There are many versions of the etymological roots of the name Changi. The first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Henry Ridley suggested that it gets its name from a tall tree, "Pokok Chengal" or "Cengal" (Malay for "Neobalanocarpus heimii", also known as "Balanscorpus heimii" or "Balano scorpas"), which was common in the area in the early nineteenth century. Also, it is written and pronounced as "Chengai". Its heavy timber is commonly used for buildings and furniture and noted for its strength and deep rich colour. Other sources suggests that it comes from a climbing shrub found in the area, the "changi ular" ("Hopea sangal"), or "chengal asir" ("Apama corymbosa").