Simpor

The large, bright yellow flowers of the simpor adorn the one-dollar banknote and brighten almost every patch of wasteland in Brunei.

The simpor is a fast-growing, spreading shrub or small tree of the Dilleniaceae family, reaching 6–10 m. It has huge, leathery leaves with prominent veins and large, five-petalled yellow flowers that open in the morning and fall by evening. When ripe, the fruits split open like a red star, revealing seeds wrapped in a scarlet aril that birds eagerly eat. It grows in wetlands, secondary forest and abandoned fields; its leaves were once used to wrap food.

Significance in the country

The simpor is Brunei’s national flower and appears on the 1 Brunei dollar banknote. In 2018 it was among the Commonwealth plants embroidered on Meghan Markle’s wedding veil, representing Brunei.

Where it grows

Throughout the country – in swampy lowlands, along roadsides, on forest edges and on wasteland, from Belait to Temburong.

More: Wikipedia (en)