MY SIMPUR STORY
Zahrina Zainal Abidin
Universiti Brunei Darussalam
By Zahrina ZA
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THE SIMPUR STORY
Introduction of Simpur
By Zahrina ZA
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INTRODUCTION OF SIMPUR
Dillenia or commonly known as Simpoh or
Simpor or Simpur is a genus of 100 species of
flowering plants in the family Dilleniaceae,
native to tropical and subtropical regions of
southern Asia, Australasia, and the Indian
Ocean islands. Please refer to the web below for
all the Simpur species name and their
characteristics :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillenia
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/dilleni.htm
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BACKGROUND OF SIMPUR
“ The Shrubby Dillenia produces the national flower of
Brunei. It is a large showy yellow flower, whose petals
falls off after pollination by large carpenter bees which
curl their bodies over the stamens and emit vibrations
that cause the pollen to shoot out from the anthers onto
the underside of the bee, a process called “buzz
pollination”. About 35 days later, the round reddishgreen fruits split dramatically before dawn into eight
segments to expose shiny red seeds covered with a layer
of red pulp ( the “sarcotesta or freshly seed coat popular
with seeds. (Roger McIlroy & Claudia Obendrauf (2008).
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INTRODUCTION OF SIMPUR
The genus is named after the
German botanist Johann Jacob
Dillenius,
and
consists
of
evergreen
or
semi-evergreen
trees and shrubs.
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THE SIMPUR STORY
Classification of Simpur
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Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Sub-kingdom
Tracheobionta
Vascular Plants Superdivision
Spermatophyt
a
Seed Plants Division
Magnoliophyta
Flowering Plants Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledons Subclass
Order
Family
Genus
Dillenidae
Dilleniales
Dileniaceae
Dilenia
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HABITAT OF SIMPUR
Dillenia is widespread in Brunei and
can grow in various habitats.
It is a species that can be seen in the
white sands of Brunei where it serves as
the colonizer of the sands other species
can not live. In due time, the white
sands will become a new rainforest.
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THE SIMPUR STORY
Types of Simpur with their common names
in Brunei
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Types of Brunei Simpur with
their common names
SPECIES
Dillenia Suffruticosa
Martelli
COMMON NAME
(Griffith)
Simpoh Air, Simpor Bini
Buan (Iban), tegering abai (Murut), dingrng
kala’o (Belait)
Dillenia Grandifolio Wallich ex
Pokok Simpoh Daun Merah
Hooker f. & Thomson
Dillenia Reticulata King
Dillenia Excelsa (Jack) Gilg
Pokok Simpoh Gajah, simpor pay
Dillenia beccariana Martelli
River simpor, Buan (Iban)
Pokok Simpoh Ungu, simpor laki, simpur laki,
simpoh, Simpur laki (Brunei, Dusun) Beringin
(Iban)
Dillenia Indica Linnaeus
Dillenia Borneensis Hoogland
Dillenia Sumatrana Miquel
Dillenia Pulchella (Jack) Gilg
Ubah rusa (Iban)
Simpur
Laki
Menterong
Simpur paya
By Zahrina ZA
(Brunei),
Peru
(Iban),
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THE SIMPUR STORY
Where can Simpur be found?
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Habitat of Simpur
Simpur can be found at the following regions:
Asia
Australasia
Indian Ocean Islands
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Distribution of Dillenia species in
Brunei
1.Dillenia beccariana (Martelli)
Borneo endemic. Locally common on the clay
slopes in the lower Temburong and Batu Apoi
valleys, in the Ulu Tutong and at Tasik
Merimbun.
2.Dillenia borneensis (Hoogland)
Found rare in Brunei: on clay soils in mixed
dipterocarp forest at 300m in temburong District.
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Distribution of Dillenia species in
Brunei
3. Dillenia excelsa (jack) Gilg
Found throughout Brunei especially in moist
valleys and lower slopes.
4.Dillenia grandifolia (Wallich)
Uncommon in Brunei:known from Ulu Ingei and
Andulau Forest reserve, Belait, and Kuala
Belalong, Amo.
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Distribution of Dillenia species in
Brunei
5.Dillenia indica (Linnaeus)
Not native in Brunei: sometimes cultivated.
6.Dillenia reticulata (king)
Locally frequent on sandy soils in the
floodplains o f the streams within Andulau
Forest Reserve in Brunei, and in Ulu Belait.
7.Dillenia pulchella (Jack)Gilg
Mixed peatswamp fprest and swampy
kerangas, in Brunei especially near the coast.
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Distribution of Dillenia species in
Brunei
8.Dillenia suffruticosa (Griffith)martelli
Abundant on degraded land, often where covering
from fire; also common in river banks and other
open place, especially downriver and on poor soils.
In the white sands, this Simpor Bini is a very
important species. It acts as a pioneer species,
colonizing the white sands where other tree species
are unable to establish themselves on the white
sands.
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Distribution of Dillenia species in
Brunei
9.Dillenia sumatrana (miquel)
Common in Brunei: in lowland mixed
dipterocarp forest on leached sandy and
sandy clay soils-Belait and Tutong
districts but far not from Temburong.
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THE SIMPUR STORY
Use s of Simpur plant
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Medicinal use of Simpur
Traditionally Simpur is use as medicine as follows:
The young shoots is used to stop external bleeding,
the twigs, calyx or the leaf-stalks are broken and
the exudates applied to the wound.
The fruit pulp may be used to wash the hair.
By Zahrina ZA
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Other use s of Simpur
Dillenia leaves are so large that they were
always used to wrap food such as tempeh
(fermented soyabean cakes), nasi lemak and
tapai (fermented rice).
The leaves Can also be rolled into shallow
cones to contain traditional "fast food" such
as rojak.
The mature or old leaves of some species
contain a deposit of silica in their tissues and
thus they were once used as sandpaper.
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Other use s of Simpur
Some people use the plant as a guide to decide
where to dig a well. It acts an indicator of the
availability of water source. This plant sends
out very deep tap roots to reach underground
water sources. This is commonly use in
Kampong areas.
The fruit of Simpur can be fed to the mouse
deer or pelandok when they are kept in
captivity. (Joan Thurman & I. Poh Ai Cheong , (2008))
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Links:
Resources
 Joan Thurman & I. Poh Ai Cheong , (2008). Some Common Plants and animals in Brunei
Darussalam. Publication of Universiti Brunei Darussalam
 Roger McIlroy & Claudia Obendrauf (2008).The Seashore plants Volume 2: Panaga Natural
History Society, Panaga, Seria, Brunei Darussalam
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillenia
 http://www.wellgrowhorti.com/page/landscapeplants/Trees/Tree%20 ist%20D.htm
 http://srttaseancorner.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html
 http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/dilleni.htm
 http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senarai_pokok
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The End
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