Semambu (Neem)

Azadirachta indica

Family: Meliaceae

Azadirachta indica, commonly known as margosa, neem, nim tree, or Indian lilac, is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and to parts of Southeast Asia, but is naturalized and grown around the world in tropical and subtropical areas. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.

Margosa fruit, seeds, leaves, stems, and bark contain diverse phytochemicals, some of which were first discovered in azadirachta seed extracts, such as azadirachtin established in the 1960s as an insect antifeedant, growth disruptor, and insecticide. Margosa leaves are dried in India and placed in cupboards to prevent insects from eating the clothes, and also in tins where rice is stored. 

Alexander Palm

Archontophoenix alexandrae

Family: Arecaceae

Commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm, is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek ἄρχων (árkhōn), meaning "chieftain" or "ruler", combined with the palm genus Phoenix, and refers to the regal stature of the trees. The species epithet is given in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark. 

The fruit of the Alexandra palm is eaten by many bird species, notably the metallic starling (Aplonis metallica), may consume all of the ripe fruits within an hour. Other common bird species include the Torresian imperial pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) and the wompoo fruit dove (Ptilinopus magnificus). Fruits are also eaten by fruit bats and the musky rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus). 

 Buluh Madu

Gigantochloa albociliata

Family: Poaceae

Gigantochloa albociliata is an evergreen, clump-forming, perennial bamboo growing from 6 - 16 meters tall. The erect, thick-walled, woody culms are 15 - 70mm in diameter with internodes 15 - 60cm long. The plant can shed its leaves during dry seasons.

The plant is commonly harvested from the wild as a source of food and materials for both local use and trade. In Thailand, the young shoots are also canned and exported to countries such as Japan. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in gardens. It is cultivated on a small scale for its canes, but no large-scale plantations exist, because rich natural stands are available.

 Kenanga Hutan (Ylang-Ylang)

Cananga odorata

Family: Anonaceae

Cananga odorata, known as ylang-ylang or cananga tree, is a tropical tree that is native to and originated in the Philippines and spread to Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Queensland, Australia. It is valued for the essential oils extracted from its flowers, which have a strong floral fragrance. Ylang-ylang is one of the most extensively used natural materials in the perfume industry, earning it the name "Queen of Perfumes".

The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. It is believed to relieve high blood pressure and normalize sebum secretion for skin problems and is considered to be an aphrodisiac. The oil from ylang-ylang is widely used in perfumery for oriental- or floral-themed perfumes (such as Chanel No. 5). 

Medang Teja

Cinnamommum iners

Family: Lauraceae

Cinnamomum iners is an evergreen tree growing up to 20 m in height; the branches have opposite twigs, robust and angular, sometimes tetragonal, glabrescent. This species grows in moist woods and thickets, up to 1000 meters in elevation.

Both the leaves and wood are used as a spice. Medicinal properties can be found in all parts of the tree. The wood is used to reduce fever, while other plant parts have been used to treat gastrointestinal and urinary problems, childbirth complications, rheumatism, and flatulence. 

 

Durian

Durio zibethinus

Family: Rutaceae

The genus Durio that are known as durian and has edible fruit also known as durian. As with most other durian species, the edible flesh emits a distinctive odour that is strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance; others find the aroma overpowering and revolting. 

The persistence of its odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in Southeast Asia.D. zibethinus flowers are visited by bats which eat the pollen and pollinate the flowers. The flowers open in the afternoon and shed pollen in the evening.

 

Pandan (Pandanus)

Pandanus amaryllifolius

Family: Pandanaceae

Pandanus amaryllifolius is a tropical plant in the Pandanus genus, which is commonly known as pandan. It has fragrant leaves which are used widely for flavouring in the cuisines of Southeast Asia.

The taste of pandan has been described as floral, sweet, grassy, as well as like vanilla. It often has a subtle flavor or scent. The green juice acquired from its leaf is used extensively in Malaysian cuisine, Indonesian cuisine, and Philippine cuisine as green food colouring and flavouring agents that gives a pleasant aroma to traditional cakes such as kue and kakanin; including klepon, kue putu, dadar gulung, lapis legit, pandan cake, buko pandan salad, and buko pandan cake. The tied knot of bruised pandan leaf is also added into fragrant coconut rice to enhance the aroma.

 Serdang

Saribus rotundifolius (Lam.) Blume

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae)

It is a tall palm with a solitary stem, growing to about 18–27m tall. Foliage: its long-stalked, spirally arranged palmate leaves have leaf blades that are almost round in outline, and regularly divided to about half of the length, 1.2m in diameter. It is suitable for growing along streetscapes and in parks and gardens for its attractive round leaves, and ornamental fruits.

Also known as the Table Palm or Fan Palm. S. rotundifolia is a very attractive and elegant palm with large, shiny, fan-shaped leaves and thorny stems. The palm adapts to indoor living extremely well, being undemanding and tolerating some degree of neglect. Brown leaf tips are commonplace and are often trimmed back by the growers to maintain a greener look.

