Raffles Garden
Raffles Garden in Fort Canning Park was named after the founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles. Apparently, besides a statesman, Sir Stamford Raffles was also an avid naturalist who spent his free time studying botany and wildlife.
Inspired by his love for plants, the Raffles Garden showcases the diverse plant species that Raffles encountered in Southeast Asia. It includes species collected, studied or planted by Raffles and his fellow naturalists.
Plants with edible fruit, leaves, and roots still form the base of many traditional dishes today. In addition, some of them have medicinal properties and are commonly used in traditional medicine.
Here are some the plants spotted in the garden. They are all very interesting. Some of them I didn't even know that it is possible to see them here. I will be sure to pay closer attention to them when I visit them again.
Garcinia atroviridis also known Asam Gelugor
The rind of the fruit is sliced thinly and dried into asam keping (sliced asam). Asam keping has a strong sour taste and is commonly used in Asian curries and soups. The young shoots are used in cooking and in ulam, a traditional Malay salad.
Asam gelugor is believed to be able to reduce cholesterol, facilitate weight loss, improve blood circulation and treat high blood pressure.
Theobroma Cacao or the Cocoa Tree
Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree, is a small evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate. The trees thrive in warm, humid climates. I guess Singapore climate is ideal.
Canarium Vulgare also known as the Chinese Olive Tree. I had no idea such a tree existed in Singapore.
Phaleria Marcrocarpa also known as Mahkota Dewa, literally meaning God's Crown in Malay. This is a dense evergreen tree. Its fruits, when ripe, are shiny and bright red.
Backhousia citriodora also known as Lemon-scented Myrtle
Leaves are added to shortbreads, paste dishes and marinades. They are also made into tea infusions and desserts, such as cheesecakes and ice-creams.
The plant contains the essential oil, citral, which produces a lemon scent when leaves are crushed. It is popularly used in cleaning products, cosmetics and air fresheners. The oil is also known to have antimicrobial and pest-repelling properties.
Parkia Speciosa also known as Petai locally
Petai is considered a super food by the locals. The peas in the pods have a very strong flavour, which is why locals call it the 'smelly peas'. They are usually cooked with sambal chilli, partly I guess to cover the strong flavour of the peas, which are believed to be able to cleanse the kidneys.
Besides the above, the Raffles Garden has many other herbal and spice plants commonly found in Singapore. They are useful ingredients for cuisines, adding and enhancing the flavour of the food. The locals believe they have medicinal values as well, although they are not scientifically proven.
These are ginger plants.
These are Pandan Plants. The extracts from the leaves are used to flavour cakes, and desserts.
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We appreciate your work and your post has been manually curated by @redheadpei on behalf of Amazing Nature Community. It will be added to the weekly botany curation post. Keep up the good work!
Fascinating plants and trees you have shown us at Raffles Garden in Fort Canning Park @quotes-haven. I was especially intrigued by the ants that covered the cocoa tree fruit.;)
Thank you @reheadpei for the curation. I appreciate that.
The cocoa fruit looks nice and juicy. And if the ants gathered to take a bite out of it, it must be really good. 😊
Wow, I've never seen such fruit! We love cocoa. And sometimes we make "chocolate oil" out of it. It turns out very tasty 🙂. ☕🍫
Thank you for taking a look. I am glad you are able to make good use of the fruit. I didn't even know that it was possible to grow cocoa here, until I saw it the other day. 😊
Yay! 🤗
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Thank you.
Yes, nature took care of us!
I have allergies and I drink nettle tea, this tea really helps!
Yes, I believe Nature provides medicines for our ailments. If only we can harnest them, we will be able to cure ourselves.
Very interesting fruits you have here can say never seen any of these before they certainly look great and have good use 👍
I have not seen most of the fruits and plants either. Didn't know they existed here, until I stumbled upon them. 😊👍
Have a great weekend! 😊
You have been coming up with some cool discoveries lately great work my friend 👍
Thank you. 🙏 It's hard work and time consuming. 😊
But all worth it 👍👍👍
Interesting.
Thank you for taking a look.
You’re welcome. I found it quite interesting especially because the only plant I knew was the cocoa one. Great to learn more.
These are mostly tropical plants, or plants suited for the tropical climate. So it is not surprising that you have not seen them before. 😊
Yeah. I grew up in a tropical climate and consider myself a tropical girl bit still don't know them. 😂😂
Not to worry. I was born and raised here in the tropics and I am no better. 😊
😂😂
The ants like the cocoa tree too :D. One probably have to be careful that the ants don't eat everything?
I bought eucalyptus citriodra oil because, for example, ticks don't like it. We have ticks and I spray a mixture of the oil, water and a little alcohol on my skin.
It's beautiful how the sun's rays shine through the trees and plants :))
Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate that. 😊