The Sea Rubber Vine (Gymnanthera oblonga) is a nationally critically endangered mangrove climber found only in a few localities in Singapore.
Personally, I have only seen this rare mangrove associate on Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Semakau and at Pasir Ris Mangrove, I understand it can be found at Seletar as well. Populations on the northern islands were good and widespread, but I have not been able to find the one I saw on Pulau Semakau recently. The Chinese calls it 海岛藤, or Sea Island Vine.
The leaves of Gymnanthera oblonga are opposite, and exhibit two different morphs - the young plants generally have thin leaves.
As the plant matures and climbs onto other pants, the leaves eventually become more rounded. Leaves exude a milky sap when broken.
The flowers form small clusters, and can be rather attractive dangling off other trees.
Here's a closer look at the flower and a flower bud, both located between the stalks of a pair of leaves.
The fruits are thin and long. They come in pairs, much like most of the other members of the family Apocynaceae.
As they mature, they split to reveal fluffy seeds dispersed by wind.
I was searching through the Net but couldn't seem to find any uses of Gymnanthera oblonga, except that the fruits are eaten in Papua New Guinea. Do they eat the fluffy seeds in the fruits, I wonder?
References
Personally, I have only seen this rare mangrove associate on Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Semakau and at Pasir Ris Mangrove, I understand it can be found at Seletar as well. Populations on the northern islands were good and widespread, but I have not been able to find the one I saw on Pulau Semakau recently. The Chinese calls it 海岛藤, or Sea Island Vine.
The leaves of Gymnanthera oblonga are opposite, and exhibit two different morphs - the young plants generally have thin leaves.
As the plant matures and climbs onto other pants, the leaves eventually become more rounded. Leaves exude a milky sap when broken.
The flowers form small clusters, and can be rather attractive dangling off other trees.
Here's a closer look at the flower and a flower bud, both located between the stalks of a pair of leaves.
The fruits are thin and long. They come in pairs, much like most of the other members of the family Apocynaceae.
As they mature, they split to reveal fluffy seeds dispersed by wind.
I was searching through the Net but couldn't seem to find any uses of Gymnanthera oblonga, except that the fruits are eaten in Papua New Guinea. Do they eat the fluffy seeds in the fruits, I wonder?
References
- Chong, K. Y., H. T. W. Tan & R. T. Corlett. 2009. A Checklist of the Total Vascular Plant Flora of Singapore: Native, Naturalised and Cultivated Species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore. Singapore. 273 pp.
- French, B. R, 2006. Food Composition Tables for Food Plants in Papua New Guinea. Tasmania. 72 pp.
- Giesen, W., S. Wulffraat, M. Zieren & L. Scholten. 2006. Mangrove guidebook for Southeast Asia. RAP Publication 2006/07. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific & Wetlands International. Bangkok. 769 pp.
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