Penaga Laut (HT 2001 20)

Reference ID
HT 2001-20

Scientific name: Calophyllum inophyllum
Family name: Calophyllaceae
Girth: 7.14 m @ 1 m height
Height: 20.5 m

Location
Singapore Botanic Gardens,
opposite Botany Centre
Auditorium

The Penaga Laut is a slow-growing, evergreen tree that can reach 30 m in height. This species is native to Singapore and is endangered in the wild locally.

A wide-spreading crown supported by a short, thick trunk with dark brown bark that is deeply cracked (fissured) is a characteristic of Penaga Laut. The scientific name Calophyllum means "beautiful leaf" in Greek and aptly describes the attractive dark green, glossy, and leathery leaves. Lined with numerous slender parallel veins, this feature is distinctive of the Calophyllum genus. During flowering, clusters of white blooms emit a sweet fragrance, which helps to attract pollinating insects like bees. Its ball-shaped fruit measures 2-5 cm in diameter and is light green in colour.

Penaga Laut is exceptional as all parts of the tree – the leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds, wood, root – can be used. For example, the fragrant oil pressed from the seeds is valued for use in cosmetics and soap-making, and has medicinal qualities. The resin, leaves and roots also have medicinal uses while the heavy, reddish wood can be used in heavy construction, boat building and for furniture.

This Penaga Laut is more than 100 years old and the Botany Centre was designed and built around it in order to preserve it. This Heritage Tree had a girth of 6.8m in Year 2001 and 6.9m in 2014.

For more information on this species, please refer to NParks Flora & Fauna Web profile here.

Gallery

📷: Hazri Boey