Jelawai Jaha (HT 2001 25)

Reference ID
HT 2003-124

Scientific name: Terminalia subspathulata
Family name: Combretaceae
Girth: 6.13m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 41.8 m

Location
Singapore Botanic Gardens,
Rainforest entrance, near
Lower Ring Rd

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 spathula-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.

One of the tallest trees in Singapore Botanic Gardens, this Jelawi Jaha was discovered during the construction of the Gardens and has been standing here for more than 150 years. This Heritage Tree had a girth of 6.5m when measured in Year 2001. The buttresses are up to 5m high. Measured at 1.3m height including the buttresses, the girth was 11m in Year 2013.

Juveniles of the Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus) have been observed taking shelter in the trunk hollow of this Heritage Tree.

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

Gallery

📷: Heritage Tree Secretariat