“Lew Lian” means “durian,” which is why Lorong Lew Lian is associated with durian trees.

Source & Credit:

Here are some Singapore place names that are clearly linked to plants (many from Malay names for local trees/shrubs):

- Tampines (Tampines / Simei area) — from the tampines tree (*Streblus elongatus*), which used to be common there.
- Sembawang — named after the sembawang tree (a local tree associated with the area’s earlier landscape).
- Kranji — from the keranji/kranji tree (*Dialium* spp.), reflected in names like Kranji and Sungei Kranji.
- Kampong Glam (Arab Street/Bugis area) — “glam” refers to the gelam tree (*Melaleuca cajuputi*), valued historically for timber and cajuput oil.
- Sungei Buloh (Kranji/woodlands area) — “buloh” means bamboo, i.e., “Bamboo River.”
- Tanjong Rhu (East Coast/Kallang area) — “rhu” refers to the rhu tree (casuarina), once found along coastal stretches.
- Changi — often said to be named after the chengal tree (a valuable hardwood) or another local plant name; the exact origin is commonly described but sometimes debated across sources.
- Pandan (e.g., Pandan Gardens / Pandan Reservoir area) — named after pandan (screwpine), widely used in cooking and for weaving.

In the same Joo Chiat / Geylang Serai “fruit streets” cluster, the road names that match the theme include:

- Rambutan Road (rambutan)
- Pulasan Road (pulasan)
- Duku Road (duku)
- Langsat Road (langsat)
- Durian Road (durian)
- Limau Road (“limau” = lime/citrus)
- Mangis Road (from manggis = mangosteen; road name is commonly spelled Mangis)