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Transcript
NATURE WALKS 1 BEACHES ......................................................................................................... 3 THE PNHS SEASHELL COLLECTION .......................................................... 4 CHECK LIST OF PLANTS ................................................................................. 8 2 MANGROVES AND MUDFLATS ............................................................... 10 MUD FLATS & PNHS BIRD HIDES ............................................................. 11 IDENTIFYING HERONS & EGRETS............................................................ 14 3 MIXED DIPTEROCARP FOREST .............................................................. 15 4 PEAT SWAMP FORESTS............................................................................. 20 5 KERANGAS FOREST ................................................................................... 26 BADAS' PITCHER PLANT WALK................................................... 27 PITCHER PLANTS ............................................................................. 27 SUNDEWS ............................................................................................ 28 6 ROADSIDE TREES........................................................................................ 32 BEAN FAMILY LEGUMINOSAE, FABACEAE 32 MIMOSA SUB-FAMILY................................................................................... 32 CAESALPINIA SUB-FAMILY ......................................................................... 32 BEAN SUB-FAMILY ........................................................................................ 33 CHECK LIST OF PLANTS ............................................................................... 33 7 NIGHT WALKS ............................................................................................. 34 8 FROM THE MARKET .................................................................................. 37 CHECK LIST OF PLANTS ............................................................................... 38 1 --07/05/17-- 840990358 • Insect pests • Common plants • Snakes and birds Nature walks 1. Beaches • 7 suggested sites: Rasau, Panaga, Anduki, Sungai Liang, Tutong, Jerudong, Muara • Beware of jellyfish • Description of 17 common shell families • How to recognize the Hawksbill, Leatherback, Green and Olive Ridley turtles • The beach vegetation • The Casuarinas of Brunei 2. Mangroves and mud flats • The habitat • 7 suggested sites: Sungai Seria, the PNHS bird hides, Taman Rekreasi Jubli, Belait river, Tutong area, Brunei Bay, Selirong • Birdwatching: identifying waders, herons and egrets • Easy to observe animals: mudskippers, calling crabs, and monitor lizards • Mangrove vegetation 3. Mixed dipterocarp forests • The habitat • 14 walks along Labi road • Animal sightings • Some plants to recognize 4. Peat swamp forests • The habitat • 5 areas to visit: Rasau, Kuala Balai rd., Badas rd., the end of Labi rd., Kenawai well site • Pitcher plants • Stick insects 5 Kerangas forest • The habitat • the one remaining stand ! • Agathis borneensis 6. Around the garden 2 --07/05/17-- Contributions from: V. Stanger, M. Storey, D. Tompkins 80 % of Brunei Darussalam land area is under forest cover, 60 % of which has not yet been affected by human activities. These pristine forests belong to 6 major types, each presenting numerous variants: mangrove forests over on the coastal swamps, peat swamp forests on waterlogged areas further inland, freshwater swamps, with nipah and nibung palms, along the river banks and estuaries, heath forests on white sands, mixed dipterocarp forests over the lowlands and lower altitude, and montane forests above 800 m. Each forest type has its own atmosphere and characteristics. 840990358 1 BEACHES Best locations A few beaches particularly interesting for a natural history point of view: • Rasau • Panaga (the most affected and least ineteresting) • Anduki beach, x min. from Panaga • Sungai Liang beach, x min. from Panaga • Tutong beach • Jerudong beach • Muara beach, x min. from Panaga - see their locations on the map For observing seashells, Anduki, Mumong, Tutong, Jerudong, and Muara beaches have the reputation to be the most interesting. What to see ... • SEASHELLS, CRABS, STARFISH • ANIMAL TRACKS: monitor lizard tracks are regularly observed at Anduki beach • RESIDENTS: macaques, snakes, birds • VISITORS: green turtles • BEACH VEGETATION • SEEDS brought by the sea What NOT to do • COLLECTING LIVE SEASHELLS or shells inhabited by hermit crabs -everybody has to right to live !