The Changi Tree, also known as The Time Tree, was a 76-meter legendary tree of Singapore. The species of the tree is unclear, but it was either Hopea sangal or Sindora wallichii. It has been said that Changi was named after this tree. It has been recorded that Changi was named after Neobalanocarpus heimii by the legendary botanist H.N. Ridley. However, there has been no evidence that the tree had ever been in Changi.
History
The Changi Tree started appearing on maps at around 1888. The tree was a major landmark due to its height.
In February 1942, during World War II, the tree was cut in order to prevent the Japanese from using the tree as a ranging point. According to folklore, the fall of the tree would cause the fall of Singapore itself. This proved true at the Battle of Singapore shortly after the tree had fallen.
In February 2001, the Singapore Tourism Board planted a new "Changi tree" at the Changi Museum.
In December 2010, there was a new discovery of a special sacred tree located in Eunos. The tree is named after the founder "XM".