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coastal plants
Tongkat Ali
Eurycoma longifolia

Family
Simaroubaceae
updated Oct 2016
Where seen? This rather innocent looking treelet has a formidable reputation as a purported aphrodisiac. It is still sometimes seen growing wild on some of our natural places, including on our shores and rocky cliffs. It was also found in our primary and secondary forests including Tanglin and Bukit Timah.

Features: A small tree or a shrub (2-3m tall) with an umbrella-like rosette of leaves at the tips of the branches. The leaf (50-60cm long) is made up of 45-80 leaflets. The tiny, hairy cup-shaped flowers are purplish-crimson, and according to Corners, with a slightly foetid smell. Male and female flowers are found on different trees. These turn into oval fruits that ripen yellow then red.

Human uses: The tree has many traditional medicinal uses. According to Corners, the bark and especially the roots are 'exceedingly bitter' and the bark was used as one of the native remedies for malaria. According to Burkill, the bark is also used in a tonic for after childbirth. It is also pounded and used externally for headaches, wounds, ulcers and sores.

Status and threats: This plant is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore. Elsewhere, the plant is also threatened by over-collection for the traditional herbal trade.

Sentosa, Mar 09

Sentosa, Apr 09

Sentosa, Mar 09

Sentosa, Mar 09

Sentosa, Apr 10

Tongkat ali on Singapore shores

Photos of Tongkat ali for free download from wildsingapore flickr

Distribution in Singapore on this wildsingapore flickr map

Links

  • Eurycoma longifolia (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae) Tongkat Ali by Seah Wei Wei, 2013 on taxo4254.

References

  • Hsuan Keng, S.C. Chin and H. T. W. Tan. 1990, The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore University Press. 222 pp.
  • Tan, Hugh T.W. and T. Morgany. 2001. Growing the Native Plants of Singapore. BP Science Centre Guidebook. 168pp.
  • Corners, E. J. H., 1997. Wayside Trees of Malaya: in two volumes. Fourth edition, Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-476 pp, plates 1-38; volume 2: 477-861 pp., plates 139-236.
  • Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
  • Burkill, I. H., 1993. A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. 3rd printing. Publication Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-1240; volume 2: 1241-2444.
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