The 2 pictures beside show some of the shrubs and their leaves in the understorey layer. The shrub on the left is called a mousedeer plant (Anisophyllea distichia), and its fruits are thought to be dispersed by mousedeer. Also called kayu pachat or leech wood, this shrub has a unique leaf arrangment made up of two kinds of leaves in four rows.
The glossy leaves below are many species of bintangors or beautiful leaves (Calophyllum spp.) at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. They got their name from their pretty glossy leaves with fine parallel veins. Some species of bintangors have been tested for their anti-aids properties.
The butterfly vine (Bauhinia sp.) is a very pretty vine with leaves resembling butterfly wings. This climber is a hitch-hiker on other trees, but it is not a parasite and does not steal nutrients from the tree.
The picture above shows tall straight trunks that help emergents to grow above the rest of the trees in the forest and receive the most sunlight.
This red dhup (Parishia insignis) is one of the larger tree in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and it is also one of our heritage trees. Notice the thick and straight trunks it possesses. All Heritage trees are armed with such protection as Singapore is said to experience the most lightning strikes in the world. Apparently, many tall trees in the nature reserve have been struck by lightning. One reason for this occurrence is due to the fragmentation of primary forest in the reserve.