- 3 --07/05/17-- 840990358 A FEW FA CTS ON SEA SHELLS ( MOLLU SCS) • except for a few species, stick insects are active at night, especially after a rainfall • they are vegetarian, their diet consists of leaves or young shoots of forest plants - - - ma p of t he be a ch l oca t ions 4 --07/05/17-- THE PNHS SEA SHELL COLLECTION The PNHS has a collection of seashells, donated by Ricardo Villar, that is a useful reference for shell identification. The shells were collected either at Panaga, Anduki, Mumong, Tutong, Jerudong, or Muara. Please contact the current PNHS chairperson for access to the collection. A few common gasteropod families (Jacqueline Henrot, drawings by Novi Yus) 1 Architectonidae or sundials Diversity: small family Distribution: tropical and subtropical areas Habitat: sandy shallow waters Feeding habit: corals and sea anemones; females deposit gelatinous eggs in its own shell Shape: flat, disc-like Examples in the PNHS collection: Architectonia picta, A. perspectiva 2 Trochidae or top shells Diversity: large family (>1000 sp.) Distribution: worldwide Habitat: seaweed, weed-covered rocks in the shallow waters, most sp. are intertidal, also found on coral reefs Feeding habit: herbivorous: seaweed Shape: pyramid with a pearly interior and a round aperture Use: manufacture of buttons and jewellery (Tectus niloticus) Examples in the PNHS collection: Trochus stellatus, Umbonium vestarium, Monilea califera, Astele sp., Monodonta labio 3 Naticidae or moon shells Diversity: moderately large family Distribution: tropical to polar regions Habitat: mud or sandy habitat, from the intertidal zone to deep water Feeding habit: varcious carnivore: small clams and other snails; they drill a neat round hole in the shell of their victim; some secrete an acid to make the task easier. The females produce a sandy collar in which the eggs are embedded. Shape: small to medium glossy shells, unusually large foot that can envelop most of the shell 840990358 Examples in the PNHS collection: Natica lineata, N. gualteriana, N. tigrina, Polinices didyma, P. albumen, P. tumidus, P. sebae, P. powisiana, Sinum neritoideum, S. javanicum, Eunaticina papilla 4 Neritidae The name of the family refers to the Roman sea god, Nereus, who gave birth to the sea-nymphs, the Nereids. Diversity: large family (>100 sp.) Distribution: tropical to subtropical Habitat: variety of marine and brackish water habitats Feeding habit: herbivorous; lay very small dome-egg shaped egg capsules on rocks Shape: small to medium, thick, round, toothed aperture Examples in the PNHS collection: Nerita albicilla, N. planospira, Neritina violacea, N. chamaeleon, N. lineata, Theodoxus oualaniensis 5 Turritellidae or screw shells Diversity: large family (>100 sp.) Distribution: temperate and tropical regions Habitat: sand-dwelling, in the shallow muddy waters Feeding habit: herbivorous: marine detritus and algae Shape: small to medium, very elongated, spiral, ribbed, round aperture Example in the PNHS collection: Turritella terebra 6 Potamididae or horn shells Diversity: small family Distribution: tropical to subtropical Habitat: brackish muddy waters such as mangrove swamps Feeding habit: herbivorous: marine detritus and algae Shape: moderately tall spire with numerous whorls, usually dirty brown Examples in the PNHS collection: Telescopium telescopium, Cerithidea rhizophorarum, C. cingulata, C. anticipata, C. obtusa, Terebralia palustris 7 Strombidae or conch shells Diversity: relatively large family (> 70 sp.) Distribution: tropical to subtropical Habitat: sandy and muddy areas in shallow waters near coral reefs Feeding habit: herbivorous: algae and detritus 5 --07/05/17-- Shape: medium to large, thick, diversity of shapes, stromboid notch near the front, through which one tentacle protrudes; immature shells differ substancially from adults Use: decorative, especially in the Victorian era; trumpet; house of a spirit which controls the weather and protects against the sea dangers in the Chinese folklore; pink pearls Examples in the