Tanjong Tree (HT 2003 93)

Reference ID
HT 2009-93

Scientific name: Mimusops elengi
Family name: Sapotaceae
Girth: 3.82 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 9.2 m

Location
Sentosa, Madame Tussands
Singapore forecourt

The Tanjong Tree is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 15 m in height. It has a rounded crown, and the leaves are smooth and simple with wavy margins. Its white flowers are small and star-shaped with a sweet smell.

The fruit is orange-red with velvety skin and contains a single large hard seed. Birds such as the Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis, Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) and Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) feed on the ripe fruit.

In the past, children would string the dried star-like flowers into necklaces. The tree has many traditional medicinal uses: the leaves are used to ease headaches, the bark is used to treat pimples and the roots are used to soothe sore throats.

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

Gallery

📷: Brendon Phuah