Phanera ferruginea var. griffithiana (Fabaceae, Cercidoideae): resolving the status of a lesser-known climbing legume in Singapore

Abstract

Phanera ferruginea (Roxb.) Benth. is reported as a naturalised species for the Flora of Singapore. This species of climbing legume is represented by Phanera ferruginea var. griffithiana (Benth.) Bandyop., Ghoshal & M.K.Pathak in Singapore. The status of the species in Singapore, which is known only from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, has hitherto not been fully investigated. We provide a description of the species from Bukit Timah, a comprehensive account of its origin through literature records and herbarium specimens, along with a taxonomic key and field characters for the Phanera species of Singapore.