Life is all about Choices...

I used to like the look of Casuarina that laid the entire stretch of path. And used to curse the casuarina pine fruits as i skated down the uneven path. Now i see it almost everyday. It's like any other trees to me

Cauarina Equisetifolia is commonly known as just Casuarina, Ru, or Australian Pine. I still rem being amazed to find pine trees at Northern thailand up in the mountains when i only associate Pine trees to temperate countries with winters.

These are hardy, large tree growing to about 25m tall, wiht a conical crown, capable of growing under almost any conditions. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots mean there is no need to use nitrogen-containing fertilisers on this tree.

Incredibly this tree produces its own fertiliser, provides the best firewood, an excellent wind-break, can be grown into a hedge or used for ornamental topiary work, produces very heavy, hard, durable timber which is termite-resistent, has bark which provides chemicals for tanning & dyeing, & also grown as an ornamental for roadsides & parks.

Apparently this is how Tanjong Rhu gos it's name when the land is once covered by Ru.

There are separate male & female trees, & sometimes bisezual plant. The true leaves are tiny, so the green branches take oer their role in photosynthesis. Male flowers consist only of one stamen but many male flowers are found on the pendulous branch tips. Female flowers consist of a single pistil & are bunched together in a structure resembling a head of bright reddish-pink hair. The fruits resembling tiny durians.

So tolerant of salt is the Ru that specimens growing on eroded beaches can have their roots immersed in seawater at high tide.

Information taken from '35 native plants of singapore' by Hugh T.W. Tan & Chua Keng Soon

Pictures can be found here: http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/casuarina/equisetifolia.htm

The Common Spathoglottis (Spathoglottis Plicata) belongs to the orchid family. This beautiful orchid is one of the toughest 'weeds' in Singapore. The pleated, elliptic leaves ranged from less than 30cm long to about 1m in length, arising from the bulb-like fleshy stems called pseudobulbs. The flowering shoot varies from 20cm to 1.5m in height, bearing flowers with sepals & petals ranging from white to dark rosy-purple. Some forms are self-pollinating & can reproduce by itself (weeds).

A traditional use of the plant's large leaves has been for wrapping parcels, & accordin to Oang Asli folklore, a decoction of the plant can be used for rheumatism.

It can be a ground cover or grown for ornamental purposes. However, it is prone to scale insect attack .

Pictures can be seen here http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Spathoglottis%20plicata/Main.html

The Malayan Fern Palm (Cycas Rumphii) grows to about 10m in height with leaves up to 2m in length. They can be Male or Female. Instead of flowers, cones grow at the trunk tips. Cones are compactly & regularly arranged on the male, but loosely arranged on the female plant. Both exude a musky scent to attract insect pollinators.

The seeds, the size of a hen's egg are dark shiny green when ripe and are poisonous. Soaking the seeds in water for a few days, changing the water frequently durin the proccess can leach out the poison (a toxic glucoside), for then a flour can be prepared from the seeds.

The Malays are said to eat the fiddleheads & also a kind of sago-like flour made from the trunks. Other parts of the plant have traditional medicinal applications.

pictures can be seen here. http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Cycas%20rumphii/Main.html
Very nicely taken pics.

Everyone know and seen the Pitcher Plant before i believe.
It's Scientific name is: Nepenthes Gracilis
Family name being: Nepenthaceae

How does this plant survive in environments offering only poor nutrition? The tips of leaves develop into a 'pitcher'. Nectar stores on the underside of the phitcher lid produce a sugary solution which attracts insects, usually ants, which occasionally fall into the pitcher & drown in the fluid inside. When the insects rot, it produce nutrients to be absorbed by the plant.

However, Pitchers may be possible breeding areas for mosquito larvae, which can be prevented by stuffing with cotton wool or have insecticide dropped in periodically.

I was helping to coordinate this Learning Journey tour. Had some delays but hopefully everyone enjoyed nonetheless.
Below are some blurry photos.
Pulau Bukom i think

Then Raffles Lighthouse which was guarded by an army ship.

Finally this super blur photo of a 'war-like' ship haha. No. It's a ship for cargo only. Did u notice a small boat beside. Guess what's it doing? Can you believe the ship is actually turned but 2 small tug boats beside pulling it!