River Tristania commonly known as the Pelawan tree (Tristaniopsis whiteana)
River Tristania commonly known as the Pelawan tree (Tristaniopsis whiteana) is a medium sized tree (about 24 m tall) commonly found along roadsides in Singapore. In its native range it grows along coastal forests.
🌳Tristaniopsis whiteana belongs to the family Myrtaceae and is native to Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo.In Singapore it is listed as endangered.
🌳It has a beautiful, smooth peeling bark (that resembles the Eucalyptus barks in its peeling nature) It is whitish and peels to an orange, grey or brown colour. It is able to grow on very steep slopes, and is suitable for gardens, parks and streetscapes.
It is stalked leathery leaves are obovate, up to 20 cm by 5.5 cm.
🌳It has tiny flowers (5 mm wide), with white petals and a yellow center. Flowers are borne on a branched flowering shoot (5 - 7.5 cm wide).
🌳Its fruits are small, ellipsoid (2.5 - 4 mm wide).
🌳The tree is valued for its timber. The timber is strong and good for making straight beams and posts.
🌳ETYMOLOGY
The genus name, Tristania, commemorates Marquess de Tristan (1776–1861), a French botanist. The specific epithet, whiteana, commemorates Reverend White (c. 1841), a Christian chaplain in Singapore.
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