The Tembusu Tree

Tembusu Tree

The tree

The tree is native to Singapore. It is a large evergreen tree and can grow up to 40 metre tall.
The trunk is dark brown in colour with deeply fissured bark.

                                                              

Tembusu Tree

Dark brown trunk with deeply fissured bark of Tembusu tree

Uniquely perpendicular branches of Tembusu tree

The leaves

The leaves are oval shape and light green in colour.

Oval shape leaves of Tembusu tree

The flowers

Creamy white in colour and open in the evening and exude a distinct sweet smelling fragrance.
Flowering seasons are around May to June and October to November.

Flower buds n creamy white flower of Tembusu tree

Creamy white flowers of Tembusu tree

The fruits

The fruits are bitter tasting red berries and eaten by birds and fruit bats.

Flower buds n unripe green berries of Tembusu tree

Ripe red berries of Tembusu tree

Uses


The trunk is a very hard wood and is used as timber to build houses, bridges, telephone and electric line posts. It is also the preferred material to make chopping boards.


Others

The back of the Singapore $5.00 note shows a very well-known Tembusu tree in the Botanic Garden. Many visitors had taken photographs while sitting on the low lying branch. The tree could be more than  150 years old.

The photographs shown above are taken at Pasir Ris Town Park.