Cheerful cicada tree
This interesting native plant has cherry blossomlike blooms all year round, writes Elaine Yim
The English common name is derived from the Malay word reriang for cicada. Riang also means happy or cheerful. The genus name Ploiarium probably came from the Greek words ploiarion meaning boat or ploio meaning ship. It refers to the boat-like fruit capsules.
The epithet alternifolium is Latin meaning alternate referring to the arrangement of the leaves. Bonnetiaceae has 35 species of plants grouped into three genera. Ploiarium alternifolium is native to Southeast Asia. Indigenous to this country, it grows wild in secondary jungles, shallow freshwater swamps, wastelands, along edges of streams, reservoirs and on rocky riverbeds. It’s well adapted to sandy, acidic and even dry soil conditions but is rarely found in peat swamps with brackish water or on high mountain tops.
Ploiarium alternifolium can grow into a bushy shrub or small to medium-sized tree of varying height depending on the location. Some are dwarf forms reaching a height of less than a meter tall. Those growing in swamps have many stilt roots to help anchor the plant firmly to the ground. These trees grow tall and erect, reaching a height of 15-30m tall with a trunk as wide as 15cm in diameter.
The stalk-less leaves are spirally arranged along the branches. They’re oval shaped, glossy green in colour with pink leaf-margins and are smooth in texture. Meanwhile, flowering occurs throughout the year. The flowers are borne in clusters and they look like silky-white cherry blossoms with a brush of pink at the tips. Each flower has five pink-tinged white petals, five pinkish-green sepals, numerous yellow stamens and a single green stigma. The flower petals are slightly rolled-up at the edges. Insects pollinate the flowers.
The fruit is an elongated capsule that resembles the cicada insect. The pods turn from green to dark brown when ripe, splitting open to release numerous seeds.
The wood of a mature cicada tree is strong and hard. It’s used for piling and as poles for home construction, fishing jetty (kelong) and as a central support for agricultural crops such as the pepper vine as well as firewood.
In traditional medicine, the roots are boiled with other herbs and spices to make a post-natal herbal tonic, while the leaves and roots are boiled to make herbal remedies for stomach pain. Leaf shoots can be eaten raw. The pounded leaves are used in hair wash.
This native plant is quite easy to grow. You can grow it in a flower pot or directly in the ground. It’s not readily sold at nurseries but do give it a try.
1. PROPAGATION.
By seeds, marcotting, roots and stem cuttings. For better success with seed germination, don’t use fresh seeds. Use seeds that have been stored in the dark for two weeks or more. Full sun.
Well-drained soil that’s not waterlogged.
Moderate to lots of water. Apply a balanced compound fertiliser once or twice a month if you wish for more foliage and flowers.
Can be hard pruned. Prune to desired height, also to encourage new shoots and flowers. Notaproblem.