I saw this unique flower of the Cannonball Tree during an evening walk to The Esplanade.

The botanical name is called Couroupita guianensis and it originates from Northern Regions of South America.

Some background info:

This is a fast-growing tree with a narrow crown. It can grow to about 10 - 20 metres high. The leaves are simple, light green and have a life span of about 6 months after which they are shed rapidly so that the crown is bare for a day or two. The trunk is massive and thickly set with long woody twigs which bear the large flowers. Flowers are fleshy, pinkish yellow and very fragrant. The fruits are large, round, greyish-brown and hard, very much like cannon-balls.

On ripening, the fruit disintegrates and the seeds are dispersed. The fragrant flowers are used for worshipping by Hindus. The tissue of the flower when broken is white but turns blue.

Narration taken from National Parks Board at http://www.nparks.gov.sg/Trees.aspx