Feature Video: A Seedy Love Story

Where It All Begins..

By Rachel

It was a depressing love story from a long time ago.

There was a great war in a certain country, and a brave man had to leave his wife behind to defend his homeland.

Every day, the wife would sit at the peak of a mountain crying, and praying for the safe return of her beloved husband.

Day after day she cried, till her tears ran dry.

Yet, it was not meant to be. He never returned.

She started to cry blood in place of tears, and those drops of blood became red-colored seeds as they fell onto the ground.

They grew into huge trees full of fruits with the same beautiful red seeds.

The seeds were then known as the "remembrance beans", as they represent the wife reminiscing her time with her husband and her longing for him to return.

This leads to the formerly popular tradition in Singapore, where people give a bottle full of saga seeds to their beloved other half, especially when the latter is going for distant trips.

Getting The Story

By J. H.

The search for the declining population of the Saga Tree was tough. But after liaising with various staffs from the Singapore Npark, we managed to find the specific locations of the Saga Trees in both Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park.

It was with the search of the Saga Trees and our potential interviewees in mind that we set off for our expedition on Friday morning.

We arrived at Fort Canning Park around 10am.

We headed for the park’s visitor centre straightaway, eager to start off with an interview. However, all the staffs were out stationed, attending some important event.

Undaunted, we went in search of the Saga Tree. We were fortunate to locate tree, capture some footage and pictures and also manage to secure an interview with a morning jogger.

After lunch, we proceeded to our next destination - the Botanic Gardens.

The weather was not kind to us. It started to pour heavily.

Once again, we were unable to catch hold of any staff for interview. However, it was not all for naught as we found out why Saga Trees are no longer suitable as roadside trees.

Hence, we decided to interview our parents and family members instead.

Background Information

By G. T.

In the 1950's to the 1980's, the saga seeds were a favourite among Singaporeans.

For children, the seeds are collected and used as game pieces in the game known as 'saga'.

For parents, the seeds can be sewn into bolsters or bean bags for their children to hug when they sleep.

For teenagers and young adults, the seeds carry a deeper meaning - Whenever their loved ones are going away on a distance trip, they will prepare a bottle of saga seeds to represent their love for the other half, and also to symbolise their in-separateness.

However, in recent years, these trends have started to die out.

Part of it could be blamed on the availability of online games and cheap bolsters; but more importantly, the saga tree and its seeds are disappearing in Singapore.

In our coverage, we will look for the elusive saga tree and its seeds, and also interview some of the older folks to have them share with us what they know about the saga seeds.

Extra Information

Information taken from:

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181&Itemid=161

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/adenanthera/pavonina.htm

http://www.sbg.org.sg/attractions/heritagetrees.asp#Top

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/saga_tree.htm

Common Name: Saga Tree
Other Names: Red Bean Tree; Red Sandalwood; Remembrance Bean Tree
Botanical Name: Adenanthera pavonina
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Main Features

*Medium-sized deciduous tree which grows up to 15 to 20m tall.

*Spreading rounded crown which grows up to 30m.

*Compound bipinnate leaves which turn from yellow to green as it ages. Leaves are shed every 6 to 8 months.

*Tiny creamy-yellow star-shaped flowers with drooping rat-tail like flower heads and five petals each.

*Fruits are in the form of curved hanging green pods that will turn brown, coil up and split open to reveal small bright red seeds when they ripen.

General Information

A hardy, fast-growing and low-maintenance tree.

Native to southern China and India.

Grows best in neutral to slightly acidic soils.

Useful as shade, and also acts as an ornamental tree.

Uses

Leaves can be cooked and eaten.

Raw seeds are toxic and can cause intoxication, but are edible (and rich in protein and oil) after cooking.

Seeds can be used as weight measure, in particular for gold and silver.

Seeds can also be used to make necklaces.

The oil produced by grounded seeds can be used as an industrial lubricant.

Wood can be used to make houses, furnitures and cabinetry.

Wood can also be used as firewood, as it burns well.

Red Dye obtained from the wood is used by Hindu Brahmins to make religious markings on their foreheads.

Can be planted as "nurse trees" in coffee, rubber and clove plantations.

Red Powder from grinding the wood can be used as an antiseptic paste.

Grounded seeds can be used to treat boils and inflammations.

Decoction of the leaves can be used to treat rheumatism and gout.