Leopard Tree (Brazillian Ironwood)

Libidibia ferrea - syn: Caesalpinia ferrea

Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Common Name:  Leopard Tree, Brazilian Ironwood A medium-sized tree with an umbrella-shaped, relatively flat-topped crown of tiny, feathery compound leaves. Fairly open crown but provides a surprisingly dense shade. The highlight of the tree is the trunk - which has smooth, light grey to ivory bark, mottled with brown or dark grey patches, hence the common name of Leopard Tree. 

The bark peels off in batches with age, adding to the appeal. Libidibia ferrea, formerly Caesalpinia ferrea, is a tree found in Brazil and Bolivia. Its wood is often used for making fingerboards for electric guitars and basses also be used for flooring, fancy furniture, and handgun grips. 

Tembusu (Ironwood)

Fragrea fragrans

Family: Gentianaceae

Also known as Ironwood is a slow-growing, medium-sized or occasionally large, evergreen tree with a conical crown; usually growing 8 - 25 metres tall but with some specimens attaining a height of 55 metres and the plant sometimes being no more than a shrub. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 150cm in diameter and is occasionally fluted or with buttresses up to 2.5 metres high.

The tree yields high-quality timber and an excellent fuel and charcoal. It is planted for reforestation purposes, at least partly due to its ability to suppress the dense cover of weeds, including Imperata cylindrica (lalang) and Gleichenia linearis (paku resam) and soil stabilization programmes. 

Belimbing Buluh

Averrhoa bilimbii

Family: Oxalidaceae

Averrhoa bilimbi (commonly known as bilimbi, cucumber tree, or tree sorrel) is a fruit-bearing tree of the genus Averrhoa, family Oxalidaceae. It is believed to be originally native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia but has naturalized and is common throughout Southeast Asia. 

It is cultivated in parts of tropical South Asia and the Americas. It bears edible extremely sour fruits. It is a close relative of the carambola tree. In Malaysia locally known as belimbing buluh, is often used to give a sour or acidic flavor to food, substituting tamarind or tomato. 

Limau Purut (Kaffir Lime)

Citrus hystrix

Family: Rutaceae

Citrus hystrix, called the kaffir lime or makrut lime, is a citrus fruit native to tropical Southeast Asia. Its fruit and leaves are used in Southeast Asian cuisine, and its essential oil is used in perfumery. Its rind and crushed leaves emit an intense citrus fragrance.

In the 1888 book The Cultivated Oranges, Lemons Etc. of India and Ceylon by Emanuel Bonavia, who notes, the plantation workers also smear it over their feet and legs, to keep off land leeches; therefore, in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] it has also got the name of Kudalu dchi, or Leech Lime. Europeans call it Caffre Lime.

Limau Kesturi (Calamansi)

Citrus microcarpa

Family: Rutaceae

 

Calamansi is the Philippine English spelling of Tagalog kalamansi, and is the name by which it is most widely known in the Philippines. Other English common names of calamansi include: lemonsito (or limoncito), Philippine lime, calamonding, calamondin orange, calamandarin, golden lime, Philippine lemon, Panama orange (also used for kumquats), musk orange, bitter-sweets and acid orange.

Calamansi was formerly identified as Citrus mitis Blanco, C. microcarpa Bunge, or C. madurensis Lour. All those referred to it as a citrus. The fruits are sour and are often used for preserves or cooking (to flavor food and drinks). 

Palas (Fan Palm)

Licuala spinosa

Family: Arecacea

Licuala spinosa, the Mangrove fan palm, is native to the wet places of fresh and saltwater of Southeast Asia. L. spinosa grows 2 to 7 m high, with a trunk of 4-7cm. It may grow in clumps. It prefers full sun, and a lot of water, and is harder than most Licuala species.

In this region, its leaves are used to make hats and wrap food. Its heart and terminal bud prepared as a vegetable are appreciated by Asians. In traditional Cambodian medicine, both as a febrifuge remedy and for preparation for the health of the foetus, use the root of the palm in compounds, while the bark of the trunk is used to treat tuberculosis. 

 Rambutan

Nephelium lappaceum

Family: Sapindaceae

Rambutan is a medium-sized tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. It is closely related to several other edible tropical fruits, including the lychee, longan, and pulasan. The leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or yellow) and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name, which means 'hairs' (Sapindaceae). 

The name rambutan is derived from the Malay word rambut meaning 'hair' referring to the numerous hairy protuberances of the fruits, together with the noun-building suffix -an. Rambutan fruit is 78% water, 21% carbohydrates, 1% protein. 

 

Kundang (Plum Mango)

Bouea macrophylla

Family: Anacardiaceae

Bouea macrophylla, commonly known as gandaria or plum mango or mango plum in English, is a species of flowering plant native to Southeast Asia. The tree belongs to the family Anacardiaceae which also includes mango and cashew.

The fruit (resembling a mango) is green in colour and mature to an orange/yellow, with the seed being pink. The entire fruit, including its skin is edible. The fruit range from sweet to sour in flavour and have a light smell of turpentine. When ripe, the fruit is soft and has fibrous mango-like seeds that have a noticeable purple color.

