Highlights today at the park - 8 March'15

The Great Eggfly butterly - Hypolimnas bolina bolina, resting on Rhapis excelsa leaf
Location : Provinsi Lady Palm, Zone C

A Frecynetia species or climbing pandan species growing wild at Botanic Island Three
Location : Provinsi Rattan area.

Social wasps or locally called 'Tebuan' (Malay)
Location : Zone G

Belonging to the Araceae (Aroid family), this Alocasia species grows wild  at Botanic Island Three

Fruits of a ficus species plant called Ficus grossulariodes or 'Lengkan' as known to local Ibans.  Fruits are edible.
Location : Zone I

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

Provinsi Liana

Provinsi Liana
Zone E

Great Mormon
Papillio memnon agenor

 I was checking out the Botanic Island Two this morning and decided to add another provinsi to the area surrounding the island.  The Provinsi Liana will house the many types of lianas or climbers present there.  The main feature of the Provinsi Liana area the tall trees packed closely together and transversed by a complex web of woody climbers or lianas,  These 'tarzan ropes' are right at my back door.  No need to go to the virgin jungle to see them.  This is the great pleasure of having your own nature park.  To my surprise this morning I encountered the Great Mormon butterfly that was fluttering and flying around the lianas.  All said, I am looking forward to do more work at the Provinsi Liana in the near future.

Pholidacarpus sumatrana palm at center
Provinsi Liana

Paku Kelindang (Iban) - Blechnum orientale

Twisted and coiled into a nice weave pattern

Strong 'tarzan ropes'

From tree to tree...a liana tranversing

Close up of a liana successfully twinning itself to a nearby  tree

Great Mormon (Papillio memnon agenor) among the lianas

In Plain Sight - Provinsi Yellow Palm (Part 8)

A large specimen of the Yellow Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Syn : Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Note the clustering habit.  New canes are produced from base of the clump as older ones mature.

Golden stems and leaf stalks
View looking north

 The plain area at Zone B which is mostly wet and marshy is dedicated to a collection of Yellow Palm (Dypsis lutescens) . The Yellow Palm is also commonly referred to as Golden Cane Palm or Butterfly Palm.  It is a clustering feather palm with its crown shaft bright yellow in colour.  One feature that is attractive of the palm is its slender leaf stalk.  Both the stalk and leaves will give an even richer golden colouration when planted in sunny places.  I have successfully propagated them by seeds though germination may take sometime.

View looking south

View looking south

View looking south
Location : Provinsi Yellow Palm, Zone B.

Provinsi Rumbia

The feather-like leaves of the Sago Palm or Rumbia (Malay) are seen next to the oil palm leaves at middle of the picture.
There are lots of grass reserves at the provinsi  to act as breeding grounds for the Kruak (White-breasted waterhen)

 The sago palm ( Metroxylon sagu) is also called Rumbia in Malay.  I have named a small plain area at Zone F as Provinsi Rumbia because the intention is to cultivate some sago palms here for posterity.  Sago is a palm of great economic importance to many people in Borneo.  I know the Penans who live a nomadic life style in Sarawak depend greatly on sago starch as a staple diet.   In Bintulu, sago processing was a time-honoured occupation among the young men in the 40's to 50's. Sago is cooked into pellets, puddings, biscuits etc..Many people love the grubs that are found in the rotting trunks or pitch after being felled.  These grubs are actually the larvae of beetles.  It is interesting to note that the large sucker roots of the sago palm creep for some distance before turning upwards and produce another tree.  The sago palm has a clumping habit.  The leaves are armed with slender spines.

View of Provinsi Rumbia, looking west
Location : Zone F

Young leaves of the Sago has a soft maroon colour.

View of Provinsi Rumbia, looking south
Location : Zone F

More views of Provinsi Rattan

Provinsi Rattan, view looking south
Location : Zone E

View towards Botanic Island One

 Provinsi Rattan is a plain area that is situated within  two zones viz Zone E and Zone I.  At the center of the provinsi is the Botanic Island Two and Botanic Island Three which preserves many rattan species.  Rattan are climbing palms much used in local handicraft and furniture making.  From the pictures above and at the inset, it is clear that the oil palm trees have ornamental value.  But at the park, oil palm trees are considered for its commercial value because revenue from selling the FFB (fresh  fruit bunches) are plough back to maintain the park operation  and its eco-citizens, especially its wildlife and bio-diversity.

View of Botanic Island One, looking south

View of Botanic Island One, looking south

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provinsi Rattan, view looking south
Zone E

In Plain Sight - Provinsi Rattan (Part 6)

Partial view of Botanic Island Two, looking north
Location : Provinsi Rattan, Zone E

Botanic Island Two, showing rattan
trailing at the center.

 Of all the Provinsi or Plain areas, the Provinsi Rattan is the most wild in nature.  This is because in the Provinsi are located two Botanic Islands viz Botanic Island Two and Three.  At the Botanic Islands are preserved many forest trees for posterity.   At the inset is a view of Botanic Island Two , looking south.  Both Botanic Islands have rattan growing naturally in them, besides original jungle trees, unique palms, lianas and forest climbers. Presently there is one wild Rambutan tree that is fruiting profusely.  Seen also is a wild forest climber belonging to the Bauhinia species that is flowering in orange glory.  Below are more pictures of the attractions at Provinsi Rattan .....

Provinsi Rattan - home for rattan collection -  7 rattan species are available on site

Botanic Island Two - showing lianas and climbing rattan, at center

Stream at Provisi Rattan
Location : Botanic Island Three

The big tree at center is the wild Rambutan tree
Location : Provinsi Rattan, between Botanic Island Two and Botanic Island Three

Wild rambutan fruits

Colourful Bauhinia spp. climber growing wild over the forest canopy
Location : Botanic Island Two, Zone E

In Plain Sight - Provinsi Lady Palm (Part 5)

Provinsi Lady Palm, view looking west

Slender-stemmed palm -
Rhapis excelsa

 The Provinsi Lady Palm is named after the slender-stemmed palm with thick clustering habit.  The Rhapis excelsa grows naturally as an undergrowth palm but is now a popular palm for gardens and parks.  Its leaves are very useful for floral art.  Many nurseries sell them in big pots as ornamentals.  Today there are dwarf varieties of the Lady Palm. As part of the Kambatik garden concept it is advisable to plant the Lady Palm with heliconias.  Having them within arm's length and readily available in our garden will certainly assist us in creative floral art. Below are more pictures of the provinsi Lady Palm....

The heart of Heliconia Valley is located at Provinsi Lady Palm
Location : Zone C, looking north

View looking south

View looking south
Location : Zone D

View looking south