Search for Pemphis acidula

After a failed attempt to search for the plant as stated above about a month back, KY, CK, WF, A and I were back again at the shore near Changi. This plant was first discovered by Ria and gang.

Trekking through the rustic grassland,

 
and reaching this small reservoir, which when high tide comes will probably connect to the sea.

There were some Rhizophora saplings in the reservoir.

 
These are the fruits of the sea lettuce (Scaevola taccada). All of them were bearing juicy white fruits.

 
Some other mangrove plants include the red flowered Lumnitzera littorea,

 
and the white flowered Lumnitzera racemosa.

 
Also in abundance is Bruguiera cylindrica (above), and Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea (picture not shown).

 
And of course, the highlight of the day, Pemphis acidula. This critically endangered plant is probably the only one individual left on mainland.

 
The flower, with very short stamens. It is insect-pollinated and not self-compatible. Hence, WF and CK were suspecting another plant is nearby since this is fruiting. But we were unable to locate it.

 
Here is the fruit. The seeds are covered by the brown capsule.

 
Here is how the seeds looked like. They fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

 
And the seeds, when they are out. According to WF, they are dispersed by water.

 
I also managed to get some satisfying flower shots with my recently-repaired G11 and macro lens. This is the male flower of Buta-Buta (Excoecaria agallocha).

This it is the female cone of Casuarina equisetifolia.

 
This is the male cone~