Shrubby Dillenia ( Dillenia suffruticosa)

Feeling slightly better today, I decided to have a walk around the farm. The rashes that developed over my body slowly disappeared and my body temperature has subsided and returned to normal. According to the good doctor I was suffering from a viral infection which is self-eliminating. Feeling upbeat, I took shots of the Shrubby Dillenia or what we call here as 'Simpoh Air' ( Dillenia suffruticosa) that grows abundantly at my farm. The 'Simpoh Air' is indeed a suitable tree to plant along streams and near houses.

The red fruits are attractive to birds and are enclosed in several segments.

The large yellow flowers look brilliant in the sun. The thick broad and oval-shaped leaves are used to wrap food or to ferment rice like in the local delicacy called 'Tapai'. The young leaves are eaten raw as salad.

Simpoh Air( Dillenia suffruticosa)

Considered a wild shrub and having potential to grow into a small tree, the Simpoh Air or sometimes referred to as the Shrubby Dillenia ( Dillenia suffruticosa) is a very useful tree. The young leaves can be eaten as salad. The broad leaves are used to wrap food . I've seen recently in my travels up to Tebedu border near Kuching where the tree is used as 'live' posts for pepper vines. This picture was taken at one of the vegetation islands at my farm yesterday. I always welcome these trees around the farm because they produce red fruits that expose red fleshed seeds attractive to the birds. The Simpoh Air loves the open sun. The yellow flowers are eye-catching.

Red-fleshed seeds of Dillenia

The Shrubby Dillenia ( Dillenia suffruticosa) which is locally known as 'Simpoh Air' has fruits when split open exposes the red-fleshed seeds that are a real treat for the birds here.