PNHS collection: Tibia fusus melanocheilos, T. (Rimella) crispata, T. (Rimella) cancellata, Strombus urceus, S. labiosus, S. plicatus pulchellus, S. dilatatus, S. marginatus robustus, S. canarium, S. vittatus australis, S. aratrum, Terebellum terebellum 8 Cypraeidae or cowries Diversity: large group (200 sp.) Distribution: tropical Habitat: in shallow waters amongst coral and rocks Feeding habit: omnivorous, nocturnal Shape: from 1 to 15 cm, ovate, base with a narrow aperture bounded with teeth, naturally glossy, living shells have a fleshy mantle that covers the shell and can be withdrawn into the shell Use: decorative; status symbol; money (Cypraea moneta, in China, Africa & slave trade, U.S., S.E. Asia, Europe); fertility and Examples in the PNHS collection: Cypraea onyx, C. miliaris, C. isabella, C. asellus, C. palida, C. caurica, C. talpa, C. errones, C. helvola, C. erosa, C. carneola, C. pyriformis, C. boivini, C. hammondae, C. staphilea, C. arabica, C. gracilis, C. labrolineata 9 Ovulidae or egg shells (false cowries) Diversity: relatively large group Distribution: temperate and tropical seas Habitat: in deep waters amongst colonial songes, soft corals, sea fans, and gorgonian corals Feeding habit: carnivorous Shape: cowry-shaped or spindle-shaped, no strong teeth in the aperture, glossy, white or pinkish, a colorful mantle usually covers the shell Use: status symbol Example in the PNHS collection: Phenacovolva brevirostris 10 Tonnidae or Tun shells Diversity: small group 840990358 Distribution: mainly tropical Habitat: sand-dwelling, inhabits deep waters Feeding habit: carnivorous, feed on fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and crustaceans Shape: large, rotund, thin-shelled but strong, large aperture with crenulated outer lip Examples in the PNHS collection: Tonna dolium, T. alium, T. tesselata 11 Cassidae or helmet and bonnet shells Diversity: large group (80 sp.) Distribution: tropical Habitat: sandy areas in the shallow or deep waters Feeding habit: carnivorous. The large horned helmet feeds on sea urchins; the smaller bonnets (Phalium) feed on sand-dollars. Shape: medium to large, solid and often heavy Use: in past, craftmen turned the larger shells into delicate cameos; raw material for tools (ladles, scrapers) Examples in the PNHS collection: Phalium bisulcatum, P. areola, P. glaucum, P. bandatum, P. decussatum 12 Harpidae or harp shells Diversity: small group (14 sp.) Distribution: worldwide Habitat: prefers sandy areas in the shallow or deep waters, may be found at night near reefs Feeding habit: carnivorous, most feed upon crustacea, which they entrap in a film of mucus and sand before devouring. Shape: large, round, strong ribs, wide aperture Example in the PNHS collection: Harpa major davidis 13 Ficidae or fig shells Diversity: relatively small group Distribution: tropical seas Habitat: sand and coral-dwelling, inhabits shallow to deep waters Feeding habit: carnivorous: sea urchins and other echinoderms Shape: very thin shell but strong, fig-shaped Examples in the PNHS collection: Ficus variegatus, F. subintermedia 6 --07/05/17-- 14 Muricidae or rock shells Diversity: extremely large group (>1000 sp.) divided in subfamilies Distribution: most world seas Habitat: generally in mud or sand among rocks and coral, in shallow or deep waters Feeding habit: carnivorous: molluscs, barnacles, corals and marine worms Shape: small to large and extremely polymorphic Use: purple dye (Murex brandaris and Thais haemastoma: 400 000 shells required to dye 19 kg of wool); horn Examples in the PNHS collection: Murex brevispina, Chicoreus capucinus, C. microphyllus; subfam. Thaidinae: Thais bufo, T. buccinea, T. kieneri, T. carinifera, T. javanica, T. rugosa; subfam. Muricopsinae: Lataxiera fimbriata; subfam. Ergalataxina: Cronia contracta; subfam. Rapaninae: Rapana rapiformis 15 Olividae or olive shells Diversity: large group Distribution: most temperate and tropical seas Habitat: sand-dwelling, shallow intertidial areas Feeding habit: carnivorous: they burrow in the sand in search of the small bivalves and crustacea, sometimes they feed on dead shrimps and fish Shape: small to medium, cylindrical, glossy surface, distinct posterior siphonal notch; when the animal is alive, the mantle covers the shell Use: rattle, adornment Examples in the PNHS collection: