THE sight of a good shade tree is likely to evoke nostalgic memories of the past such as peaceful moments under the canopy of some trees in the kampung doing the usual stuffs that may include wallowing away the day in the shade with a few bottles of a fiery tipple in hand.
Within built-up areas, one of the most widely seen shade trees that is grown in towns and cities in Sabah is Andira surinamensis.
It is a perennial evergreen to slightly deciduous tree that is much appreciated for its broad and dense rich green crown as well as its thick cool shade. If there are benches under its crown, it is certain that there will be many tired people scrambling to take a midday siesta or a well-earned respite to escape from the sizzling heat of the midday sun