Sentul (Cotton Fruit)

Sandoricum koetjape

Family: Meliaceae

Sandoricum koetjape, the santol, sentul, or cotton fruit, is a tropical fruit native to maritime Southeast Asia (Malesia). There are two varieties of santol fruit, previously considered two different species, the yellow variety and the red. The difference is in the color that the older leaves turn before falling. The red appears to be more common and the reddish leaves mixed with the green ones add to the distinction and attractiveness of the tree.

It is often edible and, in some cultivars may contain a milky juice. The central pulp near the seeds may be sweet or sour and contains inedible brown seeds. In some varieties, the outer rind is thicker and is the main edible portion, with a mild peachy taste combined with some taste and the pulpy texture of apples. 

 Merbau (Melaka Teak)

Intsia palembanica

Family: Fabaceae

Intsia palembanica is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. Common names include Borneo teak, Malacca teak, Merbau, and Moluccan ironwood. It is native to tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia and the islands of the southwest Pacific.

It is mainly threatened by logging for its timber, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. The timber is sold locally and internationally. Listed near threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Symbolism: On 23 August 2019, the tree, locally known as pokok merbau, officially became the national tree of Malaysia. The then-Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, stated that it represented the strength and endurance of Malaysia's people.

Simpoh Gajah (Elephant Apple)

Dillenia indica

Family: Dilleniaceae

This tree has attractive, large, yellow-petalled flowers. The prop roots at the base of the trunk make this an interesting addition to landscape design. Its tolerance for damp soil makes it suitable for waterlogged sites that most plants do not favor.

It is suitable for gardens, parks, streetscapes (not too near the road, as the fruits are big, round and heavy), and riverine parks. Its seeds are said to be dispersed by elephants.

Edible Plant Parts Food: The fleshy sepals surrounding the fruit are edible and taste like unripe apples. It is usually eaten with curries or made into jams. Timber & Products: The timber was used for building houses, ships, and telegraph poles. 

 Keruing Gombang Merah

Dipterocarpus kuntsleri

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

Keruing is the name given to the timber yielded from more than 70 species of the genus Dipterocarpus. It is a hardwood native to Southeast Asia and used in a wide variety of internal and external applications.

Keruing timber is low maintenance, hardwearing, and ideal for outdoor furniture use. The wood is strong and classified as durable, making it useful for construction purposes. Other common uses include internal flooring, protected framing and boards, internal joinery and moldings, lining, paneling, and framework. Preservative-treated material is used for poles, piles, sleepers, and cross-arms.  

Jambu Air (Sea Apple)

Syzygium aqueum

Family: Myrtaceae

S. aqueum is a species of brush cherry tree. Its common names include watery rose apple, water apple, and bell fruit.  The tree is cultivated for its wood and edible fruit. The fruit is a fleshy whitish-pinkish to yellowish-pinkish or red berry which is bell-shaped, waxy, and crisp.

S. aqueum is native to tropical Asia and Queensland. The tree requires heavy rainfalls and can survive in tropical habitats, up to 1600m from sea level. The fruit has a very mild and slightly sweet taste similar to apples, and a crisp watery texture like the inside of a watermelon. It is a staple of Southeast Asian fruit stands, where it is inexpensive while in season. It does not bruise easily and may be preserved for months in a household refrigerator.

 

Mahkota Dewa (God’s Crown)

Phaleria Macrocarpa

Family: Thymellaceae

Commonly called buah mahkota dewa (God's crown) and is a dense evergreen tree. Poison with a thousand benefits.  Although the herb is being used in both unprocessed and processed forms, however, the former can be poisonous and toxic. P. macrocarpa is being considered generally as a treatment of lifestyle diseases. 

Extracts of P. macrocarpa are reported for some pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-inflammation, anti-diarrhoeal, vasodilator, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effect. Its stem is used to treat bone cancer; egg shells of seeds are used in treating breast cancer, cervix cancer, lung diseases, liver, and heart diseases while leaves contain constituents that treat impotence, blood diseases, allergies, diabetes mellitus, and tumors. 

 

Tiger Orchid

Grammatophyllum speciosum

Also called giant orchid, tiger orchid, sugar cane orchid, or queen of the orchids. It is listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest orchid, with specimens recorded up to 7.62 meters (25 ft) in height.

It is the largest orchid species in the world with specimens growing up to 2 tonnes and bearing up to 7,000 at a time! It is often grown as an ornamental orchid in gardens and parks for its attractive foliage and large flowers. It is cultivated as an epiphyte, it flowers in January or July, but plants do not flower every year. It can also be cultivated in well-drained loose substrate as a terrestrial plant.

Pulai

Alstonia angustiloba

Family: Apocynaceae

Alstonia angustiloba grows as a large tree up to 40 metres (130 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 60 centimeters (24 in). The bark is greyish or brownish. Its fragrant flowers feature a white, yellow or cream corolla. It is planted along expressways, major roads, and in urban landscapes as an ornamental tree because of its attractive growth form. It is also tolerant of a wide range of soil types from waterlogged to drier conditions.