4497. Nature photos x 3 on 17 Dec 2022

17 Dec 2022

SINGAPORE FLORA & FAUNA seen on Sat 17 Dec 2022
1. African Tulip Tree (Spathodea Campanulata)
2. The elephant ear plant (Colocasia)
3. The Oriental Garden Lizard

Elephant Ear Planthas a healthy fruiting bodyYio Chu Kang Cres River Bank17 Dec  2022 

 

 Elephant Ear Planthas a healthy fruiting bodyYio Chu Kang Cres River Bank17 Dec  2022, Singapore Roadside and mall plants have shrivelled fruiting bodiesdue to stresses of traffic air pollution

African Tulip Treehas abundant orange red flowers. Rare sighting
Yio Chu Kang Cres forest, Singapore17 Dec 2022

Oriental Garden Lizardplays hide and seek with the photographerHealthy, young, cautious. Scurries to the back of the truck on seeing me. Finally, hops off the tree and runs to another Lentor Street Playground17 Dec 2022, Singapore

The elephant ear plant (Colocasia) provides a bold tropical effect in nearly any landscape setting. In fact, these plants are commonly grown for their large, tropical-looking foliage, which is reminiscent of elephant ears.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Tips For Growing Elephant Ear Plants https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/elephant-ear/growing-elephant-ear-plants.htm

AFRICAN TULIP TREE (Spathodea Campanulata)

The African Tulip Tree was introduced to Singapore in the 1910's from Uganda, Africa. It was brought into Singapore to be planted as roadside trees because of its colorful red flowers, and its ability to grow very rapidly, up to 6 ft a year. Unfortunately, growing quickly also means that the wood tends to be soft and brittle and the branches are likely to break in a strong wind. In addition, its shallow roots do not make this tree suitable for roadside planting. Unfortunately, by the time this was realized, the African Tulip has adapted so well to Singapore’s climate that it can now be found growing wild all over Singapore. 
 
The flower buds form a ball-shaped cluster. Each brown banana-shaped flower bud is filled with water, forming a natural water pistol when squeezed. The outer buds bloom first before the inner ones. The tree blooms all year round and the flower lasts about 3 days. When the pod splits, it releases masses of winged seeds, a reason why it is among the first large trees to colonize wastelands. The split ripe pods has a woody, boat-shaped form and children use them in boat races, by placing the opened pods in a fast flowing drain. The seeds are edible. The soft, white timber is used in paper making. In West Africa, their homeland, the wood is used to make dr