CONTENTS
Flora index
Fauna index
guide to the mangroves of singapore
Flowering plants
Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi (editors)
 
Nipah
Nypa fruiticans
Family Palmae

Ganges to Australia. In various local sites.

Plants with a creeping, horizontal stem from which branches with erect tips arise; feather-like fronds up to 9 m long form a rosette at each branch tip.
wide shot of palms growing by the water
Habitat of Nypa fruticans

close up of base of palm with inflorescence
Habit of Nypa fruticans
close up of male inflorescence
Male inflorescences

close up of fruit ball
Fruits
 Inflorescence with a head-like part at the tip bearing female flowers, and bears the male flowers below; fruits are woody, flattened sideways
and ridged lengthwise, bearing 1-3 seeds each. Found in area of low salinities and calm water. The mature leaves are used for thatching material and young leaves for cigarette-wrappers. The sap from the inflorescence stalk can be used to make toddy, vinegar or boiled down to sugar (gula melaka). Young seeds are edible (attap chee). For more details on uses of this palm. Rare.
What is mangrove?
Introduction

The Ecosystem
Abiotic
Biotic

Value
Intro
Products
Indirect uses
Potential uses

About Mangroves
in Singapore
History
Mangroves to visit
Conservation
 
From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors)
Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity
Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng,
B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan
BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum
© 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre