemented in a coordinated
2.5 km walking distance from end to end) manner and in cohesive packages
making it a somewhat of a challenge for a that minimised the adverse impact of
visitor who wishes see the entire Gardens construction.
in a single trip on a hot humid day. This
was especially so prior to redevelopment Achieving early success
when the main entry was from the Given that the masterplan would be and white bungalow on top of the knoll,
Main Gate situated at extreme end of implemented in stages over a prolonged formerly the residence of the Gardens
the Gardens at the Napier/Cluny Road period, it was important to develop a Director during the colonial days, was
junction. To deal with this the masterplan strategy that would allow it to achieve renamed Burkill Hall and became the
adopted the core concept with each core early success. This would then help events and reception space for SBG. In a
holding a critical mass of attractions and secure the buy-in from stakeholders subsequent development the abandoned
and the public, providing support and Orchid Enclosure was revamped as the
maintaining the momentum to propel Ginger Gardens, accommodating an F&B
the implementation further. The first outlet (Halia) and a new coach drop- off
core to be developed was the Central along Tyersall Avenue to cater to tourists
Core as the Cluny Road expunction had heading to the NOG.
resulted in new vacant land which could
be developed for a new visitor centre.
Moreover, the existing orchid collection
was also in the Central Core. A much
enlarged new orchid attraction, the Left:
National Orchid Gardens (NOG) was Burkill Hall
constructed on a knoll adjacent to the Above:
existing Orchid Enclosure. The old black Ginger Garden
19
Article
At the other end of the Central Core, the horticultural skills and better interpretative developed as a scaled-down prototype
Nassim visitor centre was constructed. displays. The orchid collection which was that would help develop and nurture
Designed as an airy tropical building a traditional draw of the Gardens, was the horticultural skills necessary for this
arranged around a signature Heritage greatly expanded and improved. The project. Had the Cloud Forest Biosphere
Tree, the Gardens for the first time could NOG was not only beautifully laid out in been built as proposed in the masterplan
offer proper visitor arrival and orientation a stunning colour-themed arrangement, it would it would have been a stunning
facilities including commercial outlets like but included an orchidarium for native first-of-its-kind in this part of the world.
a caf, a souvenir shop, coach and car species, mist houses for an accompanying
parking. Until the Tanglin visitor centre bromeliad collection and a cool house Not many people remember the
was built, the Nassim visitor centre served for tropical high altitude orchids. With its original pond at the Bukit Timah core.
as the main point of arrival for visitors, extensive species, imaginative displays and Constructed as part of a drainage system
especially those who drove as well as a collection of specially created hybrids serving a catchment extending beyond
those on organized trips. named after visiting VIPs and dignitaries the Gardens, the concrete-lined pond
NOG is frequently rated as having one of was actually a stormwater retention
The completion of these two major the orchid displays in the world. pond which accounted for the murkiness
projects, including the subsequent of its water. Transformed into a more
improvement of the Palm Valley, with its The Cloud Forest Biosphere featuring naturalistic waterbody with gently sloping
magical nightscape lighting, Symphony high altitude equatorial flora - was vegetated banks the Ecolake is now the
Lake / Shaw Foundation Stage and the originally planned as one of the new hub of the Bukit Timah core. Together
Marsh Garden eventually helped the signature attractions of the revamped with the backdrop of gentle mounds,
Central Core fulfill its potential as one of Gardens. The Cool House in fact was worked in to create interest and to
the most visible and photogenic portions block views of the surrounding roads,
of the Gardens. The acceptance and the Ecolake is a scenic feature with an
approbation of it helped pave the way for interesting collection of economic plants
the development of the other cores. in the vicinity.
Creating attractions
The masterplan called for a slew of new
and exciting world-class attractions and Above:
diverse plant collections that would beef Green Pavillion
up the interest quotient. While some
Left:
were entirely new attractions, others were Visitor Centre
enhancements of what already existed in
Page 21:
the Gardens but required more creative National Orchid Garden
20
Other attractions such as the Evolution Imaginative nomenclature also played to the past and highlight the Gardens
Garden and the Jacob Ballas Childrens a small but nonetheless significant part heritage eg Burkill Hall, Ridley Hall,
Garden are more thematic in nature. The in creating interest. Swan Lake and Holttum Hall etc. which commemorate
Evolution Garden is particularly inventive, Symphony Lake replaced the more the legacies of eminent personalities who
boldly making use of a spiraling landform mundane-sounding 1st and 2nd Lakes, made significant contributions to the
to evoke the grand sweep of time across and upgrading works made them live up Gardens and to tropical botany.
