Different types of tree bark
Tree leaves and flowers may be out of reach but if you want to find out the name of a plant, the texture of its bark may hold important clues.
World of Plants
The botanical world is beautiful, intriguing and always full of surprises! Venture into a realm of lush greenery and learn all about the spectacular myriad of tropical plants and the systems these plants support.
World of Plants
Stroll along the delectable World of Plants in a multi-sensory encounter with nature. Find out how plants disperse their seeds, how mushrooms benefit rainforest communities, how plants adapt to adverse environments and see some of the most primitive plants on earth all here in a World of Plants waiting to be explored!
Enjoy the sights of flowers and fruits in bloom, and check out the tropical lowland palms that contribute oil and shelter to Man’s purposes. Venture into the Secret Life of Trees, where visitors will learn how to identify different types of tree species. At the Web of Life, take in the impressive sight of topiary animals such as the orang-utan, pangolin and hornbill. With a new discovery waiting to be unveiled at every corner and turn, get reacquainted with a whole other world outside of the city.
Did you know?
- Cycads are amongst the oldest evolved plants in the world and evolved hundreds of millions of years ago!
- The Double Coconut palm (Lodoicea maldivica) bears the largest seed in the world, and its nuts can weigh
more than 15 kg. - Cannonball Trees are dispersed by Peccaries that eat the fruits and deposit the seeds through their faeces.
Things to look out for
Mystical mushrooms under a creepy-crawly tent
Get into character as the iconic caterpillar of Alice in Wonderland and sit on top of one of our vibrant mushrooms while you look up at the bugs on the tent above. Learn about how creepy crawlies and fungi work together to decompose forest remains.
Eight amazing animals from Southeast Asia
Make friends with our impressive hornbill, curious pangolin and other super-sized jungle friends made of the living foliage of the Indian Laurel (Ficus Microcarpa) and learn how these animals are vital to forest health.
Gardens in the World of Plants
Secret Life of Trees
Apart from providing shelter, trees are an essential part of the ecosystem. At the Secret Life of Trees, learn all that there is to know about the variety of swaying green giants that dot our island, and get familiarised with the challenges they face to survive in tropical countries.
World of Palms
At the World of Palms, expect to be greeted by a colourful array of tropical lowland palms with flowers in full bloom.
Find out all about the many usabilities of the incredibly versatile palms, including their roles in contributing shelter, fibre, fruit, starch and oil to Man’s purposes.
Understorey
They thrive in dark and damp conditions and lurk unnoticed on the forest ground, but decomposers actually play an important part in ecology. At the Understorey, find out all about the amazing organisms that break down fallen leaves, twigs, and flowers to produce much-needed nutrients for the ecosystem.
Fruits and Flowers
Look forward to walking among an amazing variety of colourful flowers and fruits at this charming section of the World of Plants. Inhale the sweet scent of blossoms in season as you take a stroll with your loved ones, and check out the tantalising array of fruits growing in abundance.
Web of Life
At the Web of Life, take in the impressive sight of life-sized topiary animals such as the orang-utan, pangolin, hornbill, fruit bat and rhinoceres beetle. Woven from fig, the garden features a wide variety of fig species such as the Broad Leaf Fig (Ficus auriculata) and Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis).
Discovery
Plants have plenty of stories of their own to tell, some spanning over 500 million years of history. As you take a walk along Discovery, be sure to look out for the plants that represent pieces of the evolutionary time-line, including the rare Multipinnate Cycas (Cycas debaoensis) and Chinese Desmos (Desmos chinensis).
