Jelawai Jaha (HT 2003 125)

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, Loyang Avenue
near junction with Halton
Road

The Jelawai Jaha 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.

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

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

Gallery

📷: Heritage Tree Secretariat