aeons and the transformation of plants to their names. It is noteworthy too that
that accompanied this. many of the new place names hark back
21
Article
Central Core
(Visitor Amenities
+ Key Attractions) Bukit Timah Core
Tanglin Core (Visitor Amenities
(Heritage) + Key Attractions)
22
Planning for flexibility to SBG from the adjacent campus land Page 22, clockwise from left:
In many instances, a masterplan for long- requiring a new masterplanning exercise Symphony Stage
term development invariably falls short, to integrate this plot with the rest of the
or is rendered obsolete by changed Gardens. Evolution Garden
circumstances. The SBG masterplan has MistHouse, National Orchid Garden
however, remained remarkably true to In addition there were numerous
what it set out to be. The Core concept instances where plans were modified This page, clockwise from top left:
has worked out very well and many of to accommodate site conditions, the
the proposals were implemented as prevailing political/economic situation, National Orchid Garden
originally envisaged. Still there were plenty public needs, donors and stakeholders, as Eco Lake
of deviations along the way. As mentioned would be the case in the implementation
Jacob Ballas Childrens Garden
the Cloud Forest Biosphere is unbuilt of any major long-drawn public project. It
and probably will remain so, as two is therefore important that the masterplan
major conservatories coming up in the had intrinsic flexibility to accommodate
new Gardens-by-the Bay would render such unforeseen circumstances.
it unnecessary. In the original masterplan,
an internal transit system was proposed Looking back I find it immensely satisfying
to facilitate movement within such an that a masterplan crafted more than
elongated Gardens. Perhaps because of twenty years ago could have guided the
the effectiveness of the core concept, development of the gardens for so long in
there now seems to be little need for the face of ever-changing circumstances, Peter How
it. The location of the MRT station at notwithstanding the numerous Director (Design),
the Bukit Timah end (an interchange modifications and refinements to respond CPG Consultants Pte Ltd
station at that) was not anticipated in the to dictates of time and place.
masterplan; neither was the possibility (Peter was part of the original
team handling the formulation
of a further alignment of Cluny Road of the masterplan when he was
that brought the old Taman Serasi food with the now defunct Public Works
Department, and was involved in the
centre into the grounds of the Gardens. subsequent implementation of many
In 2004, a 11.7 hectare addition was given of the projects in the Gardens.)
23
Article
flower
Power
SINGAPORE GARDEN
FESTIVAL 2010
WOWS THE CROWDS
24
Gardenwise brings
you highlights of
Asias Best Garden
& Flower Show.
Over eight days from 15 to 22 July, over
300,000 visitors streamed into Suntec
Convention Centre and were treated
to a garden and floral extravaganza at
the third presentation of the Singapore
Garden Festival (SGF). The SGF is the only
garden show in the world to showcase
creations from an international cast of
award-winning garden and floral designers
under one roof. This years Festival featured
15 show gardens and 16 floral displays by
gardening luminaries from 17 countries.
A perennial favourite of the Festival, the
Singapore Orchid Show, also attracted
entries from 12 countries. Over 250,000
tropical and temperate plants were used
for the displays. This includes plants that are
uncommon to Singapore such as elements
of the African flora and other plants and
orchids specially brought in by the garden
designers, floral artists and exhibitors from
all around the world.
25
Article
26
The sophistication
and ingenuity of the
beautiful displays
and exhibits have
captivated many and
we are extremely
heartened that the
Festival has managed
to achieve this level of
international acclaim...
The Best of Show for Fantasy Fashioned from the timbers of a reclaimed centennial Michigan barn, fieldstone
Garden went to Damian Tang for
his garden entitled The Mysterious from an 18th century Pennsylvania wall and uniquely shaped espaliered pear
Jungle of Pandora. The display was trees trained in the foothills of Tennessee, the serene Hortus Inclusus (The
implemented by Kiat Lee Landscape
& Building Pte Ltd Interior Garden) creation by John Cullen and Michael Cullen was crowned
this years winner of the Singapore Garden Festival Peoples Choice Award.
