CentralTemak2013

Temak (HT 2013-218)

This Heritage Tree can be found in Singapore Botanic Gardens, along Main Gate Road.

A large tree with dense green foliage beside a pathway; several people are walking along the path surrounded by greenery.

📷: Hazri Boey

Heritage Tree Information

Reference ID
HT 2013-218

Scientific name: Anthoshorea roxburghii
Family name: Dipterocarpaceae
Girth: 3.46 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 27.2 m

Location
Singapore Botanic Gardens, along Main Gate Road (View Map) (opens in new tab)

The Temak is a large semi-deciduous tree with thick, fissured bark and a dense crown of oblong to elliptical leaves. The pinwheel-shaped flowers are about 2.5 cm across, white with a red-tinge in the centre. They develop into winged nuts with three outer wings growing up to 9 cm long and two smaller inner wings up to 4.5 cm long.

This species was introduced to Singapore, where its native range extends from India through continental Southeast Asia to the northern Peninsular Malaysia. It was thought that this Heritage Tree was probably planted in the late 1960s - early 1970s, possibly being one of the Dipterocarp trees that was planted along the Main Gate Road by Mr. Wong Yew Kwan, the first Commissioner of Parks and Recreations.

Dipterocarp trees, like the Temak, exhibit a masting behaviour where the same species flower and fruit simultaneously. This Heritage Tree was observed to flower and set fruit three times previously within 1983-1986 and three more times recently in 2012-2014.

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