CentralTamalan Tree2014

Tamalan Tree (HT 2014-224)

This Heritage Tree can be found in Fort Canning Park, Fort Green.

A large tree stands on a lawn in front of an old building, with two people sitting on the grass nearby.

📷: Brendon Phuah

Heritage Tree Information

Reference ID
HT 2014-224

Scientific name: Dalbergia oliveri
Family name: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Girth: 5.48 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 14.6 m

Location
Fort Canning Park, Fort Green (View Map) (opens in new tab)

The Tamalan Tree is an extremely graceful tree, with its spreading crown of delicate, feathery-looking foliage. It can grow into a tall tree of about 20 m to 30 m. The leaves are pinnately compound. The small flowers are borne in bunches, where they are lilac during the budding stage, and eventually becoming pink, and finally white. Fruits are thin pods (flat, narrow and with a long stalk). They do not split open at maturity to liberate the (one, sometimes two or three) flat seeds.

This tree is native to Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. It was introduced into Singapore as an ornamental wayside tree. During the 1900s, it was extensively planted on Fort Canning but now, few can be seen along the roadside. Certain species of Dalbergia are timber trees of great value, such as the Brazilian Rosewood (D. nigra), the Indian Rosewood (D. latifolia) (opens in new tab) and the African Blackwood (D. melanoxylon).

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