Sungei Buloh
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Flora of the mangrove
Hibiscus tiliaceus is commonly known as Sea Hibiscus and can grow up to 13 meters tall. It have heart-shaped leaf. The bright yellow flower with maroon eye opens in the morning and fades dull pink soon after falling in the same evening. The seeds are enclosed within a star-shaped calyx cup. The tree has many uses and that includes stem cuttings as fences, wood for boat building and firewood, fibers from the bark as strings and roots, leaves and shoots are medicinal. -
Flora of the freshwater
An aquatic herb of shallow water, Nymphaea cultivar is also known as the Water Lily. These plants have creeping underground stem and long leaf stalk, allowing the leaves to float on the surface of the water. -
Flora of the freshwater
Monochoria hastate or Pondweed is an aquatic herb with broad spearhead-shaped leaves and long-stalked, reaching 60 cm tall. The flowers are light violet and the fruits are enclosed in capsule with many tiny seeds within. Leaves and flowers can be eaten as vegetable either raw or steamed. -
Flora of the freshwater
A fleshy tufted aquatic fern, Ceratopteris thalictroides, looks like fleshy celery. This fern is cultivated in flooded rice-fields in Japan and China as a late spring vegetable, or as a green manure. Locally eaten as spinach and planted in ponds as an ornamental plant. -
Flora of the freshwater
An aquatic grass-like herb, Typha angustifolia is also known as Cattail or Bulrush and can grow up to 3 meters tall. They have tiny male and female flowers held in separate cylindrical spikes, the male being above. The flowers are wind pollinated. The sausage-looking inflorescence contains tiny fruits that are dispersed by the wind. Birds like Munias and Bulbuls also gather these cotton-like fruits to line their nest. -
Flora of the freshwater
Unlike the Water Lily, the Sacred Lotus has flowers and leafstalks that rise above the water. The fruit is funnel-shaped and is embedded with many edible seeds. -
Flora of the freshwater
A floating plant, the Water Lettuce has soft velvety leaves that are arranged such that it looks like a lettuce. Bears small, white flowers. -
Flora of the freshwater
The Water Banana bears two types of roots; those that look like bananas and those that anchor the plant to the soil. -
Flora of the freshwater
Water Hyacinth is a floating plant with swollen leaf stalks that contain air to help the plant float. Can reproduce very quickly and take over an entire pond. Bear light purple flowers that grow in a cluster. -
Flora of the back mangroves
Asplenium nidus, also known as Bird Nest Fern is an epiphytic fern gaining foothold on trees and rocks, often growing on the ground after falling from trees. The leaves can grow up to 1.4 meters long and form a nest-like rosette adapted to collecting rainwater and trap nutrient-rich debris and dead leaves falling from surrounding trees. Dead fronds remain on fern as a thick skirt beneath, often home to small animals and insects. -
Flora of the back mangroves
Muntingia calabura, also known as Buah Cheri in Malay, is a tall tree reaching to a height of 13 meters tall. The sweet fruits are much sought after by fruit eating birds, squirrels and bats. -
Flora of the back mangroves
A common shrub with medicinal properties, the Singapore Rhododendron can be used for the cure of diarrhoea. The ripe fruit splits to expose a black pulp that stains the mouth black when eaten. -
Flora of the back mangroves
Dillenia suffruticosa or commonly known as Simpoh Ayer in Malay, is a large scrub and can grow up to 7 meters tall. The bright yellow flower open and fall within the same day. The ripe fruit is pink splitting into 7 to 11 radiating segments. Fruit eating birds love the seeds. The large and robust leaves are suitable for disposable platters and as wrappers for tempeh, a fermented soybean delicacy. Sap from the twigs or leaf stalks are applied to external wound to stop bleeding. -
Flora of the back mangroves
The DragonÂ’s Scales, an epiphyte, is a tiny and hardy fern. It is highly adapted for life on the branches of trees and paves the way for the establishment of other less hardy ferns. -
a place to train yr patience.
esp bird spotting in the later mths of the year -
Flora of the back mangroves
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The buoyant green, pyramid like fruit of the Barringtonia asiatica contain saponins, which is used as fish poison.This tree is also commonly known as Sea Poison Tree. -
Fauna of the mangroves
A resident bird of Singapore, the White-collared Kingfisher can often be found flying amidst the mangrove trees. Watch this bird dive for fish from its favourite perch on mangrove branches along Sungei Buloh Besar. -
Fauna of the mangroves
During high tide, these crabs climb out of the water to escape predation. They form an important component of the ecosystem by feeding on fallen mangrove leaves that do not decompose easily. This helps in the breakdown of the mangrove leaves into nutrients for the mangrove plants. -
Fauna of the mangroves
The spiders in the reserve are colourful and easily spotted on their intricately patterned webs. -
Fauna of the mangroves
Growing up to 2 metres, the Monitor Lizard is the largest lizard found in Singapore. This creature can often be seen sun-bathing on the walking routes! Fear not, as when disturbed, it will clumsily escape into the undergrowth or water. It is an excellent swimmer, living near water where it scavenges. -
Fauna of the mangroves
The Mudskipper is an amazing fish of the swamp. Unlike most fishes, its protruding eyes stick out of the water and enable it to observe itÂ’s surrounding. It has modified fins that help propel it out of water and across the mudflats. -
Fauna of the mangroves
The Mud Lobster makes this mini volcano-like mound of mud. They are very important member of the mangrove ecosystem. It excavates below the surface of the mud, pushing mud to the surface and making its home higher as it digs. In this way it helps to bring nutrients from deep underground to the surface, helping in the recycling of nutrients in the ecosystem. -
Fauna of the mangroves
Barnacles are actually crustaceans, which include members such as prawns and crabs. Once they find a suitable site, they attach themselves head-first to the support by secreting a strong protein cement, forming strong calcareous plates around themselves. They feed during high tide using their legs like a filtering device, sieving plankton from the water during hide tide to their mouth. When the tide recede they retreat to the safety of their shells, closing the valves to protect themselves from drying out. -
Fauna of the mangroves
The Common Nerita is a commonly seen throughout the mangroves in the reserve. It is herbivorous, grazing on algae. During high tide it can be seen on tree trunks and various structures. -
Fauna of the mangroves
This rather flat looking bivalve is called the Leaf Oyster. They usually attached to the roots of the mangrove trees.