Sea Pong-Pong Seeds is a brass sculpture by Chua Boon Kee in the outdoor Seed Dispersal Garden at Singapore Botanic Gardens. The garden surrounds the Seed Bank in the Bukit Timah Core. From Botanic Gardens MRT, use Bukit Timah Gate and follow signs to the Seed Bank.
The sculpture shows seeds of the sea pong-pong tree, Cerbera manghas. Its fruit can carry the seed over water. Look at the sculpture as a starting point for understanding what helps the fruit float and what protects the seed along the way.
- Where Outdoor Seed Dispersal Garden around the Seed Bank.
- Artist Chua Boon Kee.
- Idea to look for Seed dispersal by water.
How to find the sculpture
Use the Gardens’ map to locate the Seed Bank building, then look for the outdoor Seed Dispersal Garden paths around it. NParks also provides a sculpture map starting at Bukit Timah Gate. The Seed Bank gallery has separate opening hours if you are including an indoor visit.
What keeps the sea pong-pong fruit afloat?
NParks describes a thick, fibrous layer that helps the fruit stay buoyant. A water-resistant inner layer protects the seed during its journey. For children, split the explanation into two questions. What keeps the fruit on the surface? What protects the seed inside it?
Compare it with another seed sculpture
Find the Javan Cucumber Seed sculpture in the same garden. Its broad wings give it a way to glide through air. Ask children to draw an arrow showing what carries each seed, and to label the feature that helps it travel. Water dispersal is also called hydrochory.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sea Pong-Pong Seeds indoors?
It is in the outdoor Seed Dispersal Garden.
When was it installed?
NParks lists 2019 as the installation year.
Which entrance is useful from Botanic Gardens MRT?
Use Bukit Timah Gate and follow the route to the Seed Bank.