The Peoples Choice Award is given to the most popular garden exhibit
The Peoples Choice - Hortus Inclusus voted by visitors to the show. Visitors voted for their favourite garden through
by John Cullen and Michael Cullen
clinched the 2010 Singapore Garden
SMS, from 10am on 15 July to 10 pm on 22 July when the Festival came to a
Festival Peoples Choice Award. The successful conclusion.
display was implemented by Princes
Landscape & Construction Pte Ltd.
Dr Wong Wei Har, Director of the Singapore Garden Festival, said: The
Singapore Garden Festival 2010 has been a tremendous success, and the
response weve received from participants, exhibitors and visitors has been
overwhelmingly positive. The sophistication and ingenuity of the beautiful
displays and exhibits have captivated many and we are extremely heartened
that the Festival has managed to achieve this level of international acclaim
despite this being only the third installment of the festival. I am also very
pleased to see greater participation from the local community in various
competitions and activities at the festival. SGF provides them with a platform
to showcase our horticultural excellence to an international audience and the
community groups have certainly grabbed our attention with their intricate
works this time round.
The Festival was a hit with locals and tourists alike. For Ms Marjorie
Champagne, a tourist from France, the SGF is truly unique in its own right.
I particularly like how the orchids are displayed in such elaborate
landscapes, making it a truly impressive sight. One thing that stood out for
me was the wide variety of plants and flowers available. The different plants
and colours make for many different possibilities and this has helped the
Festival stand out in my memory, she said.
27
Article
Singapore Orchid Show 2010 - a
dazzling display featuring orchids of
every hue and colour
Students of Naval Base A Treat For The Eyes, A Feast For The Senses
Secondary school putting in
the finishing touches for their
orchid display A perennial favourite at SGF, the Singapore Orchid Show 2010 did not
disappoint. Even before stepping onto the show grounds, visitors were
greeted with a stunning display of dancing golden arches comprising of
thousands of Oncidium Goldiana (Golden Shower). Jointly organised by
the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA) and the Singapore Garden
Festival, the 2010 Singapore Orchid Show provided a foretaste of next
years prestigious World Orchid Conference which will be held in Singapore.
28
The Man Who Planted Trees was shaped
by Singaporeans and Singapore residents
from all walks of life and nurtured at the
Gardens before the big move to SGF.
The Man Who Planted Trees celebrates the International Year of Biodiversity
2010, paying tribute to all local heroes who have contributed significantly to the
greening of Singapore. To mark the launch of SGF 2010, hundreds of Singaporeans
and residents from all walks of life came together on 25 March at the Botanic
Gardens for a mass planting activity. It was through the effort of everyone involved
that helped shape the look of The Man Who Planted Trees, just as all of us have a
hand in nurturing our Garden City. The Man Who Planted Trees was painstakingly
nurtured and cared for by the Gardens horticulturists until its big move to the
Festival venue on 5 July.
Terri Oh
Singapore Garden Festival
Photos from SBG Archives
29
AROUND THE GARDENS
International Certificate in
Botanic Gardens Management
in the Asia Pacific Region
Top:
Participants and trainers of the APBG Management
Course.
Left:
Participants learning about seed-embryo
development and seed viability.
Extreme left:
Participants being shown proper pruning techniques.
From the 5 20 of March 2010, the management, business, education outreach and climate change. The participants
Singapore Botanic Gardens played host and ex situ conservation. It was also and trainers have picked up interesting
to the inaugural Asia Pacific Botanic structured to support the targets of the ideas and concepts from each other
Gardens (APBG) management course. Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. which they believe could be adopted
The course was organised by the Botanic Field trips to sites in the Gardens and and used in their respective gardens to
Gardens Conservation International elsewhere in Singapore were organised promote better management of their
(BGCI), Botanic Gardens of Australia for the participants and visiting trainers. living collections and contribute to the
and New Zealand (BGANZ) (specifically conservation of their countries flora.
the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, As part of the training, the participants For participants from institutions without
the Botanic Gardens Trust Sydney, the were required to undertake and present a botanic garden or who are planning
Botanic Gardens of Adelaide), Royal a specific group project related to an a botanic garden, the course gave an
Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) and aspect of the course that would be overview of what a botanic garden is
the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG). valuable for future implementation in their all about and some ideas of the
Following extensive discussions, these own institutions. An online discussion planning requirements.
