White flushes of a jungle tree

White flushes or young leaves of a jungle tree
Botanic Island Two

 I have noticing for about four days in a row a jungle tree that exhibits white flushes or young leaves.  There are many native plants species that possess this leafing phenomena at the park, with some showing different colour flushes.  In our humid tropical rainforest environment, the greenery does not follow the predictable annual cycles like in the temperate climates with their springs  and autumns.  At the park, trees grow continuously by producing new leaves.  However for some trees, the leaf exchange can result in flush accumulation with new leaves showing contrasting colours.  Today, I checked again the jungle tree which produces white flushes at Botanic Island Two.  I see a good potential for this tree as a landscape tree for its white flushes.

Autumn in Kambatik

Flushing today at the park - 21 April'16

Maroon flushes of the 'Jering' (Pithelobium lobatum)
Zone G

Flushes of the Eugenia oleina
Zone B

Flushes of a jungle tree (unidentified)
Zone I

Beautiful flushes looking south of the park, from Zone C.

Maroon flushes of the 'Jering' tree at the center of picture
Zone C

Flushes for FB cover page (21 April'16)

Flushes and flowers

Flushing today at the park - 3 Dec'15

White flushes of a jungle tree (unidentified)
Location : Botanic Island Two

 Looking like white flowers from a distance I was enticed to get closer to the tree.  At Botanic Island Two a jungle tree which is still unidentified surprised me with white flushes, a very rare occurrence at the park.  It appeared silvery when hit by sunlight. This phenomena of intermittent leafing is an  on going affair in the park due to the many tree species available and each one of them having differing flushing periods.  Today's white  flushing is a  lifer.

In comparison - red and white flushes
Botanic Island Two

Eugenia oleina flushes

Zone D

Zone A

Zone G

Zone D

Leaves, Leaves everywhere

Mesua ferrea (Ceylon Ironwood) - front of picture
Eugenia oleina - background
Zone C

Bauhinia semibifida (front)
Family: Leguminosae - Bean family
Botanic Island One , Zone D

Litsea cubeba (Pawas - Malay), center of picture
Family : Lauraceae - Laurel family
Zone B

Keruak wetlands
Between Zone B & C

Averrhoa bilimbi (Belimbing - Malay)
Family : Oxalidaceae - Oxalis family
Zone I

After shedding , its time for a show of true colours

After shedding all of its leaves, this jungle tree species is starting to show its true colours- very bright yellow colours.
Zone C

 What a unique jungle tree.  After shedding its leaves, it is starting to regenerate with new flushes.  Colour diversity in the landscape is arresting to the eyes.  It is picturesque and at the same time gives an added ecological interest.  While the jungle green is as it is generally known evergreen, there can be a few jungle tree species that does not enter into the evergreen category.  Others could be a variant of a semi-deciduous type where the shedding is partial.

View of jungle tree in flushes as seen from Zone B.

Flushes of the Eugenia oleina, Zone G and F
2 July'15

The beautiful Balem tree

Balem tree in flushes, seen in the morning
Location : Zone C

Balem tree in flushes, seen in the late afternoon
Location : Zone C

It is one of the tallest trees at the park.  The Balem tree (Mangifera pajang) was full of young leaves with varying colours from yellow to orange to red.  It is a beautiful sight to behold.  These young leaves are good to be eaten raw with the great Bintulu belacan.  It has been a number of years since the tree last bore fruits.  It is difficult for me to say whether this year it will bear fruit.  But what I like about this tree is its age.  At this height the tree is more than 70 years old and still standing tall.   May Allah bless me with a ripe old age like the Balem tree.

Intense heat and flushing on Mango trees

View of park, looking at Zone F from Pazau lookout point, Zone C
In the middle ground are flushes of the Eugenia oleina trees and in the distance are flushes of the Mango trees.

Closer view of the flushes or young leaves of the Mango tree
Zone C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are experiencing some drought season at the moment.  There are speculations or forecasts that the drought this year could be rather long, starting now till August and all because of what climatologists call the 'El Nino' phenomena.  One effect of the drought is the distinctly dry and hot weather which stimulates the trees to flower and in the above case to flush new leaves just as well.  Three trees that show new leaves profusely presently are the Mango trees, Eugenia oleina and the Jering trees. I have noticed that on some Mango trees the flushing is accompanied by the production of new flowers.  Hopefully, with this type of intense hot weather the Mango trees will successfully produce more fruits after the flowering season is over.

Autumn in Kambatik

Foreground are orange - red flushes of Eugenia oleina, yellow green leaves of the Tabebuia alba with white flowers in the middle ground.
View looking east.

Autumn like colours of the Eugenia oleina flushes
Stretch of road along Zone B

Red flushes of the Ceylon Ironwood tree (Mesua ferrea) at the foreground, with Eugenia oleina flushes in the background
Location : Zone C

Light yellow flushes of the Mango tree at right, mixed with Eugenia oleina flushes at foreground and background.
Location: Zone G

All images taken today - 22 Jan'15

Opening up the Provinsi Licuala

Licuala ferruginea growing naturally at the Provinsi Licuala, Zone I

Red flushes of a jungle climber

 Been busy doing some selective jungle clearing at Zone I where the Provinsi Licuala is situated.  Provinsi Licuala is so named because of the presence of many Licuala ferruginea palms that grow naturally below the tall trees.  The Licuala ferruginea palm variety found here is of the solitary form.  It is the intention is to open up the area for more jungle walks, trekking and birding look out point.  Nearby the Provinsi Licuala  is a tall dead tree that is temporary home for the Hill Myna birds.  They come and stay here year in and year out.  Working at the provinsi this morning I was extremely pleased to stumble upon a jungle tree that was covered with red flushes.  This is the first time I met across such a beauty.  From the look of it the small tree is a potential candidate for homes, towns as well as park landscaping.  There were many other native trees to the area that were displaying flushes today.  Besides flushes of jungle trees there were also climbers that display flushes of new leaves.  So we can call today a flushing day.  Tropical greenery is not all green after all.

View of the park from Licuala Hill, looking south.

Oil palm trees planted on slopes leading to the Licuala Hill at the background.  Note the hilly climb to reach the top of the hill.

A tall dead tree that is temporary home for many Hill Myna birds over the years.
Location: Provinsi Licuala, Zone I

A small jungle tree fully covered with red flushes.  A potential candidate for landscaping tree.

Beautiful red flushes

Oil palms growing on slopes.  Note the bauhinia climber at left.

Bauhinia species preserved for posterity.

Young red leaves (flushes) of a jungle tree species.

Orange to red flushes of another jungle tree species