Saga Tree

This is not the first time I visited Alexandra Hospital. I ‘grew up watching’ its development in a sense.

As I walked in the hospital on the first day that my father was admitted, and also the first day that I had visited the hospital after so many years, I began to feel ‘the familiarity’ of the place. It has been years, really years… so much memories, so much ‘unique’ and ‘unfavourable’ experiences…

Well, the thing which I want to talk about first is about the plant that I missed most and wanted to see or find in the hospital. This, I told Richard and the children. They were ‘scared’ to hear all these because they dread waiting for me, they dread all these kind of activities. They only have time for computer (sad to say).

On the first day of admission, there is nothing much I can do for my father. The next day, I planned my trip. I went to Blessed Sacrament Church. After that all the arrangements to be done at the church, I went to the hospital to find out about my father’s condition.

After all the necessary procedures were done, I am glad that my father is all well, so much better than on the first day of admission. I am so eager to find the plant that contains so much memories… the ‘forget-me-not’ tree (Saga, Adenanthera pavonina). This intense urge to search for the tree happened and I planned to search for it on this day, which happened to be the Feast Day of St Anthony of Padua as well.

On this day, after church (attending Mass for Feast of St Anthony), we went to City Hall – eat Chicken Rice and shopping… Next, we took the MRT to Queenstown MRT station, and then take the bus to Alexandra hospital.

As it was Sunday, there is no shuttle bus to Alexandra Hospital and we took bus service 195 at Queenstown MRT station to the hospital. After alighting the bus at the bus-stop opposite the hospital, we need to cross the bridge to reach the hospital. Richard need to carry the pram, climbing up the stairs of the bridge. Clara was heading in front of me. She told me to look at a plant. I looked straight and saw it IS THE PLANT I am looking for! This is really destiny, I told them, “Wow, I don’t have to search for it already!”

‘forget-me-not’ tree (Saga, Adenanthera pavonina) at Alexandra Hospital

Ripened Saga seeds exposed from ripened pods on the tree

The scientific name of saga tree is Adenanthera pavonina. The medium-sized tree is native of tropical Asia. Its main asset is its rounded crown and fruits. The flowers are small, yellow turning orange and smelling faintly of orange blossoms. The fruits are green pods, swollen along regular intervals where the seeds are. With maturity the pods turn brown. They become coiled when dry and split to liberate the brilliant red seeds. It is well known to children who gather the red seeds for making into beads and other playthings. More information about Saga trees in Singapore from National Parks Board

Beautiful Saga seeds or ‘forget-me-not’ seeds (chinese called it xiang si dou = meaning of love seeds) picked on the ground

The seeds can only germinate if they are scratched (scarified), boiled for one minute, or dipped in sulphuric acid. This suggests that in nature, they must be eaten and go through the digestive system of an animal before germination. The tiny flowers are said to smell vaguely like orange blossoms. Other information about Saga tree: Naturia

• 1 Ben Koh ~ Dec 18, 2010 at 10:53 pm

  Hi, I found the love seeds from the site here. Tks u so much for the info. I suggested there is another saga tree along Exeter Rd, next to ex-PUB building. Think now change to Sweden Embassy. There are love seeds there too.