JELUTONG (Dyera Costulata)
This is a native of Singapore. It is deciduous with an upright columnar trunk, and can reach up to 60 meters in height in its natural setting. However in an urban environment, it tends to grow to only about 30 meters. Is is a large forest tree with a dense, broadly columnar and dome shaped crown. Leaves are broad, shiny and occur in whorls of 6 to 8. Jelutong shed their leaves about twice a year after the dry season. A striking feature is the attractive reddish brown flushes of new leaves. In Singapore, the leaf change often occurs in June, July or August. Jelutong have nocturnal flowers that are white and tiny. IN comparison, the fruit pods are woody and massive. The pods appear in pairs that are curved vertically upwards, resembling a pair of horns, containing seeds that are rather large, flat and winged. Characteristically, the massive straight trunk is without any buttresses. The bark is dark grey and the wood is creamy white to pale straw in colour with a straight grain. The timber however is not durable and used for making drawing boards, carvings, picture frames and pencils. The tree also produces a latex that is used in the manufacture of chewing gum.