Native Plants

Scaevola taccada

Sea-lettuce Tree
LC
Least Concern
Malaysia Plant Red List
Peninsular Malaysia ver 3.1, 2021
LC
Least Concern
Peninsular Malaysia Plant Red List *
2013
* Assessed according to the IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria Version 3.1
QR Code
SSN 34746
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Taxonomy

  • Kingdom
  • Division
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Specific Epithet
    taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb.
  • Synonym
  • Vernacular Name
  • Residential
    Native
The taxonomic status is pending for approval

Gallery  

Description

Scaevola taccada is a flowering plant commonly known as sea lettuce or locally, it is known as merambong. Scaevola, is the sole pan-tropic genus, ranging west to India, Pakistan and Madagascar and east to Micronesia, Melanesia and Hawaii. Despite its aesthetic appearance, this species is classified as an invasive species in the United States as it is competing and pushing another species away from its native habitat.

This species is a very salt and wind tolerant, inhabiting areas of high salinity and can be found primarily in sandy, or in partially rocky or muddy, shorelines and coastal dune soils, sometimes right down to the high tide mark. It is a large shrub with smooth, shiny leaves of a pleasant light green colour and attractive ‘half flowers’ (flowers with a dorsally split corolla tube) that are white with brownish red stripes. The fruits are fleshy berries developed from the green calyx and ripen to a creamy, white drupe. Medicinally, it is known to treat asthma, beri-beri, eye infections, and indigestion among others and has ornamental potentials due to its attractive light green foliage beside flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Habitats

No Description Suitability Seasonality
1
Vegetation → Coastal Vegetation
Unknown Unknown
References : http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3

Assessment

Year Published Assessment Red List Category Version
2021 Malaysia Plant Red List
Least Concern (LC)
Peninsular Malaysia
3.1
2013 Peninsular Malaysia Plant Red List
Least Concern (LC)
N/A

Location

by State Location
  • Johore 6
  • Kedah 1
  • Malacca 1
  • Pahang 2
  • Perak 1
  • Selangor 1
  • Terengganu 2
  • Federal Territories of Putrajaya 1
Based on publications, specimens, and images

Specimen

Collection Center   Total
2

Digital Specimen

Biodiversity Experts

Profile
Ahmad Aldrie Amir (Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Evolution
  • Forest
  • History
  • Law and Policy
  • Management
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Anisah Lee Abdullah (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Coral Reefs
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Geoinformatics
  • Management
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Water
  • PM
  • SBH
Asyraf Mansor (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Palms
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Evolution
  • Forest
  • PM
Chong Ju Lian (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
  • Mammals (Ecology)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • Protected Areas
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Climate Change
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Kartini Binti Saibeh (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
  • Vascular
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • SBH
Mohamad Azani Alias (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular
  • Vascular
  • Amphibians
  • Amphibians
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Climate Change
  • Protected Areas
  • Forest
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Mohd Fahmi Abu Bakar (Ts. Dr.)
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA)
  • Vascular
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • Systematics
  • PM
Mohd Norfaizal Ghazalli (Dr.)
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
  • Vascular
  • Pitcher plants
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Science
  • Systematics
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Nazahatul Anis Amaludin (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • PM
Nor Ezzawanis Abdullah Thani (Mrs.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • PM
Nur Kyariatul Syafinie Abdul Majid (Ms.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Forest
  • Protected Areas
  • PM
Nur Supardi Md Noor (Dr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Palms
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Rusea Go (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Orchids (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • Protected Areas
  • Climate Change
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
Tam Sheh May (Dr.)
Taylor's University
  • Orchids
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Data Analysis
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • PM
Tan Swee Lian (Dr.)
Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
Yong Kien Thai (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Moss
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Ferns (Taxonomy)
  • Protected Areas
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Evolution
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;

