putat laut (barringtonia asiatic)

this beautiful flower, found on the ground at labrador nature reserve, reminds me of the fibre-optic type of light that used to be sold at crystal palace along river valley road.

the flowers, with white stamens tipped with pink, open at night and attract moths and bats.

the fruit, shaped like a lantern, is quite large and it floats on water. the seeds, from the putat laut fruit, which contain saponin, a poison, have been used to stun fish in freshwater stream.

i have seen the putat laut trees at labrador nature reserve, west coast park and sungei buloh wetland reserve.

the putat laut is also known by two other names: fish-poison tree and sea poison tree.