Dillenia albiflos in flower

It's been quite some time since i updated my blog. Sorry about the delay though i wasn't really sure who often visited my blog anyway. On my recent fieldtrip to Johore, i manage t capture the bloom of Dillenia albiflos or more well known as 'simpoh puteh'. This is my first time witnessing the fresh flower. The flower is small in size and white in colour (photo as below).

Well, the interesting fact about this species is that it is restricted in certain part of Johore. My first encounter with this species is in Panti Forest Reserve and i also noted this species in my recent visit to Hutan Lipur Gunung Berlumut. The inflorescence of this species are slightly different compared to other species of Dillenia in Peninsuar Malaysia as the racemes are more complex and seems to be dangling down from the terminal end of the twig. Another thing that i noted is that the flower of this species faces downwards (photo as below).

Below is the photo on the habit of D. albiflos. Although this tree is captured during flowering season, the inflorescence and flowers are hardly visible. This is mainly because the flowers are small and white in colour, therefore much paler and not as striking and big as flowers of other Dillenia species in Peninsular Malaysia that are yellow orangey.

Dillenia suffruticosa in Kuching, Sarawak

On my previous trip to Kuching, Sarawak lately, i found out that there are abundance of 'simpoh ayer' that can be found growing wild there. It can be found almost everywhere, by the roadside, at the bushes and even on the island on rocks formation in Bako National Park. Pretty amazing plant and they are pretty well known to the natives too. My tour guide, Stephen (Kelabit tribe) told us that they use the leaves from this simpoh to wrap food inside the jungle as they help to avoid the food from going bad and the leaves are very fragrance.

Below, is the flower of Dillenia suffruticosa which i captured during my trip to Semengoh Rehabilitation Centre. The flower and leaves characters are consistant with the one found in Peninsular Malaysia.

I noticed that they are often planted as ornamental plant here in Sarawak too. On my trip to Bako National Forest, i managed to catch a glimpse of a rather poisonous snake resting on the simpoh branch after its lunch, waiting for digestion (photo below). See whether you have a good eye sight to spot it!

Ethnobotany usage of 'simpoh' & their identification

It had been a long time since i updated this blog. I was rather buzy with work and family affairs lately. However, i would like to share a poster that i had presented lately at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Seminar at Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. This seminar was organized by FRIM. For those who are interested in the ethnobotany of 'simpoh' and would like to get some tips to identify them can do so by browsing through my poster. I had presented only 5 species of 'simpoh' (Dillenia) that occur in Peninsular Malaysia that were used by certain ethnic in not only Malaysia but also Southeast Asia. Furthermore, i had included the latest distribution of Dillenia species in Peninsular Malaysia.

High time for Dillenia excelsa blooms

It's high time for Dillenia excelsa at FRIM in blooms now. It is really an amazing view to witness espeially in the morning as the flowers are still fresh and the bright yellow petals are still intact. The contrast colour of the stamens which are purplish highlighted the flower even more. There are 2 types of stamen that can be witnessed on the flower, the inner stamens which are introse at the tip while the outer stamens are shorter and spreading. Note that all the flowers of 'simpoh ungu' are facing the upwards position.

Blooms of Dillenia sumatrana

The photo above is the blooming flower of Dillenia sumatrana Miq. I'd bumped into this species in my recent trip to Pasoh Forest Reserve. According to Encik Abu, this species is very common in Pasoh. I'm fortunate to have a sighting of this blooming flower. The tree is about 2-2.5 metre tall with greyish-brown bark. It's a pity that i didn't have time to capture the habit of this tree. I noticed that the flower of this species faces upwards when bloom.

The flower of simpoh bukit is quite small about 2.5-3 cm diameter. One of the diagnostic characters for this species is the inflorescence of this species are usually available in pairs or triplets at the terminal of twig. Besides that, the sepals and pedicels of this species are very densely hirsute (yellowish-white) and the indumentum will turn more golden in colour when dried. The petals are obovate, golden or egg-yolk yellow and are caducuous in the evening. As this is my first sighting of the bloom of this species, i managed to notice that the stamens are divided into two distinct parts. The inner stamens are longer and the tips are slightly bended outwards while the outer stamens are shorter (photo below). Both stamens are yellow in colour. Meanwhile, from top the style are pearl white and forming star-like shape. Besides that, the carpel are cylindrical in shape (photo below).

Usage of 'Simpoh' in Peninsular Malaysia

There are very minimum usage of Dillenia in Peninsular Malaysia. Simpoh timber are usually being treated with preservatives before being used in various medium-heavy construction. Simpoh timbers are suitable for posts, beams, joints, doors, windows, furniture and other decorative works (Kochummen 1972). Two main species that contributed as simpoh timber are D. reticulata and D. grandifolia. Besides being used in construction, a few simpoh species that have showy flower and attractive foliage are being used as ornamental plants and being planted along highways, housing areas and gardens. Those species are D. suffruticosa and D. indica. However, D. excelsa sometimes is also being planted as ornamental plants. Furthemore, fruits of Dillenia that are indehiscence in certain species are eaten in the form of curry or jelly (Hoogland 1951).

What's Dillenia?

Dillenia or much known as 'simpoh' or 'chimpoh' by the locals has very large and attractive flowers with huge leaves that are toothed. Besides that, fallen leaves of 'simpoh' will leave horse-shoe scars on it's twig. The bark of the tree are usually red to pinkish red or brown-orangey though the dead outer bark may be greyish in colour (Ridley 1922). The name 'simpoh' that had been given by the locals is believed being obtained through the hissing sound made by the tree trunk when being slashed using 'parang'. Please take note that the sound can only be heard when one stuck his or her ear at the area that is being slashed. The hissing sound is obtained due to the process of air being sucked through the empty spaces in the wood when water is being sent from the trunk to the leaves.