roadside tree - meninjau

someone in terengganu lamented that he could no longer find the meninjau tree growing by the roadside. he should come to singapore and i would be able to show him a few roads, in different parts of singapore, lined with this type of trees.

the meninjau (gnetum gnemom) is a columnar tree, possibly native to singapore but cultivated here for many centuries. the gnetums are a botanical oddity. they are gymnosperms, like conifers and cycads, but vegetatively seem much more similar to typical flowering plants particularly in possessing ‘normal’ leaves rather than needles or fronds.

gnetum gnemom is cultivated in kampongs throughout southeast asia not for its ornamental but for its economic value, particularly for its edible leafy shoots and ‘fruit.’ the latter can be made into a sort of flour most famously used to prepare the fried crackers known as keropok or embing.

meninjau trees are naturally columnar, with short side branches coming out almost horizontally from the main trunk. the glossy foliage and strong shape of the tree make it suitable for use in landscaping. several roads in singapore are successfully planted as meninjau avenues. male trees (meninjau trees come in separate sexes) are better for roadside planting as they do not drop squashy seeds.

along certain lanes in lim chu kang, i have come across whole families, usually malay, harvesting the ripe fruit. they will go from tree to tree to collect the red fruit. sometimes, they even pick the yellow ones.