Tembusu

The tembusu (/təmˈbuːsuː, tɛm-/, təm-BOO-soo or tem-BOO-soo), is a large evergreen tree in the family Gentianaceae, native to Southeast Asia (from Indo-China to New Guinea). It is the Malay name for Cyrtophyllum fragrans (synonym Fagraea fragrans). It is also known as ironwood.^[3]

Tembusu
At Singapore Botanic Gardens
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Gentianaceae
Genus:	Cyrtophyllum
Species:	C. fragrans
Binomial name
Cyrtophyllum fragrans (Roxb.) DC.[2]
Synonyms[2]
Fagraea fragrans Roxb. Fagraea peregrina (Reinw.) Blume Cyrtophyllum peregrinum Reinw. Willughbeia fragrans (Roxb.) Spreng.

In the Kandy botanic garden, Sri Lanka

Its trunk is dark brown, with deeply fissured bark, looking somewhat like a bittergourd. The tree grows in an irregular shape from 10 to 25 metres high,^[4] with light green oval-shaped leaves, and yellowish flowers with a distinct fragrance. The fruits of the tree are bitter tasting red berries, which are eaten by Pteropus fruit bats.^[5]

Uses

The trunk of this tree can produce very hard wood that can be used to make chopping boards and floors.^{[citation needed]} The wood can last over a hundred years, as it is not consumed by termites and weevils.

Cultural significance

A distinctive and well-loved tembusu tree growing in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is pictured on the Singaporean five-dollar bill.^[6]