Flushes and flowers

The wild Phaius orchid is flowering

Keruak wetlands at left and back of
picture

 Working at Zone B this morning, I noticed the wild orchid of the Phaius variety is starting to give out flowers.  The last time it produced pods, I did broadcast the spores and to my pleasant surprise have germinated.  There are at least a dozen of new seedlings seen around the main stand now.  I intend to move some of these new seedlings to other locations to study its adaptability and growing success.  This variety of the Phaius orchid seem to prefer  filtered light  and  wet ground with rotting organic biomass.

Wild orchid of the Phaius variety
Nearby the Keruak wetlands area, Zone B.

White spores revealed after the mature pods are opened.
Zone B.

The tooth brush orchid

Dendrobium secundum - in light purple tones.  Known also as 'tooth brush' orchid.

Note the orange lip

Grown on oil palm frond's cut bases

The Dendrobium species called 'Dendrobium secundum' is found in many South East Asian countries, from Myanmar to Indonesia. Dendrobium comes from the Greek words, dendron and bios to mean "tree" and "life" respectively.  The name recalls the epiphytic nature of the orchid - living on a tree.  What I have done here is to place it conveniently on the trunk of the oil palm tree.  The frond's cut bases are ideal places for growing orchids with no care.  Shade is provided by the oil palm leaves, the cut bases are home to moisture, organic matter etc. which provide food for the orchid plants.  The variety that is flowering now has light purple petals and orange lip.  The inflorescence is terminal, conical and densely packed with the flowers, arranged in rows, all facing in one direction.  It is a cute, beautiful and unique species of orchid.

Epiphytic dendrobium in flower

CU of a Dendrobium species
Location : Zone C

The Dendrobium is grown on a rotting cut leaf base of the oil palm
Location : Zone C

There is an easy way to grow orchids at the park.  The method I use is to let the orchids stick their  roots at the rotting leaf bases of the oil palm.  These leaf bases rot fast and provide excellent traps for many organic matter and wastes from small animals, birds, insects, moss etc.  Here the roots get nourishment and the trunk offers suitable spaces for the long hanging stems to grow.  The above orchid is grown in semi-shade situation.  The flowers of this Dendrobium spp. normally last from 2 - 3 weeks.

Orchids no bloody care!

A Dendrobium spp orchid grown on oil palm trunk.
The rotting fibroous cut bases are excellent for the orchid roots as they retain much moisture.

Zone C

One good thing about the oil palm trunk is that the cut bases that are left after cutting the fronds during harvesting  are excellent for placing orchids.  Place them there and nature will take care of itself.  For one, shade is amply provoided by the green umbrella of oil palm fronds.  Secondly, the rotting cut bases of the fronds collect decomposed materials, fibres, and organic wastes from dying insects, birds and other small animals faeces which become organic fertiliser to the orchids.  Thirdly, the bases are highly absorbent of moisture from rain or dew.  I have planted freely many species of orchids on these palm trunks so that I don't have to worry about care.  Let nature for once take care of itself. 

New terrestrial orchid found

 Found a new terrestrial orchid with upright flower spikes at Zone B yesterday.  The area is at the edge  of the Kruak wetlands.  The damp earth covered with rotting branches, fronds and leaves have provided the ideal conditions for this new discovery.  At this point of writing I'm still unsure what species of wild orchids it belong to. Could it belong to the Nephelaphyllum tribe of which the Tania is a likely candidate.  Or it could be placed under the Phaius tribe of which two genus are relevant i.e. Phaius and Calanthe.  I'll study in further detail this new find and will revert in future posting its likely nomenclature.  What excites me is its colourful sepals that are a light brownish purple.  The two petals are whitish and the lip is a nice subtle brownish purple with attractive orange brown centre leading to its reproductive parts.  I have reserved a name for it....

