EastJelawai Jaha2003

Jelawai Jaha (HT 2003-125)

This Heritage Tree can bef ound in Changi, near the junction of Loyang Avenue and Halton Road.

Tall trees stand in a grassy area with houses and other vegetation visible in the background under a clear sky.

📷: Heritage Tree Secretariat

Heritage Tree Information

Reference ID
HT 2003-125

Scientific name: Terminalia subspathulata
Family name: Combretaceae
Girth: 4.81 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 41 m

Location
Changi, near junction of Loyang Avenue and Halton Road (View Map) (opens in new tab)

The Jelawai Jaha or Terminalia subspathulata is a forest tree that is native to Singapore and can grow up to 45 m in height or more. It can also be found naturally distributed in the forests of Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Java. The trunk is heavily buttressed, and the bark is pale brown with narrow cracks. This emergent tree has a wide and flat-topped crown — a character, particularly distinct in mature trees of this species. Its open and tiered crown has been observed to be favoured by large birds of prey as nesting sites in Singapore.

The spatula-shaped leaves are leathery, bearing long leaf stalks and are spirally arranged, with its edges curved. The Jelawai Jaha bears greenish to yellow flowers which are pollinated by insects while its flat, two-winged fruits are wind dispersed.

This Heritage Tree had an estimated girth of 2 m in 2003, and 2.5 m at 4 m height. Measured with the buttresses at 1.3 m height, the girth was 4.15 m in 2014.

For more information on this species, please refer to NParks' Flora & Fauna Web profile. (opens in new tab)