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Brown-throated Sunbird Visits Male Papaya Blooms

on 12th February 2013

“Discarded papaya seeds (Carica papaya) strewn by humans or dispersed by birds do grow well and easily under favourable conditions in the tropics.

“The germinated seed decides if the fruit tree is to be fruit bearing – being female. A male plant photographed here has only showers of long stemmed blooms to show that will eventually wilt (left).

“To the disappointment of homemakers who hope for fruits, such fruitless plant considered to be useless would usually be abandoned or uprooted and demoted to the rubbish heap.

“Of lesser known is the male healthy blooms or flowers though extremely bitter are edible and often used by the small local community to compliment leafy salads or a quick stir fry with meat and ginger. Sometimes they are sold in night markets.

“Of medicinal value, the blooms when immersed in hot water, provides a bitter brew for a temporary, quick fix to reduce high blood pressure and lower sugar levels in diabetics.

“The buds upon blooming emit a mild fragrance that does attract insects. To add to its attraction, a male Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) was observed to be prospecting nectar off these blooms from a roadside tree partially overgrown with weeds (above).

“Pollen smear on bill tips of the bird is evident here (above).”

Avian Writer Daisy O’Neill
Penang, Malaysia
26th January 2013
Copyright article and copy Images: Courtesy of Daisy O’Neill Bird Conservation Fund

Image of male papaya flowers by YC Wee, others by Daisy O’Neill.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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