References

Article
  1. Latiff, A., Faridah-Hanum, I., Zainudin Ibrahim, A., Goh, M.W.K., Loo, A.H.B. & Tan, H.T.W. (1999). On the Vegetation and Flora of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplements (6), 11-72
  2. Norhayati, I., Getha, K., Muhd Haffiz, J., Mohd Ilham, A., Lili Sahira, H., Siti Syarifah, M.M. & Muhammad Syamil, A. (2013). In Vitro Antitrypanosomal Activity of Malaysian Plants. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 25 (1), 52-59
Book
  1. Island Life: A Natural History of Pulau Tengah, Johor, Malaysia, 2018. WS Lifestyle, Singapore. pp. 163.
  2. Mangrove Guidebook for Malaysia, 2015. Wetlands International, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
  3. Adler, P.H. (2002). A Guide to Taman Botani Putrajaya: Tropical Roots. Perbadanan Putrajaya, Malaysia. pp. 13.
  4. Che Abd Rahim, Mohamed, Fathul Karim, S., Azima, A.M., Zaidi, C.C., Mustaffa, O. & Lee, J.N. (2010). Penyelidikan Pantai Timur Johor : Mersing Warisan Terpelihara. Pusat Penyelidikan Ekosistem Marin (EKOMAR), Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. pp. 256.
  5. Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (2013). Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, Series II: Seed Plants, Volume 4. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 405.
  6. Maimon, A., Norhayati, A. & Latiff, A. (2017). Mekar Putrajaya: Putrajaya Blooms. Perbadanan Putrajaya, Putrajaya, Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 181.
  7. Ong, H.C. (2004). Tumbuhan Liar: Khasiat & Kegunaan Lain. Utusan Publications & Distribution Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia. pp. 241.
  8. Phang, S.M., Affendi, Y.A., Ooi, J.L.S. & Haji, A.J.M. (2008). Natural History of The Pulau Tioman Group of Islands. Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, Malaysia. pp. 292.
  9. Soepadmo, E. & Wong, K.M. (1995). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak, Volume 1. Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Sarawak Forestry Department, Malaysia. pp. 513.
  10. Yong, W.S.Y., Chua, L.S.L., Lau, K.H., Siti-Nur Fatinah, K., Cheah, Y.H., Yao, T.L., Rafidah, A.R., Lim, C.L., Syahida-Emiza, S., Ummul Nazrah, A.R., Nor-Ezzawanis, A.T., Chew, M.Y., Siti Munirah, M.Y., Julius, A., Phoon, S.N., Sam, Y.Y., Nadiah, I., Ong, P.T., Sarah Nabila, R., Suhaida, M., Muhammad-Alif Azyraf, A., Siti Eryani, S., Yap, J.W., Jutta, M., Azeman, S., Salleh, N., Kiew, R. & Chung, R.C.K. (2021). Malaysia Red List: Plants of Peninsular Malaysia, Volume 1, Issue/No. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 107.
  11. Yong, W.S.Y., Chua, L.S.L., Lau, K.H., Siti-Nur Fatinah, K., Cheah, Y.H., Yao, T.L., Rafidah, A.R., Lim, C.L., Syahida-Emiza, S., Ummul Nazrah, A.R., Nor-Ezzawanis, A.T., Chew, M.Y., Siti Munirah, M.Y., Julius, A., Phoon, S.N., Sam, Y.Y., Nadiah, I., Ong, P.T., Sarah Nabila, R., Suhaida, M., Muhammad-Alif Azyraf, A., Siti Eryani, S., Yap, J.W., Jutta, M., Azeman, S., Salleh, N., Kiew, R. & Chung, R.C.K. (2021). Malaysia Red List: Plants of Peninsular Malaysia, Volume 1, Issue/No. 2. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 316, 753.
Newsletter
  1. Flora of Malaysia i-Newsletter Part 3. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). (2013, 10). Retrived December 29, 2017, from https://www.mybis.gov.my/art/1985 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
  2. Veronica, P. (2004, September). FRIM in FOCUS. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Retrived November 24, 2015, from https://www.mybis.gov.my/art/155

Acknowledgements :- Mr. Ahmad Amir Firdaus Bin Mad Apandi, Ms. Ainul Aqilah Binti Mohd Nasir, Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Mr. Mohamad Ikhmal Husin, Ms. Noorkhalilie Binti Che Abd Aziz, Ms. Nur Farahin Binti Mustafa, Ms. Nurfadzilah Bt Azmi, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurul Aimi Amirah Binti Mohd Zaki, Ms. Nurul Aliya Imra Asyikin Binti Abd Murad, Ms. Siti Zubaidah Binti Abdul Latif, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin

Photo credit :- Rafidah Abdul Rahman

Species Citation :- Scaevola taccada. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/34746. [Retrieved 11 December 2023].

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Website Citation: MyBIS (2023). Malaysia Biodiversity Information System. Published on the Internet https://www.mybis.gov.my/, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia Biodiversity Centre & Forest Research Institute Malaysia. [Retrieved 11 December 2023].