Cheng T’ng

I am back at Bukit Timah Hill again. Was actually here with MS to help him with his CTFS surveys last week but I have not blogged about that yet, since needed his help for some IDs.

It is really a good time to visit BTNR now as it is the masting season, where lots of big trees will flower and fruit. One of these trees is Scaphium macropodum.

Here is the tree that can be seen just along the main trail at the start of Keruing Path.

Here is a close up of the fruit cluster.

The fruit is made up of a papery wing that aids in seed dispersal and at one end, a hard pericarp that encapsulates a seed. The wing structure causes it to spin, slowing it’s movement to the ground thus allowing it to move further away from the parent tree by the wind.

The seed when placed in hot water produces an edible jelly that is used in our local dessert, Cheng T’ng. I tried it, but unfortunately only managed to get a little jelly popping out here and there as shown in the picture.

Nparks happen to have a meeting here too and I met Adelle with her civet cat that was rescued at Ubin. Man, it was really damn adorable!