The magnified views of a twig and the under surface of a leaf showing dense hairs with swollen tips. Each swollen tip is a gland and the structure is known as stipitate gland since there is a stipe holding the gland or glandular trichomes [1]. Due to the extensive coverage of the glandular trichomes, the surfaces felt sticky when touch.

Early stage seedlings does not have toothed leaf blade. In the picture with 3 seedlings in the same pot, one of them belonged to Peperomia pellucida.

As a result of a publication in 1998 [2], this tree is currently placed under the family Muntingiaceae. However, some websites and publications have continued to place it under its former families such as Elaeocarpaceae and Malvaceae.

Reference:

[1] Glas JJ, Schimmel BC, Alba JM, Escobar-Bravo R, Schuurink RC, Kant MR. Plant glandular trichomes as targets for breeding or engineering of resistance to herbivores. Int J Mol Sci 2012;13(12):17077-17103. | Read article |

[2] Bayer C, Chase MW, Fay MF. Muntingiaceae, a new family of dicotyledons with Malvalean affinities. Taxon 1998;47(1):37-42. | Abstract |

Online Resources: | Wiki.nus | Urban Forest | NParks | Plants of the World Online | Flora of North America | Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) |