Malayan Cherry

Location in MGP:

Common Name: Malayan Cherry

Scientific Name: Muntingia calabura

Points of Interest:

The Malayan Cherry is a plant that is quite commonly found in the past, in Kampung areas. Its fruits were highly sought after by birds and children, and as a result, ripened fruits were not easy to find as they would be plucked as soon as they turned yellow. 

In other countries like Mexico, the edible fruits are sold in markets for production into jams.

The trunk can serve as a raw material in carpentry or as firewood. The bark provides a strong but soft fibre for making twine and thick ropes.

This tree is commonly planted in many parks in order to attract birds.

(National Parks Board, 2009)

Malayan Cherry

Trunk

Leaves, inflorescence and developing fruit

Leaves and fruit

Reference:

National Parks Board. (2009). Trees of Our Garden City: A Guide to the Common Trees of Singapore. Singapore: National Parks Board.