organisations and gardens developed the site has been launched at the Google
training modules for the course as well as Groups under the name of APBG2010 The course is a successful example of
provided the necessary trainers. to serve as a sharing and discussion site an international collaboration between
and announcement platform for course botanic gardens and institutions and met
The course was attended by fourteen participants and trainers to continue the need for such training in the Asia
garden managers which included networking and interact informally. Pacific region. We hope that this course
horticulturists and botanists from will be conducted again and will be
gardens across the region, specifically The participants found the course further improved by taking into account
Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, invaluable as it provided them with a all feedback and experiences gained from
Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The practical programme relevant to their the first.
course comprised of eight learning respective gardens. The course taught
modules covering topics that included how botanic gardens are aapproaching
collection policies, plant record systems, key issues such as collection management,
horticulture, master planning, visitor plant conservation, community education
Nura Abdul Karim
Living Collections
Photos by Peter Symes
30
Watching murals grow!
In mid-March, visitors to the Ginger Garden started to curiously look at the
preparation of the wall on the right side of the main entrance at National Orchid
Garden Plaza. Soon after the new plastering was done, ever smiling artist Michele
appeared on the scene with all her paraphernalia brushes, pencils, paints and loads
of sketches. The growing mural attracted much attention from visitors and Michele
was often surrounded by a fan club, watching the artist transform the plain wall into
an overview of the plants of the Ginger order. Members of the eight closely related
families, forming the ginger order - bananas (Musaceae), bird-of-paradise (Strelitziaceae),
orchidanthas (Lowiaceae), heliconias (Heliconiaceae), gingers (Zingiberaceae), spiral
gingers (Costaceae), cannas (Cannaceae) and prayer-plants (Marantaceae) appeared
one by one on the wall. First as pencil sketches, but soon blooming in bright colours,
attracting attention from all visitors. The mural was finished and the plastic protective
tent removed on 7th May 2010. Michele is currently working on another mural, which is
on the outside wall of Halia Villa facing the Banana Gallery and will feature interesting
facts about Bananas. Soon there will be yet another project for Michele and that is Michele at work,
to create wood sculptures designating each of our geographical areas in the Ginger sketching a
banana by pencil.
Garden. Come and watch the murals and sculptures grow!
Michele Piccoli
Jana Leong-Skornickov
Herbarium
Photos by Dina Gallick
31
Ginger and its allies Close up of the male flowers.
ENSETE LASIOCARPUM
The end of thE monotypic
banana genus Musella
One-year old Hedi Leong shows The specific epithet lasiocarpum Ensete lasiocarpum in
us the scale of the golden lotus is derived from Greek, meaning Kunming Botanic Gardens,
banana in the Gardens. woolly/rough hairy fruit. Indeed a Yunnan thrives in its natural
name well chosen! climatic and soil conditions.
32
Our first bud this year appeared right after New Year in early January.
By the end of May, all leaves were gone, but the inflorescence will still
hold on for next few weeks to come. At the same time, yet another two
buds appeared and so there will be always some flowering in the Ginger
Garden until October.
The golden lotus banana or Chinese relationships within the banana family. The ends in an upright bright yellow compact
yellow banana is native to the watersheds results of their study were published early rosette inflorescence resembling a lotus.
of the upper Yangtze River and its this year in the botanical journal Taxon and It thrives in well drained soil in direct
branches between northern Yunnan and seems to end the decades long dispute. sunshine. This banana will continue to
southern Sichuan, where wild populations The golden lotus banana clearly clustered flower for several months, starting with
appear. It was originally described by with members of the genus Ensete. So it numerous rounds of female flowers
Adrien Rene Franchet in 1889 as Musa is time to let go of Musella, and the name positioned at the base of the inflorescence
lasiocarpa. Even though some characters Ensete lasiocarpum should now be used. and followed by male flowers later.
point to its relationship with members of An interesting bit of information that came If pollination by insects occurs, the ovaries
the genus Musa, this species resembles out of this study was that this Yunnan of the female flowers will turn into grey-
some Ensete species. This lead Ernest native is more closely related to African greenish, short and rather fat angled fruits.
Entwistle Cheesman to suggest in 1947 Ensete species than Asian Ensete! Citing Their rather thick skin is covered in white,
that it should be called Ensete lasiocarpum. fossil evidence, the authors of this paper bristly hair. The stone hard, black seeds
At that time, Musa with over 40 Asian explained that the genus Ensete had in the are covered in a cream-white pulp, which
species and Ensete with two species in past a much wider distribution, which had turns into a deep violet mush when
Asia and three in Africa, were the only two been disrupted by changes of climate in fully ripe.
recognised genera within the banana family the Tertiary or early Quarternary periods.
