Back

Palaquium obovatum (Griff.) Engl. var. obovatum

Family Name:	Sapotaceae
Synonyms:
Common Name:	Nyatoh Puteh, White Gutta, Nyatoh Putih, Nyatuh, Taban Puteh, Taban Balam Kuning

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Butterfly Host Plant

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Tree

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Native Distribution	From India to Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Growth Form	It is a tree up to 40 m tall with a rather cylindric crown. It produces sticky, copious latex.
Foliage	Its spirally arranged, long-stalked leaves have almost leathery leaf blades that are usually drop-shaped, 14–30 by 6.4–15 cm, and characteristically dark brown when dried.
Flowers	Its stalked flowers are 1–2 cm long, covered with brownish hairs, and found along the twigs behind the leaves. The flowers emit a strong smell of musang, sour milk and burnt sugar.

Fruit	Its fruits are round, up to 2.5–3 cm wide, and contain 1–2 seeds. Its seeds are compressed oval and up to 2 by 1.8 cm.
Habitat	It usually grows in limestone forests, and other types of lowland forests. It occurs locally along the Dragon Trail (Sentosa), in Nee Soon Swamp Forest, Lazarus Island, and Pulau Pawai.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are insect-pollinated. It is also the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the butterfly, the Malay viscount (Tanaecia pelea pelea), the adult of which usually lays its eggs at the centre of the underside of the mature leaf blade.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Latin Palaquium, from the Filipino name of the plant, palak-palak; Latin obovatum, obovate or drop-shaped, referring to the shape of the leaf blades
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: The timber is durable under water, and so used in building houses and planking boats. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There are currently three individuals of Palaquium obovatum listed as Heritage Trees in Singapore. One can be found on Sentosa and two at Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. Others: A low quality form of natural rubber was also made using the latex produced.

Landscaping	It may be suitable for parks and roadsides.
Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers)
Landscape Uses	General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Caterpillar Food Plant (Leaves)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Rootzone Tolerance

Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate, Spiral
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Cauliflorous

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit

Images

Master ID	1755
Species ID	3048
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.