I've finally managed to get a copy of A Guide To The Fabulous Figs Of Singapore, and yes indeed, the fig trees in the photos above are either the common yellow stem-fig (Ficus fistulosa) or common red stem-fig (F. variegata). In this post, I will refer to the common yellow stem-fig as fistulosa and the common red stem-fig as variegata.
Common yellow stem-fig;
The main difference between the 2 species is that fistulosa lacks the buttress roots seen in variegata. Also, while the figs of fistulosa ripen to a bright yellow, those of variegata turn bright red when ripe.
Here's what A Guide To The Fabulous Figs Of Singapore has to say about fistulosa:
Ficus fistulosa 黄柄榕 Common Yellow Stem-fig
This tree may reach a maximum height of about 12m. It is possibly the most common forest fig in Singapore and one of two local fig species with figs growing on its main trunk. They can be observed growing in open forests, hedges and along forest fringes.
Its young twigs are hollow and may have short dark brown hair. Its large leathery dark green leaves are elliptical or slightly obovate, varying in length from 13 to 25 cm. Young leaves are an attractive apricot-pink.
Figs vary from round to pear-shaped, and are slightly rough on the surface. They grow to about 2.5 cm wide, with short necks attached to long stalks 2-4 cm in length. They occur on trunks and stems, a condition known as 'cauliflory' (see F. variegata). Figs ripen to a bright yellow hence this tree is called 'Yellow Stem-fig'.
Common in forest margins and urban parks, a figging F. variegata is an awesome sight - a huge tree whose trunk and branches are laden with dense clusters of green or red figs. This deciduous tree grows up to 30 m and has spreading buttresses. Its bark is smooth, bearing short stumpy black twigs from which grow each new crop of figs.
The leathery leaves of F. variegata are ovate in shape, and vary in length from 9-20 cm. They have long stalks, entire margins and pointed tips. Leaf bases are prominently tri-nerved. Saplings tend to have larger leaves with toothed margins.
Its cauliflorous figs are round or apple-shaped, up to 3.8 cm wide, short-necked and long-stalked. They are green and turn rose-red when ripe. Only trees of more than 5 m tall have been observed to bear figs.
A smaller tree, F. fistulosa, the Common Yellow Stem-fig, which is also cauliflorous, is often mistaken for a young F. variegata, but it has not buttress roots.
Figs are an extremely diverse and variable group; here in Singapore, we have figs that grow as climbers, creeping up tree trunks and walls. Others are more 'normal'-looking shrubs and trees, while the majority of fig species found locally are stranglers, a group that includes those known as banyans.
The book doesn't say if the figs of fistulosa or variegata are suitable for human consumption or not, although 2 exotic species, the creeping fig (F. pumila) and broad-leafed fig (F. auriculata), are said to bear edible figs. The figs sold in our supermarkets belong to the common fig (F. carica), a species native to the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia, and not found locally.
Figs are very important components of forest ecosystems, as they support a wide variety of frugivorous animals. Large numbers of birds may converge upon a single tree to feast upon the figs, from bulbuls to hornbills. Even insectivorous birds join in, drawn by the insects that are inevitably attracted to the masses of ripening fruit. The birds are often joined by primates such as macaques, gibbons and orangutans, as well as smaller mammals such as squirrels and tree shrews, while fruit bats and civets eat their fill under the cover of darkness. On the ground, pheasants, pigs, deer and sun bear gorge themselves on the fallen fruit. Hence, a single tree may provide food for a large variety of forest creatures, as well as all the other species which do not directly feed upon the figs, but depend on the fig-eaters in one way or another. And because figs do not synchronise their fruiting periods, they provide a year-round supply of food, an especially vital resource for frugivores when other trees might not be bearing fruit at all. Figs can be considered to be keystone species, and the loss of a single fig tree can have serious consequences for all the fruit-eating creatures in a patch of forest.
The Bird Ecology Study Group has quite a number of posts documenting the importance of figs in the diets of many local bird species.
Yellow-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) feeding on sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), Chinese Garden; (Photo by *Damselfly*)
Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) feeding on sea fig (Ficus superba), Singapore Botanic Gardens; (Photo by Lip Kee)
I wish I could talk more about strangler figs, and how figs are pollinated, but I'll have to stop here for now. If you're interested in knowing more about local figs, there is no better resource than A Guide To The Fabulous Figs Of Singapore.
Unfortunately, many of these encounters ended with the python being caught, as you can see in these posts here, here and here. If only more people were more willing to accept the fact that like it or not, these giant snakes have always been living amongst us.
Hopefully, in time to come, more people can see the valuable role the reticulated python plays as apex predators of our urban ecosystems; surely, if not for these serpents roaming our drains and sewers, I'm sure that we would be having much more serious problems with rodents.
STOMPer Shirley was surprised to see a monkey wandering around and looking for food at Toa Payoh Lorong 7.
This STOMPer says:
"New neighbour in Toa Payoh Lorong 7, Block 18."
"It is surprising to see a monkey in an old and mature estate like Toa Payoh.
"I saw this today(28 April) at 3.30 pm. It was searching for food.
"The monkey didn't look ferocious."
