Popping Plump Pink Lime-Berries
The Pink Lime-Berry (Clausena excavata) – also known as the “false curry leaf tree” due to its resemblance to the Curry Leaf tree – is a fruit-bearing tree native to Southeast Asia, including Singapore. It’s like the perfect match for our tropical weather, thriving effortlessly under the sun.
Its leaves are like glossy, dark green gems, arranged in an alternating pattern along its branches. Crush ’em, and they’ll release a curry-like aroma that’ll make you wanna cook up a storm. The fruits are small, round berries that start off green and then blush pink when they’re ripe, just like a lime with a makeover. No wonder they call it the “Pink Lime-Berry.” They’re sweet, they’re tangy, and they’re a hit in Southeast Asian dishes, whether it’s jams, jellies, or a refreshing drink.
If you happen to swing by Wallace Centre at Dairy Farm Nature Park, you’ll spot a cluster of Pink Lime-Berry trees right beside. The berries are a magnet for birds and other wildlife.
Here are some of the birds we’ve spotted with blissful faces, popping these plump pink berries at Dairy Farm Nature Park:
Jambu Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus jambu)
Red-crowned Barbet (Psilopogon rafflesii)
Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus)
Asian Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus brunneus)
Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)
But when the gang of Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) rolls in, it’s like a scene from a heist movie – the birds scatter, and the merry band of berry bandits goes bonkers, devastating the tree and devouring those delectable treats.
