Family: Dilleniaceae
Common name: Simpoh ayer, Simpoh air, Simpuh air, Yellow simpoh, Shrubby dillenia, White simpoh, Simpor, Shrubby simpoh, CB leaf
Simpoh ayer is a fascinating plant found in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and parts of the Philippines. They are considered as invasive plants in some parts of the world, and are very commonly seen in the wild, close to rivers, lakes, and water bodies.
Plant characteristics
These plants grow to a height of 3-6 meters with a erect, woody stem that branches well to give the plant a well-rounded crown.
Leaves of the Simpoh ayer plant are very beautiful, glossy, and large with sunken veins, and uniformly serrated edges. They are 30-40 cm long, with a rough leathery texture. Tender leaves are light orange-green in color. The dense foliage of leaves keep the plant attractive even when it’s not flowering.
Flowers of the Simpoh ayer plant are bright yellow in color, about 10-12 cm in diameter. The center part of the flower contains numerous stamens arranged like a small fort.
They have 5 distinct petals with thin crepe-paper like edges. These brightly colored flowers attract bees, butterflies, insects that help pollinate them. During rainy season, the plant flowers profusely but each flower stays only for a day or two.
Once pollinated, the flowers produce fruits that open up on maturity into bright pink, star-shaped structures with seeds arranged inside. These fruiting structures look very pretty, deep pink with white borders, having bright red seeds arranged uniformly inside. The seeds are eaten by small animals that help propagate the plant.
Gardening tips
Simpoh ayer plants need good sunlight and well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil needs to be consistently moist when the plants are small. Once they mature, the plants need very little care and attention.
Pruning can be done to remove any long and diseased branches. These plants are reasonably resistant to pests, but tender leaves can be eaten by aphids and caterpillars.
Uses of Simpoh ayer plants
These plants are grown as ornamentals in gardens and parks, because of their lovely foliage and bright flowers. The leaves of the plant are used to wrap food items. They can also be shaped into cones to hold food.
Parts of the Simpoh ayer plant are used in traditional herbal medicine to treat cuts, wounds, stomach ailments, and inflammations.
These plants are considered invasive weeds in some countries like Sri Lanka where they grow abundantly in the wild, propagated by birds and animals that eat the fruits of the plant.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
Ripe seeds collected from the fruits have to be cleaned thoroughly and soaked in water for a day before they are sowed in moist, well-drained soil.
Semi-hardwood cuttings can be planted in the soil after dipping their ends in rooting hormone to encourage faster rooting.
Photographed at: Lunuganga, Sri Lanka