It's been a while since any long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were reported from the Toa Payoh area; there were a few older posts on STOMP about macaques being sighted in the area. These are the ones I could find:
Given that the nearest forest reserves are some distance away, one wonders if these urban monkeys are of captive origin; certainly, it is intriguing that these monkeys are showing up in well-populated areas, far from any extensive forested areas. First we have a macaque in Pasir Ris, now we have another one in Toa Payoh.
STOMPer kk1001cdf was having lunch at a coffeeshop yesterday (Apr 27) afternoon, when the STOMPer spotted this unique tree at the junction of Changi North Road and Jalan Mariam.
In an email to STOMP, the STOMPer wrote:
"I came across this unique tree with fully grown of fruit at its tree trunk nearby.
"I wonder if this fruit can be eaten. Out of curiosity, I took some photos to share the uniqueness of the trees with other STOMPers."
STOMP is contacting NParks for more information on these plants.
It's definitely some sort of fig (Ficus spp.), although I can't identify the exact species at this point; my botanical knowledge is very rudimentary. Anyone has a copy of A Guide To The Fabulous Figs Of Singapore?
STOMPer Gohergeous was on a bus passing Toa Payoh East, when she spotted this huge tree with one of its broken branches hanging dangerously on the other branches.
She is worried that the broken branch may fall and hurt pedestrians or motorists walking or driving by under the tree.
Says this STOMPer:
"On Friday, April 24, I was in a bus when I spotted a huge tree which was damaged by last Wednesday's storm.
"The tree is located in front of the vacated Block 28 at Toa Payoh East.
"One of its branches cracked and fell but got stuck on the other branches.
"It looks very dangerous as it may fall onto the passers-by walking on the path right below the grassy hill.
"I wonder if anyone is going to remove it before it causes any danger to pedestrains or motorist."
A STOMPer came across many interesting things at the beach near Jalan Menpurong, and would like to share his find with fellow STOMPers.
In an email to STOMP today (April 26), the STOMPer says:
"These pictures were taken at the beach near Jalan Mempurong.
"Parts of the sea wall have been damaged, and if nothing is done, further damage will result in more soil erosion.
"The sea cockroaches (Ligia hawaiiensis) live near rocks on the beach. These are isopods and they move with very fast speed. If you go near them, they will scatter in all directions.
"In another picture, you will see a group of barnacles that attach themselves to rocks, piers and the hull of ships. These common littoral animals are actually crustaceans and not molluscs.
"They are fouling organisms. Their presence is often serious enough to slow ships down. Scraping them off is an expensive and laborious task. Recently, barnacles have become useful in dentistry since their strong protein cement has been found to be useful in fitting dentures.
"The concrete pier at the beach is very popular with anglers . You can see men, women and children here daily as they cycle here to fish and enjoy the fresh air by the sea."
The sign refrains them from entering this canal beside Andrews Avenue in Sembawang, but these men ignored their own safety and went in anyway, to catch crabs and mussels.
A STOMPer who caught them on camera, said:
"The PUB has put up a notice that says, inter alia, 'Please refrain from entering the canal'.
"However these two men went into the canal to catch crabs and mussels with their nets.
"If the tide came in suddenly the two men could be easily swept away."
When this STOMPer and his wife returned home to their Tampines flat at 2am, they were shocked to find their toilet infested with bees. Moreover, the bees had already started building a nest on the ceiling.
He told STOMP on April 24:
"We left the house about 2pm in the day. By the time we reached home, it was about 2am.
"When my wife opened the master bedroom toilet door, she was shocked to find a swarm of bees in the toilet, making a nest on the ceiling.
"It only took 12 hours to build a nest in our toilet.
"This is the first I've seen so many bees in the toilet and I have no idea where all these bees come from.
"We called the pest control immediately and they arrived at 2.30am.
"They used some form of smoke gas to kill all the bees. The picture attached shows all the dead bees.
"Thankfully, none of us got stung and the pest control did inform us that this has happened at other households before."
I'm not sure what the person meant by a 'vampire face'. Is he saying that the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) bared its canines at him?
Long-tailed macaque, Malaysian Borneo; (Photo by loochie)
I have a strong suspicion that this is the same monkey spotted at Elias Mall a few days ago; there is no resident troop of macaques anywhere in the Pasir Ris area, and besides, Elias Mall is just a few minutes away from Sungei Api Api.
Singaporeans woke up this morning in the wake of a violent storm that started late last night and lasted till the wee hours of this morning (Apr 23).
STOMPers from all over Singapore sent in pictures of the damage wrought by the huge winds.
Munish, a longtime resident of Dover Road had this to say of the storm winds:
"I stay at Block 31 Dover Road.
"Last night's wind uprooted these trees. I've been staying here over 30 yrs and this is the very first time this thing has happened."
STOMPer Astonished also reported winds strong enough to fell trees:
"Lightning and strong winds hit the trees at Hong Leong Gardens Shopping Centre, causing a tree to be uprooted.
"The tree hit the roof of the shop houses there."
He added:
"I think it should be a precaution for Nparks and area management to beware of how you plant the trees in areas near shops, buildings and houses."