Wind flower

The Pigeon Orchid or Dendrobium crumenatum
Location : Zone C

 "Bunga Angin" is Malay for 'wind flower'.  It is used to refer to the Pigeon orchid (Dendrobium crumenatum), whose seeds are transported by the wind and and grow as an orchid plant on tree trunks.  This orchid species is prevalent in the Oriental realm (China, India and South East Asia).  The white flowers are fragrant and the plant can flower a few times in a year especially after heavy rains, some 8-11 days later.  The Dendrobium tribe is one of the largest orchid tribes in the orchid family and comprises two main genera - Dendrobium (900 species) and Eria (400 species)..  Check a few more species of the dendrobium and its hybrids in my blog on orchids here ...>>http://4loveoforchids.blogspot.com/search/label/Dendrobium

Looking like pigeons in flight

Early in the morning

Up on the Cempedak Hill, Punai at left and Tekukur at right

Bromhaedia finlaysonia

 The early morning air is cool with a little breeze.  I climbed the Cempedak Hill at Zone G to check on the Punai Daun or Little Green Pigeon.  On the way up the climb I could see the orchid bush has given out its fresh morning flowers.  This bush is right below the Cempedak tree.  As expected the Little Green Pigeon was patiently waiting for me, so it seemed.  Resting at the very tip of the tree it was accompanied by a Spotted-necked Dove or Tekukur in Malay.  When the Tekukur flew away the seat was taken by yet another male Punai.  I realised I just had a wonderful morning and before I walked down the hill, a Yellow-vented Bulbul perched on the Cempedak branch not wanting to miss the  morning party.....

Two male Punai

Male of the species - Little Green Pigeon

Little Green Pigeon - male

Tekukur (Malay) - Spotted -necked Pigeon , image is enhanced to show the spots on its neck

Yellow-vented Bulbul

This orchid ( Bromheaia finlaysonia) is native to the park.  It has grown into a bushy form.

Together we bloom....

Pigeon orchid sharing space with ferns..

Pigeon Orchid
Dendrobium crumenatum

 The Pigeon Orchids grow naturally at the park.  These orchids are frequently seen on many huge roadside trees in Bintulu especially the Rain Tree ( Samanea saman).  However at the park they can be seen hugging on the Eugenia oleina trees  and oil palm trunks.  It has been largely noticed that these orchids keep their flower buds on hold, waiting for a sudden drop in temperature to burst out into flowers.  As such in a certain locality they will simultaneously bloom in response to a heavy rainstorm, albeit for a period of 9 days later.  The flowers are fragrant.
 For more pictures of the Pigeon orchids and other Dendrobium species, please check them out in my blog dedicated to orchids here...>>>http://4loveoforchids.blogspot.com/search/label/Dendrobium

Pigeon Orchids on an oil palm trunk

Blooming white today

Bromheadia finlaysonia
Zone D

Euclinia longiflora
Syn : Randia macrantha
Zone C

Proiphys amboinensis
Syn : Eurycles amboinensis
Zone C

Echinodorous palaefolius
Zone B

Highlights today at the park - 16 May

Stick inset , at Botanic Island Four (Zone I)_

Bromheadia finlaysoniana

 When they fly past,  you can see their reddish wings against the light.  There are many of these stick insects in the park and they look fragile in flight.  Wild orchids can be found too but the most common terrestrial orchid is the Bromheadia finlaysoniana (see inset).  Below is shown a clump that is about 1 meter tall.  The beautiful white flowers are fragrant.

Bromheadia finlaysoniana orchid clump, Zone G

Lengkan (Iban) - Ficus grossularioides

 The Lengkan (Iban) is a small tree that is found in many places at the park, preferring open secondary areas and unfertile soils.  The young leaves are edible so are the young fruits.  It is rich in protein and manganese.  The 'Senduduk' ( Melastoma malabathricum) has soft berry-like fruits consisting  numerous seeds that are attractive to many wildlife especially birds.  More interesting plants here are the Rabbit's Foot Fern and the  'Akar Riwet' (Flagellaria indica) of which the latter is used to cure erectile dysfunction as used by the Berawans of Sarawak.

Lengkan (Iban) - Ficus grossularioides

Rabbit's Foot Fern - Davallia denticulata hugging to the oil palm trunk.  The leaves are used for floral arrangement.

Senduduk (Malay) - Melastoma malabathricum

Senduduk (Malay) - Melastoma malabathricum

Akar Riwet ( Berawan) - Flagellaria indica
It is a climber and looking similar to the rattan.  Among the Berawan people of Sarawak it is used as a remedy for erectile dysfunction and to chase away evil spirits.
Location : Zone B

Red young leaves of a jungle climber
Location : Botanic Island Two

Pick of the park

Arundina graminifolia ( Bamboo orchid)

Today I start with 'Pick of the park' to focus on a single plant or flower more from a photographic perspective.  The Bamboo orchid grows wild in the park.  For more pictures of orchids that I took over the years at many places in Malaysia and Singapore, follow this link..>>>>http://4loveoforchids.blogspot.com/