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| Last updated: February 2025 |

I first discovered the plant in Singapore in June 2015 (refer to the link to my Nature Notes below). Its local presence was officially documented in an article published in 2020 [1]. Subsequently, a publication that screened tropical plant species in Singapore for potential phytoremediation included Fatoua pilosa as one of the candidate plants. The collection of this plant occurred between March 2019 and January 2020 [2]. The New Zealand flora website considers Fatoua pilosa synonymous with Fatoua villosa. However, the Plants of the World Online and the Flora of China websites treat these two names as distinct species. The taxonomic notes in the 2020 publication [1] provide reasoning for naming the Fatoua species naturalised in Singapore as Fatoua villosa.

As of 14 February 2025, the iNaturalist website recorded a single observation of Fatoua pilosa from Singapore, in contrast to 53 observations of Fatoua villosa, with the first sighting dating back to November 2018.

It is noteworthy that this plant can be propagated through stem cuttings. By cutting a mature branch and planting it in soil, propagation can be achieved. However, due to its common status as a weedy species, there appears to be limited interest in cultivating this plant.

My Nature Notes related to this plant: | 14 June 2015 | 13 August 2017 |

Reference:

[1] Choo LM, Yeo RSW, Ho BC, Ong KH, Chen LMJ. Additions to the Flora of Singapore: New and overlooked records of naturalised plant species (4). Nature in Singapore 2020;13:39-45. | Read article |

[2] Wang Y, Tan SN, Yusof MLM, Ghosh S, Lam YM. Assessment of heavy metal and metalloid levels and screening potential of tropical plant species for phytoremediation in Singapore. Environmental Pollution 2022;295:118681. | Read article |

| Plants of the World Online | iNaturalist | University of Florida | Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants | Missouri Plants |

[2017] Su SY, Xue JJ, Yang GY, Lei C, Hou AJ. New cytotoxic alkylated chalcones from Fatoua villosa. Chem Biodivers 2017;14(6). | Read abstract |