Bark can be used to wash hair.

The entire tree can help fix nitrogen levels and rejuvenate soils.

Interesting Information

The red seeds are relatively uniform in size and weight, with 4 seeds weighing 1 gram. Thus, they were also widely used as weight measures in the past.

Malaysia's national car, Proton Saga, is named after the Saga tree.

The Saga tree is a heritage tree in Singapore.

The Saga tree is removed from roadsides and other areas mainly because it is susceptible to damage in strong winds and has a tendency to become untidy with age.

The name "Saga" is linked to the Arabic term for "goldsmith".

For further information, please visit the above links.

Contact

By G. T.

If you have any burning questions or queries, feel free to contact J. H. at:
katlyn.sea-struct@hotmail.com

The following are useful contacts for those who are interested in finding more information on the Saga Trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park:

General Information for Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore Botanic Gardens
1 Cluny Road
Singapore 259569

Tel: (65) 6471 7138 / (65) 6471 7361
Fax: (65) 6473 7983
E-mail: NPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG

General Information for Fort Canning Park

National Parks Board HQ
1 Cluny Road
Singapore 259569
(Location is adjacent to Nassim Road)

Helpline Number: 1800-471 7300 (Toll-free)
Fax: 6472 3033
Email: NPARKS_MAILBOX@NPARKS.GOV.SG

Getting There

By G. T. & J. H.

For those who are not driving and are planning to go to the Singapore Botanic Gardens or Fort Canning Park, here are the public transports which you can take:

Singapore Botanic Gardens:


(Click here for a larger view)

By Bus

Via Holland Road:
SBS Transit 7, 105, 123, 174
SMRT 75, 77, 106

Via Bukit Timah Road:
SBS Transit 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170
SMRT 67, 171

Fort Canning Park:


(Click here for a larger view)

By MRT

Get off at:
Bras Basah, Dhoby Ghaut, Clarke Quay or Dhoby Ghaut Station.

By Bus

Via Stamford Road:
SBS 7, 14, 16, 36, 111, 124, 128, 131, 147, 162, 162M, 166, 174, 175
TIBS 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A, 857
Fast Forward 14e, 174e
Express 502
Nite Rider NR7

Via Penang Road:
SBS 7, 14, 14A,16, 36, 36A, 65, 111, 124, 128, 162, 162M, 166, 174, 175
TIBS 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A, 857
Fast Forward 14e, 174e
Express 502
Nite Rider NR6, NR7

Via Hill Street:
SBS 124, 145, 147, 166, 174
TIBS 190, 851

Via River Valley Road:
SBS 32, 54, 195
Nite Rider 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Premium 530

Kovan:


(Click here for a larger view)

By MRT

Get off at:
Kovan Station.

Credits

Information taken from:

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181&Itemid=161

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/adenanthera/pavonina.htm

http://www.sbg.org.sg/attractions/heritagetrees.asp#Top

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/saga_tree.htm

Pictures taken from:

http://kingyeungpohyin.blogspot.com/2007/08/red-love-seeds.html

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181&Itemid=161

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/saga_tree.htm

http://www.photoplus.ws/menu/plants/sagatree.php

http://www.zambala.com/product_info.php?products_id=2450&osCsid=1b2df8caaa622ffb02700d8acd14c021

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goatsfoot/3510812452/

http://bloodrinako.wordpress.com/2008/05/

http://www.findsingapore.net/gallery/index.php/Singapore-Botanic-Gardens/Botanic-Garden-Singapore

http://www.cix.co.uk/~dliddlea/timeguns/singapore-blackburn-france.html

http://www.olx.com.sg/valentine-gift-heart-bottle-with-saga-seeds-iid-69198633

http://suntzuquotes.net/

http://brightmanasianstudies.wikispaces.com/SUN+TZU--THE+ART+OF+WAR\

http://hullor.wordpress.com/

http://blog.nbyg.net/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2318&extra=&ordertype=2

http://potterscake.blogspot.com/

http://putriayusha.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-love-red-part-2.html

http://jxhnny.wordpress.com/page/2/

http://just-juls.deviantart.com/art/Red-seeds-59128793

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandawxr/4394424802/

http://alyssaloving.tumblr.com/

http://www.1001flowergift.com/

http://www.junzimen.com/Article/2009/38395.html