(Musaceae). So, to which genus does the Nurseries in Singapore sometimes carry
golden lotus banana belong? Well, maybe The golden lotus banana is widely full-grown flowering plants in pots, where
neither, or so thought Hsi Wen Li, who cultivated by farmers on the edges they can be successfully grown. Unlike
in 1978 proposed a third distinct genus of terraced uplands, marginal lands, other Ensete species, E. lasiocarpum
Musella to accomodate this gorgeous plantations and even in local gardens. produces suckers freely and so is easy
plant, and thus its name baecame Musella The stems are rich in starch and can be to propagate. Seeds are also available
lasiocarpa. Such a scenario provides fertile eaten boiled as a vegetable. More often but need a period of cold before they
ground for taxonomists to quarrel and though, whole plants are used fresh or germinate, so it is wise to ask before
leaves horticulturists pulling out their hair boiled as fodder for pigs. Other reported purchase if the seeds have been so treated.
with every name change. uses include soil and erosion control, as a The good news for gardeners outside the
weaving material, medicine, wine brewing tropics is that this banana is cold tolerant
When morphology leaves us in the and as a source of honey during the and in milder parts of the temperate zone
lurch, it is time to call on DNA. This was winter season. And of course, being such can survive winter without being brought
finally what a group of botanists from a beauty, this species has great into the home.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden ornamental potential.
in Yunnan did recently. They gathered and
analysed nearly 40 species of bananas Ensete lasiocarpum does not usually
Jana Leong-Skornickov
covering all three genera in order to exceed 1.5 metres in height and its false
Herbarium
find out more about the evolutionary trunk made of overlapping leaf sheaths Photos by Jana Leong-kornickov
33
From taxonomy Corner
34
This sort of detective work in the herbaria Mr Peter used in naming his new species.
His handwritten pencil annotation on the
and libraries of Europe, UK, and the USA left Ipomoea macrantha n. sp. (meaning
new species), links this specimen to the
is vital to reconciling the large number of name published on page 31 of DNP.
And it shows, conclusively, that the Peter
redundant names already in existence for name is illegitimate (the name Ipomoea
macrantha had already been published
tropical plants, which in turn clears the way twice before, for different species) and
for more efficient naming of species. that the plant on the herbarium sheet
is actually Ipomoea setosa Ker Gawler,
named in 1818. Thus, Peters name is
Because there are so many scientific of Belgium, outside Brussels, and the redundant and it becomes a synonym of
names already in existence, it becomes Botanische Staatssammlung, Munich, the earlier Ipomoea setosa. And the list of
hard to determine the correct name Germany. Each of these herbaria, and their unresolved species names in Ipomoea is
for each species and it becomes very accompanying libraries, hold pieces of the reduced by one.
difficult to know if an unknown plant taxonomic puzzle for tropical American
already has a name, or is genuinely new Convolvulaceae. My colleagues and I have This sort of detective work in the
to science. For these reasons, I began in a list of about 245 problem names in the herbaria and libraries of Europe, UK, and
2008 to work through all these published genus Ipomoea, all described from tropical the USA is vital to reconciling the large
names to reconcile the taxonomy and America, and which cant be recognised number of redundant names already in
nomenclature, thereby bringing order out today. In order to resolve their identities, it existence for tropical plants, which in
of chaos as one recent taxonomic tome is necessary to go to the herbaria where turn clears the way for more efficient
has called it. the original specimens are housed, and naming of species. What makes this
search there to locate the specimens possible today (where it wasnt even
Among these thousands of published linked to the mystery names. imaginable for taxonomists before now)
names are many hundreds of old names is the ease and speed with which huge
that have been overlooked for decades or The accompanying photo shows one amounts of data can be stored, shared,
centuries and which we know little about. such specimen, found in the Gttingen and manipulated electronicallythe
These mystery names are reported in herbarium during a recent trip. It settles new and rapidly developing field
IPNI and that citation is the starting point the identity for a scientific name published of bioinformatics. The 21st century
for taxonomic detective work. in 1891, which has been obscure ever taxonomist has ready access to
First one would need to find, in a library, since. The author, a German botanist information technology solutions that
the publication in which the name and named Albert Peter, published 34 new were unthinkable to our forebears.