Awed by the force of the winds that felled trees in Ang Mo Kio, another STOMPer wrote:
"These felled trees are the after effects of a 'mini-typhoon' at Ang Mo Kio Street 21.
"There are many more along Yio Chu Kang Road."
Elsewhere, STOMPer Cam reported damage to the blinds at her home caused by the storm:
"I can't believe the wind was that strong! We had to go cut it down in case it fell and hurt someone. The whole balcony is a big mess."
Further north in Bishan, winds tore down branches from a tree that landed on a taxi, damaging the bonnet of the vehicle.
Said the STOMPer of damage:
"On April 22 at about 11.30 pm, part of this tree broke and fell onto a taxi which had just dropped a passenger at the carpark of Bishan Street 22, at Block 229."
At St George road in the Serangoon area, branches also fell on these two cars at a carpark.
In her MMS, STOMPer Fen said:
"At about 11:00 pm last night, I heard branches cracking.
"In the morning I saw that some branches had broken off completely and landed on these two cars parked at a nearby carpark.
"Both rear windshields had shattered and the car directly under the branch had a badly dented roof.
"One of the car owners had posted a note on his windscreen requesting the other owner contact him, so they could work together to clear the branches."
Another unfortunate car owner suffered at the hands of the storm, as STOMPer Faith reports:
"This happened at the carpark of Block 140, Jalan Bukit Merah, right in front of the famous Thai temple.
"A series of strong winds swept central Singapore at about 11.10pm resulting in a huge branch landing on a Mitsubishi Lancer.
"Loud crashing noises from fallen households ornaments were heard throughout the whole block. It must have been one of the strongest winds Singapore had experienced so far.
"No car siren was heard and owner was still unaware at time of my sending this email."
According to another STOMPer, winds in Singapore were strong enough to move heavy objects:
"The wind blew soo hard hard it moved road blocks and distrupted traffic."
STOMP has contacted the NEA for more details on the storm.
UPDATE:
A spokesperson for the NEA had the following comments:
"A 'Sumatra' squall is a line of eastward moving intense thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds that usually occurs between April and September.
"An average of 2-3 'Sumatra' squalls occur in a month during this period. It normally develops overnight in Sumatra and the Straits of Malacca, and affects Singapore between midnight and 9am.
"Maximum wind gusts of up to 90 km per hour from a 'Sumatra' squall have been recorded in the past.
"The strong winds that affected Singapore last night between 11 pm (22 Apr 09) and 12:30 am (23 Apr 09) were caused by an intense fast-moving 'Sumatra' squall.
"Mean wind speeds ranging from 33 to 54 km per hour were recorded across the island. The highest recorded wind gust was 83 km per hour in the western areas.
"A wind gust is a sudden brief increase in the speed of the wind.
"Short duration showers fell over most parts of the island but were heavy in only a few areas. The highest rainfall of 7.0 mm was recorded around Sembawang.
"A wind gust of similar strength was last recorded on Jun 20 2000.
"For the rest of the month, we can expect another one or two 'Sumatra' squalls but they are unlikely to be as severe as the one last night."
Sumatras are lines of thunderstorms which usually occur between March and November each year. These squalls (lines of thunderstorms) develop at night over Sumatra or the Malacca Straits and move east towards Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia usually during the pre-dawn and early morning. They are often characterised by sudden onset of strong gusty surface winds and heavy rain lasting from 1 to 2 hours as they move across the island. Maximum gusts of up to 50 knots have been recorded during the passage of a Sumatra squall (Gusts are temporary rise in wind speed).
A satellite image showing a Sumatra Squall affecting Singapore and southern Peninsular Malaysia
And from WEATHERWise Singapore:
An isolated thunderstorm cell has a short lifespan, usually less than an hour. Sometimes, a number of units or cells of thunderstorms may be organized by wind pattern or by terrain into a line. A thunderstorm line, also known as a squall line (or squall) moves and behaves collectively and can have a longer lifespan.
A Sumatra Squall is such an organised thunderstorm line that develops over Sumatra Island in Indonesia or the Straits of Malacca, often overnight, and then moves eastward to affect Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. In a typical case, the squall line can bring about one to two hours of thundery showers. Often this happens in the predawn hours or morning. Some Sumatra Squalls are also accompanied by wind gusts of 40 to 80 km/h. Gusts are short-duration bursts of wind. Occasionally, such gusts are strong enough to uproot trees.
Sumatra Squalls can develop at any time of the year, but are uncommon during the Northeast Monsoon Season. Convergence of air streams at low levels (height of less than 1 km) over a large area is a pre-requisite for the development of a Sumatra Squall. Additionally, a general westerly wind above (between 2 to 4 km) blowing from Sumatra Island towards Singapore is needed to steer the squall line forward.
Radar images showing the passage of a Sumatra Squall.
As Kok Sheng mentioned, how apt that this spectacular show of nature's power should take place on Earth Day. It would do us well to remember that although we have the capability to drastically change the environment to suit our needs, to tame mighty rivers and level towering mountains, and even possess the ability to alter the climate, at the end of the day, we are just like any other species, at the complete mercy of the forces of nature.
