Two rare jungle fruits at Botanic Island One

Pandanus affinis with spiky fruits
Location : Botanic Island One

Pandanus affinis at front and in the background is the Anisophyllea disticha.
Location : Botanic Island One

At Botanic Island One recently are seen two species of jungle plants that exhibited their rare fruits.  One is the Pandanus affinis and and secondly the Anisophyllea disticha which the Penans of Sarawak call " Kayu Penahan Badan". I have elsewhere written about the use of the Kayu Penahan Badan as a plant for bodily welfare here.  

Anisophyllea disticha - "Kayu Penahan Badan" ( Penan)

Light of life

Wild minitaure orchid plant on tree trunk
Location : Zone C

Resam (Bracken fern) and jungle climber

 It is most interesting to see leaves against light.  Light that reaches the ground through the forest canopy possess much solar energy required greatly by living things.  The light  through photosynthesis nourishes leaves.  The absorption of energy for photosynthesis cannot take place without pigments called cholorophyll utilising most effectively wavelength spectrums around 440 millimicrons in the violet and 660 millimicrons  in the red.  In the white light, they transmit and reflect disproportionately in the yellow-green to blue sector and thus show the green colour our eyes detect.  Photosynthesis is second in importance for life only to the radiant energy in the sun.  Let there be light !

Red and green colours on one leaf in Bauhinia semibifidaLocation : Botanic Island One

Light green leaves of Anisophyllea disticha (Kayu Penahan Badan - Penan) at center.
Location : Botanic Island One

Plant for bodily welfare and vigour - Anisophyllea disticha

Anisophyllea disticha - 'Kayu penahan badan' (Penan), flower buds are deep red and fruits are dark brown..

 Today is the first time that I come across the flower buds of the Anisophyllea disticha or what our Penans of Borneo call ' Kayu Penahan Badan' to mean plant for general body welfare and vigour.  I have preserved a dozen stands of these useful herbal plant in many locations of the park.  This is a small tree that grows to about 6 meters high.  It has charateristics that is interesting as a landscaping plant viz its willow-like branches but looking tidy, small and hardy tree which can grow in shade and open sun.

Anisophyllea disticha, location : Provinsi Rattan

Anisophyllea disticha, location :Botanic Island Two

Among the Penans and Berawans of Sarawak, the roots of this tree are dried and boiled and kept in containers.  They bath their children regularly with the boiled water as herbal treatment for general body welfare and youthful vigour.