first description were published, and get a scientific names in his account of the At last that one to one correspondence
copy of it, study it, and see if it is possible Convolvulaceae for the monumental between names and species is attainable.
to work out what species it is. This is rarely encyclopaedic work, Die Natrlichen Once we get the backlog of old
the end of the job, though, and typically Pflanzenfamilien (DNP). His descriptions names reconciled and the data stored
the next stage is to discover where, in a were short and ambiguous, he did not electronically so that any botanist,
herbarium, are the specimens that were cite any specimens he examined, and he anywhere, can access it quickly and freely,
used by the author of the mystery name often stated only a country where the we will have made a huge step forward
in preparing the species description. species came from, making it virtually in preparing a biodiversity inventory for
Once the original description is in hand impossible to know today whether his one family (Convolvulaceae) of tropical
and the plant specimens used to craft the species were genuinely new to science, or plants, and we will know, at last, exactly
description have been located, it is usually merely a redundant name for a species how many species it comprises. And that,
possible to work out the identity for the already known. in turn, will mean it wont be necessary
mystery name. for taxonomists of the future to travel
Patient searching through the entire so far to gather information, because
Thus, the need to travel to places such collection of Convolvulaceae in they will have it all available electronically
as Georg August University, Gttingen, Gttingenfour long days of sheet by at their fingertips. Todays travel makes
Germany, the National Botanical Garden sheet searchinglocated many specimens tomorrows travel, wellredundant.
George Staples
Herbarium
35
From Education Outreach
On the day of the MOE Kindergarten Conference (4 June 2010), we supported the
event through setting up a booth at Singapore Polytechnic to inform kindergarten
teachers about the various types of outdoor activities and educational programmes
offered in both the Gardens and JBCG. This attracted much attention from many
kindergarten teachers who were keen and enthusiastic to learn the different ways and
approaches to bring their classrooms outdoors.
We would like to thank the Ministry of Education for offering us this great opportunity Sharing information with kindergarten teachers
to participate in the conference and to share with kindergarten teachers the many fun about educational programmes offered by the
Gardens and Parks during the conference at
and creative ways for their students to Go Out & Learn! Singapore Polytechnic.
Winnie Wong
Education
Photos by Paul Chin
36
BOOK REVIEW
37
RESEARCH FELLOWs
Dr. Wayne C. Rosing Dr. Somran Suddee Mdm Florfe M. Acma Dr. Barry J. Conn
(1 21 March 2009) from (11 26 June 2009) from (5 18 August 2009) is from National Herbarium
Middle Tennessee State the Forest Herbarium, from the University of the of New South Wales,
University, USA, came to study, Bangkok, Thailand was here to Philippines at Los Banos. She Australia and Dr. Julisasi
for the first time ever, the study subfamily Vanilloideae is currently working on her Tri Hadiah from Bogor
biodiversity of the plasmodial (Orchidaceae) and Subfamily PhD dissertation focusing Botanic Garden, Indonesia
slime molds of Singapore. Symphorematoideae on the genus Amomum (15 June 7 July 2009) are
During his visit, he delivered (Lamiaceae) of Thailand. He (Zingiberaceae) in the two long time collaborators
a public talk at the Gardens placed his determinations Philippines. Whilst here on working on the Urticaceae
entitled An introduction on 289 sheets of specimens, a SBG Research Fellowship, (Stinging Nettle family) of
to forest Myxomycetes of of which, 180 sheets she took the opportunity to Malaysia. Their stay at SING
Southeast Asia, and gave were from three genera, find rare literature from our as SBG Research Fellows
lectures in a special workshop Congea, Symphorema Gardens library, examine enabled them to study the
An introduction to the and Sphenodesme, which the type specimens of type material of Elatostema
Myxomycetes/Myxogastrids: constitute the subfamily the genus Amomum, and subscabrum held at SING.
