Singapore Botanic Gardens

[Miccles]

Hi all,

Have been over in Indonesia for the last two weeks, and returned to Oz via Singapore. Thinking ahead, I managed to wangle my flights so I arrived in Singapore with about 7hrs to spare until my flight back home. Just enough time to grab a taxi and zoom on over to the Botanic gardens with my camera!!

A bit of history on the gardens: The first "botanical and experimental garden" in Singapore was established in 1822 on Government Hill at Fort Canning by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore and a keen naturalist. The garden's main task was to evaluate for cultivation, crops which were of potential economic importance, including those yielding fruits, vegetables, spices and other raw materials.

This garden closed in 1829, and it was not until 30 years later that the present Singapore Botanic Gardens was founded by an agri-horticultural society. It was subsequently handed over to the government for maintenance and today is looked after by the National Parks board.

Many, many pictures to follow ! Not everything was labelled, so there is a "Mystery section" in with my pics... please feel free to put a name to a palm !!

Anyway, enough blah blah..... pictures to follow of a stunning, compact Botanic Gardens situated just 4 degrees north of the equator.

Best regards to all

-Michael.

[Miccles]

The front entrance was surrounded by Joey's, Licuala Grandis and Lipsticks (Cyrtostachys Renda).... there is a teriffic courtyard area surrounded by a giftshop/bookshop, and restaurant. It's a really great shady area, where people can gather before heading off to various parts of the garden.

[Miccles]

This courtyard area had many Elaeis Guineensis (African Oil palms) and P.Roebelenii as well....very peaceful and tranquil

[Miccles]

Ok.... time to go for a bit of a wander.....

These photo's aren't in any particular order - I hope you enjoy looking at these photos as much as I did in taking them. A wonderful garden with a variety of palms that was quite simply mind-blowing for this temperate-climate soul

Arenga Brevipes:

[Miccles]

More big Arenga's:

Arenga Pinnata

[Miccles]

Arenga Undulatifolia

[Miccles]

And Arenga Westerhoutii

[Miccles]

Enough Arenga's ???

OK...try this Areca Latiloba on for size

[Miccles]

A wonderful Areca Vestiara.... what a wonderful palm !

[Miccles]

The rainforest walk :

Hot, humid....... fantastic !

[Miccles]

Along the rainforest walk - a massive Borassodendron Machodonis...

Sorry for the slightly blurry pic.... was probably due to a combination of the humidity and the sight of this monster !!

[Miccles]

The entire place was picture perfect..... the grounds were immaculately attended to - in typical Singaporean fashion. All areas of the park were well posted, with plenty of information available for the visitor.

[Walter John]

Thanks, and am looking forward to more.

[Miccles]

No worries Wal...I saw one that made me think of you......you're from 'Queesland' aren't you ??

[Miccles]

You take the high road, and I'll take.......

[ariscott]

And you didn't stop in Darwin?????? You could've flown to Melbourne via Darwin with Tiger. Beautiful weather at the moment.

I should really make it to Singapore one day. It is actually quite cheap to go. Cheaper than going to Bali, if you believe.

Regards, Ari

Edited June 21, 2008 by ariscott

[Miccles]

Hi Ari,

Believe me, Darwin is in my thoughts right now....very ordinary weather in Melbourne today..... after a few weeks of 33deg C, it wasn't pleasant stepping out of Melb airport at 6am this morning into 9C and squally showers...

Anyhow....on with the pics..

Bactris sp.

[Miccles]

Here's two Chambeyronia Macrocarpa's I saw.... the first grown in full shade, the second in full sun.

[Miccles]

And in full sun:

[Miccles]

Some of the more open areas of the gardens housed the larger species such as Corypha, Bismarkia and Phoenix.... looked to be a popular area for pinics and just relaxing.

Two large Corypha Umbraculifera.

[Daryl]

Great photos miccles..keep 'em comin'

Daryl

[Miccles]

Species named "Calathea Undulata"... I don't see this listed in Riffle/Craft's Encyclopedia...omission or another name ?? Someone please let me know !

[ariscott]

Are you sure it is not a tag for a ginger next to it, or something? Calathea is a type of ginger....

Regards, Ari

[Miccles]

Whilst walking along the rainforest track, this Caryota species was right next to the path. Decided to do a "Dave", and use the old shoe for a bit of scale on the leaves.... apologies for the lily-white legs, but hey it's winter down here !

[Miccles]

Are you sure it is not a tag for a ginger next to it, or something? Calathea is a type of ginger....

Regards, Ari

Well there you go Ari - thanks for the info ! Appreciated !

[Miccles]

Two other large Caryota species in the open areas. The second picture shows the massive inflorescence at the top of the palm.

[Miccles]

But my question is: Is what species IS this ??

Maybe it's not a Caryota at all... input please ??

[Miccles]

Something different (for me anyway)...

Dictyosperma Album var Furfuraceum

[Miccles]

And here is the normal variety of Dictyosperma Album... one of my faves..

[Miccles]

Nice little grove of Dypssi Leptocheilos

[Daryl]

Miccles, post 27 is a Metroxylon, and post 29 looks like a Satakentia.

regards,

Daryl

[Miccles]

Miccles, post 27 is a Metroxylon, and post 29 looks like a Satakentia.

regards,

Daryl

Thanks for the corrections Daryl - I always looked for any ID with these palms - I guess mistakes will always happen - hence I look for the judgement of more experienced people such as yourself.

[Miccles]

I thought this was pretty impressive. The garden housed the "London millenium tree" - which is a gift from London to the people of Singapore. It's a Hevea Brasiliensis , also known as a rubber tree.

[Miccles]

In the following picture, you can see where someone has cut the trunk, causing natural latex to seep from the cut. There were numerous old cuts on the trunk of the tree where people had obviously done this over the years - much to the annoyance of the National parks Board, who have erected a barrier around the trunk in an effort to prevent this from happening.

[Miccles]

A wonderful Syagrus Amara

[Miccles]

A nicely shaded Rhapis species.... will show a close-up of the leaves in the next picture.

[Miccles]

Check out these beauties

[Miccles]

What a great spot to park, wouldn't you say ??

[Miccles]

Well that might do for this evening... plenty more photo's to post tomorrow. Hope that everyone is enjoying the variety of species in the gardens - please feel free to correct any incorrect ID's etc - all part of the learning process for me

[rthink]

Thanks for the pictures! I went there last year and I was totally lost in heaven there. Post #27 is Metroxylon solomonese full of seeds.