Rain Tree (HT 2007 161)

Reference ID
HT 2007-161

Scientific name: Samanea saman
Family name: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Girth: 5.76 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 21.6 m

Location
Seletar Airbase, open space
between Old Birdcage Walk
and Oxford Street

The tree can grow up to 30 m in height with an umbrella-shaped crown, spreading 20 to 30m across. The bark is dark brown, rough and flaky in mature specimens while its leaves are twice pinnate compound. Its small clusters of flowers are pinkish or whitish and slightly fragrant and its fruit pods are thick, long, straight and fleshy inside. The pods ripen black and do not split open. The seeds readily germinate into seedlings, sometimes while still inside the fruit. Epiphytes like ferns and orchids tend to perch on old Rain Trees.

The leaflets of the Rain Tree fold up in the evenings; this was why the Malays called it Pukul Lima, which means 5 o'clock. This was because 5 pm used to be closer to the sunset hour in Singapore and Malaysia before changes to Standard Time were made on 1 Jan 1982. Notably, the leaflets began to close about one-and-a-half hours before sunset and open about the same time after sunrise. The leaflets also close during the day when the sky was overcast, thus giving rise to the name, Rain Tree.

This Tropical American species has been dispersed throughout the tropics since the middle of the 1900s. It was introduced to Singapore in 1876 and spread throughout the region. Due to its excellent shade, the species was planted in the 1900s in coffee and nutmeg plantations, and along roadsides. The sweetish fruit pulp was relished by cattle, goats, horses, pigs and even children in some countries.

This particular Heritage Rain Tree has an extremely impressive crown spread, and it must have been a joy for the former residents / staff / visitors of the airbase to have enjoyed its lovely shade.

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

Gallery

📷: Brendon Phuah