Cheng Tng Tree

The most common trees in Singapore are the rain tree (Samanea saman), the angsana (Pterocarpus indicus), the kayu manis hutan (Cinnamomum iners), the MacArthur's Palm (Ptychosperma macarthuri), the Khaya senegalensis, the jambu ayer laut (Eugenia grandis), the acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) and the Paraserianthes falcataria (Albizia falcataria).

But I'm sure you know that already.

Me? I was totally clueless and had to dig it out.

I'm preparing for a little excursion this Thursday, thanks to Naggy Ng's wonderful idea.

"The HSBC TreeTop Walk is the highlight of an 11 km-hiking route in MacRitchie that brings you through different stages of mature secondary forest. The first of its kind in Singapore and in the region, this free-standing suspension bridge connects the two highest points (Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang) in MacRitchie and offers a bird’s eye view of the community of plants and animals that live in the forest canopy."

A preliminary survey on the HSBC TTW has identified the following flora and fauna:

• 80 birds including 16 forest specialists. Some of these forest birds include the Drongo Cuckoo, Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Thick-Billed Green-Pigeon, Asian Fairy Bluebird and the Green Leafbirds.
• 8 reptiles including the Black-bearded Dragon and the Clouded Monitor that sleeps on the Terentang tree at night
• 18 rare trees and climbers including the Cheng Tng Tree (Scaphium macropodum) and Cyathocalyx ridleyi. "

I didn't know there was such a thing as a Cheng Tng (a local desert here) Tree.

Fascinating.

Here's a useful link to find out more about the diversity of trees /plants we have in Singapore.

And here's another great website.

I'm looking forward to my little walk on Thursday. And I'll promise you pictures.

Just don't put too much hope on the captions though.