Singapore got 2053 recorded vascular plant species that are native. Only 223 species are common, that’s less than 11%. The rest are global or national extinct or threatened by extinction. You can still see a lot of plants and trees in nature, but we must never forget that Singapore has lost more than 99.5% of it’s original primary vegetation.

‘We must never forget that Singapore has lost more than 99.5% of it’s original primary vegetation’

It’s obvious that biodiversity has aesthetic value, yet it has economic values as well. For example, recreation, education and maintenance of water quality by filtering. This is the main supply of drinking water for Singaporeans. And maybe the most important function is the removal of carbon dioxide to reduce the effects of global warming. Below you can find some threatened species.

 

Ridley’s staghorn fern platycerium ridleyi

This plant lives on tall trees, it’s a popular houseplant and grows in semi shaded areas. It was for the first time seen in Bukit Timah, despite it’s popularity the Ridley staghorn fern is nationally extinct for 70 years right now. The only specimen can be found in the Botanic Gardens.

Large-flowered bulbophyllum Bulbophyllum macranthum

This beautiful plant is only found in primary forest and since Singapore barley has primary forest left this plant is critically endangered. It is seen in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The flowers are very attractive, yet hardly long-lasting, therefore they are inappropriate for cultivation and commercial purposes.

Mock durian Neesia synandra

Just like the durians you buy on the streets to eat, this ‘wild’ durian will probably be the fright of every Westerner as well. This durian doesn’t only smell very bad, it reveals hairs as well that cause skin irritation. This tree grows near streams or low-lying areas, there are some trees in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Degradation in habitat quality and loss of small populations made this species vulnerable.