devil's flower (tacca chantrieri)

tacca integrifolia - the white bat flower




















tacca chantrieri - the black version



when i first showed victor around bukit batok nature park, he was most intrigued by the variety of flowers that were found there, especially the tacca chantrieri. he lamented that he should have had his digital camera with him to capture the weird and interesting flowers in the park.

like its cousin the tacca integrifolia (white bat flower), the black version is also found growing throughout south-east asia. the black version is more dramatic, and perhaps sinister. may be that is why it is called the devil's flower in malaysia. some people explain that the name came from the way the eyes in the bloom seem to be following your every move.

the peculiar "whiskers" of the flowers are actually filiform bracteoles or small bracts (modified flowers) which arise from the same axil as the flowers.

where can you find these plants at bukit batok nature park? as you walk towards the pond, you will come across this huge boulder covered by the roots of a banyan tree on your left. on the right side, there is a path that leads you to the war memorial. just before this path joins another on the left, you will see this clump of tacca chantrieri to the right of the path.

you will not able to miss them when the flowers are in bloom!