Kempas (HT 2015 243)

Reference ID
HT 2015-243

Scientific name: Koompassia malaccensis
Family name: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Girth: 4.51 m @ 1.3 m height
Height: 38.6 m

Location
Singapore Botanic Gardens,
behind Corner House

An endangered species, resident of lowland freshwater peat-swamp forests and native to Singapore, the Kempas is a lofty emergent tree that bears leathery pinnate leaves. Its leaflets vary between being egg-shaped to lance-shaped. Its straight cylindrical trunk can grow up to 60 m tall, with the branches occurring at the top of the tree, and its wood is highly sought after for timber. This giant also develops huge thick plank buttresses up to 6 m in height, much taller than any man!

When this tree begins to bloom, its crown becomes densely covered in white flowers. Its fruit is a flat and thin oblong pod about 3–4.5 cm wide by 9.5–15 cm long and contains a flat seed.

The genus Koompassia is a Latinised derivation of Kempas, the Malay name of this species. The specific epithet malaccensis is Latin for 'Malacca', referring to one locality in the natural distribution of this species. Kempas Road, located in Bendemeer district, is named after this species' common name.

This Heritage Tree is one of the biggest specimens in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and can also be viewed up-close by the public. This Heritage Tree is dedicated to Mingxin Foundation, for their generous contributions to NParks' registered charity and Institution of a Public Character (IPC), the Garden City Fund.

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

Gallery

📷: Hazri Boey