PASSING by the Klang Municipal Council while trapped in a morning traffic jam many years ago, I chanced upon a very picturesque scene of a building framed by a row of enchanting little trees.
The flowers looked like hanging gold chains and their beauty was unforgettable.
Soon I visited the garden to find out more about those lovely gold-chain flowers. I was lucky to meet the gardener who told me that they were called Golden Chain Trees and they originated from Brazil. That was back in 2009 and until today I can still see golden chain trees flowering prolifically there. In Putrajaya, you can find Golden Chain trees along public roads or inside Taman Wawasan and Taman Wetlands. Here’s more about this tropical American beauty.
PLANT PROFILE:
• Scientific name: Lophanthera lactescens
• Family: Malpighiaceae
• Common names: Golden Chain Tree, Rantai Emas (Malay)
• Chinese name: chui xu jin hu wei (dangling golden tiger’s tail), huang jin lian zi shu (golden chain tree)
The generic name Lophanthera is derived from the Latin words lophos (meaning crest) and anthera (meaning anther), referring to the winged structure of the stamens. There are five species of plants in this genus of which four are native to the Amazon Basin and one to Costa Rica.
The epithet lactescens is derived from the Latin word meaning “turning milky”, referring to the latex from the bark.
Malpighiaceae is a family of about 70 genera and 1,300 species of mostly ornamental tropical flowering trees, shrubs and vines native to the tropics and subtropics. It is named in honour of Marcello Malphighi, an Italian biologist, physician and one of the pioneers of microscopic anatomy. Its members include the acerola cherry (Maphighia emarginata) which is high in vitamin C.
THE PLANT
Lophanthera lactescens is a semi-deciduous, free-flowering tree native to Brazil and Uruguay. In its natural habitat, it grows wild along coastal areas and forests at low altitudes in the Amazon basin. This small to medium-sized tree can reach a height of 20m tall. In cultivation it is grown as an ornamental tree for its lush foliage and fascinating flowers.
The leaves are quite large, measuring up to 24cm long and 16cm across. They are smooth in texture, glossy bright green in colour, oval-shaped, simple and oppositely arranged. The trunk is woody and resistant to attacks by insects. The bark exudes white latex when cut.
The flowers are borne on long drooping, terminal inflorescences that can extend to 40cm long. They are golden yellow in colour. The flowers are tiny but very showy and numerous. Each inflorescence can have as many as 300—500 flowers. The flowers open in succession from top to bottom.
The inflorescences can last a few weeks. The fruit dries up upon maturity. Each fruit contains a single brown-black seed.
HOW TO GROW
It is best grown in the ground. It is usually grown as a specimen tree in public gardens or as a roadside tree. Established trees flourish well under our hot and humid weather. This tree is not easy to grow in home gardens due to transplanting problems.
Bigger trees tend to suffer “transplant shock” that lead to shedding of leaves and difficulty of reestablishment. Transplanting with younger plants of below 60cm height may improve your chances of success.
THE STEPS
• PROPAGATION.
You can buy a starter plant from the local nurseries or propagated one from seeds, stem cuttings or air-layering. The seeds remain viable for a short period only, hence it is best sown fresh. It takes about a month for the seeds to germinate and another 2.5 years before it starts to flower.
It is best to sow the seeds directly in the ground as the plants do not transplant easily.
• SUNLIGHT. Full sun.
• MEDIUM. Moist, well-drain soil.
• WATER. Moderate.
• FERTILISE. Balanced compound
fertiliser twice a month.
•MAINTENANCE. Prune to contro growth and to shape the plant. Pruning will encourage flowering.
• PEST AND DISEASES. Not a problem.
• The other species
There is another group of temperate trees under a different family which are also known as “golden chain trees”. These are from the Laburnum genus and they are classified in the pea family of Fabaceae. These trees are native to Europe.