collection, specimen Symphorematoideae, made copies of some of While here they selected the
preparation and classification endemic to South East Asia the rare literature held at lectotype for this species. A
(see Gardenwise 33 (2009) and Australia. the newly established Asian manuscript Lectotypification
20). He also conducted two Zingiberaceae Information of Elatostema subscabrum
guided walks for the public Center (AZIC). Mdm Acma H.Schroet. (Urticaceae)
and staff. The walks were a also consulted with Dr. Jana by both of them has been
definite hit with a total of 27 Leong-kornickov, our submitted to Gardens Bulletin
participants. He did numerous resident Ginger expert, on her Singapore for publication. They
field trips throughout taxonomic study of Philippine have since prepared a draft
Singapore (off-shore islands Amomum and nomenclatural manuscript the Urticaceae
included) with the goal of issues of several historical occurring in Malaysia, including
increasing the information on names. She donated 16 Sabah and Sarawak, with 17
the local Myxomycete flora sheets of Amomum collected genera and twice as many
and making collections. A from Mindanao Island in species recognised than
total of one hundred and fifty the Philippines to the SING before. Barry and Juli curated
specimens (representing 41 Herbarium. Seeds of 3 a total of 1218 sheets of
species) were collected, dried, Amomum species were also SING specimens in the family
freeze-fumigated, identified, given to the Gardens Urticaceae.
and deposited at SING. living collection.
38
The Singapore Herbarium (SING) houses a huge collection of Malesian plant specimens that are of great regional importance for plant
biodiversity research. The collection is being actively added to at present but also includes a large proportion of historical material
which is particularly type rich. The Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) offers several grants annually to botanists to carry out research at
the herbarium as SBG Research Fellows. Research Fellows are also asked to give public lectures to share their wealth of knowledge in
an area of their expertise.
Dr. Rhett D. Harrison Dr. Lesley C. Lubos Ms. Elika Zvesk Mr Tran Huu Dang
(November December (25 January 13 February (9 February 8 March 2010) (28 February 28 March
2009) from Xishuangbanna 2010) is from Liceo de is pursuing her PhD at 2009) from Vietnam National
Tropical Botanical Garden, Cagayan University in the Charles University in Prague, University in Ho Chi Minh City
China was here for four Philippines. He spent three the Czech Republic. Elika made his visit to the Gardens
weeks. As part of the Flora weeks as an SBG Research studies the evolution and to examine Zingiberaceae
of Peninsular Malaysia project, Fellow, which allowed him to polyploidy of the ginger specimens for preparation of a
he revised the fig species access bryological literature genus Curcuma. Working in book chapter entitled Gingers
of Peninsular Malaysia and resources not found at his collaboration with Dr. Jana of Cambodia, Laos and
Borneo. SING holds a University and personal Leong-kornickov, she Vietnam. He timed his visit
large number of specimens libraries in the Philippines. At examined and photographed to coincide with that of Ms.
of Malesian Ficus species the Herbarium, he worked in the floral parts from our Elika Zvesk (see above) to
amounting to over 5000 collaboration with Dr Benito entire Curcuma spirit collection allow him to learn the basics
sheets. Whilst at SING, Rhett Tan, our resident Bryologist. at SING. She then analysed the of geometric morphometrics
curated over 416 specimens As a result, he identified 37 images with the methods of and microscope photography
and gave a talk on the species of Camiguin mosses geometric morphometrics techniques from her. Dang is
biosystematics of fig species belonging to 24 genera. He a powerful tool for the study a thesis student supervised by
and their wasp pollinators in also identified two new of shape changes based on Dr. Jana Leong-kornickov
Southeast Asia. species records for the mathematical descriptions and from the Gardens . He
Philippines, 10 new species modeling to gain insights also studied the large living
records for Mindanao, and into morphological variability collection of Indochinese
19 new species records for of the Curcuma anthers. Zingiberaceae collected in
Camiguin Island. Lesley gifted While in Singapore, she also 2008 and 2009 and grown
the herbarium with 75 packets collected leaf samples for at the Gardens, and together
of Philippine mosses collected molecular study from our with Dr. Jana, prepared a
from Camiguin Island to add Curcuma living collections. manuscript of a new species
to our bryophyte collection. Her studies aim to shed light of Curcuma collected in
on the problematic questions Vietnam 2008 for publication
of allopolyploidization and in new issue of Gardens
hybridization in Curcuma Bulletin Singapore.
species. During her visit, Elika
gave a presentation Curcuma
anthers: secret window to
evolution? at the Gardens
talk series.
Benito C. Tan
Serena Lee
Herbarium
39
Whats Blooming
Published in 1854, this five centimetres thick book (1821), British Flora (1830), and a number of works
is the tenth and last Icones PLantarum an on ferns, including Genera Filicum (1838), Species
extensive series of published volumes of botanical Filicum (5 vol., 1846-64), and Synopsis Filicum
illustrations initiated by Sir William Jackson Hooker. (1868).
Margaret Tan
Library
42 Photos by Serena Lee