Sea Gutta Tree

About Sea Gutta Tree

Naturally found along rocky and sandy coasts, the Sea Gutta (Planchonella obovata) is a native tree that also grows robustly in urban environments despite their harsh conditions. This medium-sized tree is easily recognisable by its overall bushy appearance, as well as its foliage – its leaves are dark glossy green and hairless on the upperside, but reddish-brown to bronze and hairy on the underside. The fruits of the Sea Gutta are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals – including high concentrations of beta-carotene, niacin and iron.
Diagnostics:
Planchonella obovata is a common tree found at the sandy or rocky coasts, and also a popular roadside tree. Its most unique characteristic are the tiny copper-hairs that covers the underside of the leaves, veins, petioles, and young twigs, though not always. Despite its name, the leaf shape can vary from elliptic to obovate. The secondary veins of the leaves are enclosed near the margins. Being in the Saptoaceae family, milky sap is oozed when the leaves are broken.

Interesting Facts:
Past herbarium records also place the Sea Gutta's habitat in inland dry forests of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Nee Soon Swamp Forest (Singapore Herbarium Online, 2012; Wong et al., 2013).
It is traditionally used for pain relief: where the leaf paste or decoction is applied or drunk respectively to relief headaches; the decoction is also drunk for chest pains; and the poultice of crushed leaves is applied to treat backaches (FloraFaunaWeb, n.d.).