Oliva oliva, O. vidua, O. sericea, O. mustellina, O. convacospira, O. bulbiformis, O. rufofulgurata, O. elegans, Agaronia nebulosa 16 Conidae or cone shells Diversity: large group (600 sp.) Distribution: worldwide Habitat: sand-dwelling, intertidial to deep waters, amongst coral or under rocks Feeding habit: carnivorous; the Conidae have a hollow radular tooth which is used to spear intended prey with a poisonous bard; the poison is a mixture of neuro-toxic compunds; the Conidae are 840990358 divided into 3 groups according to their prey: fish-hunting (the most dangerous to man), mollusc-hunting, and worm-hunting (most sp.). Shape: small to large, conical, elongated aperture Use: status, ornemental Examples in the PNHS collection: Conus figulinus, C. hyena, C. mucronatus, C. radiatus, C. monachus achtinus, C. characteristicus, C. textile 17 Bullidae or bubble shells Diversity: small group (30 sp.) Distribution: most tropical and temperate seas Habitat: sand, mud or coral, in intertidial and shallow waters Feeding habit: green algae Shape: medium size, globose Example: Bulla sp. Other specimens of gasteropods and bivalves in the seashell collection Turbinidae: Turbo bruneus, T. cinereus Ampullariidae: Pila ampullacea Littorinidae: Littorina articulata, L. undulata, L. carinifera, Nodilittorina millegrana, N. pyramidalis Planaxidae: Planaxis sulcatus Cerithiidae: Clipeomorus subbreviculus, Cerithium corallium, Rhinoclavis sinensis, R. kochi Crepidulidae: Calyptraea extinctorium, Crepidula walshi Xenophoridae: Xenophora indica, X. solaris, X. solaroides Cymatiidae: Cymatium caudatum, C. springsteeni, C. pileare, Distorsio reticulata, Gyrineum natador, G. bituberculare Bursidae: Bursa rana, B. echinata, B. albivaricosa Epitonidae: Epitonium scalare Janthinidae: Janthina globosa Buccinidae: Babylonia pallida, Phos senticosus, P. roseatus, P. hirasei, Siphonalia varicosa, Nassaria pusilla, Cantharus wagneri, C. melanostomus Columbellidae: Pyerene ocellata Nassariidae: Nassarius concinnus, N. siquillorensis, N. olivaceus, N. pullus, N. stolatus, N. distortus, N. conoidalis, Hebra corticata Melongenidae: Hemifusus ternatana, Pugilina cochlidium, Volema myristica Fasciolariidae: Fusinus colus 7 --07/05/17-- Volutidae: Melo melo Margineliidae: Marginella fischeri, M. tricincta, M. quadrilineata Mitridae: Neocancilla circula, Scabricola ocellata Costellaridae: Vexillum acuminatum Cancellariidae: Trigonostoma scalariformis Turridae: Turricula javana, T. nellia, Comitas kamakurana, Ptychobela crenularis, P. vexillum, Lophiotoma indica Terebridae: Terebra strigilata, Duplicaria duplicata Melampidae: Cassidula verpertilionis, Ellobium aurisjudae, E. aurismidae Ellobidae: Pythia scarabeus, Cassidula nucleus Siphonariidae: Siphonaria javanica Arcidae: Scapharca pilula, Anadara granosa Cultellidae: Siliqua winteriana, S. radiata Donacidae: Donax compressus Veneridae: Meretrix lusoria BIBLIOGRA PHY PNHS library Shells of the Philippines, F.J. Springsteen, 1986, Carfell Museum, Manila Seashells of South East Asia, R. T. Abbott, 1991, Graham Brash (Pte) Ltd, Singapore Common Seahore Life of Brunei, M. Wong and Aziah bte Hj. Ahmad, 1996, Brunei Museum, Brunei Darussalam: Molluscs, p. 50 to 77. Indonesian Shells, B. Dharma, 1988, Sarana Graha, Jakarta -in Bahasa IndonesiaPanaga Club library Shells of W. Pacific in colour 1, T. Kira, Shells of W. Pacific in colour 2, T. Habe, What shell is that ?, N. Coleman Shells, R. Cameron GLOSSA RY (to ma ke the use of the books e a sie r) Aperture: opening through which the mollusk's head and foot protrude 840990358 Body whorl: the last of the whorls to be produced. It is the largest whorl and contains most of the soft body parts Columella: the solid or hollow pillarlike axis around which the whorls of some gasteropods coil Intertidal: the area between the high- and low-tide lines Mantle: fleshy lobe or lobes that line sheels and typically secrete the shelly material. Operculum: a circle of shelly or horny material on the back part of the animal's foot that serves as a trap door when the animal pulls itself into its shell Periostracum: an outer covering of the shell, either smooth or fibrous Radula: a ribbonlike organ with tiny teeth located in the mouth and used in feeding Spire: all the whorls produced before the body whorl Whorl: one full coil of the shell in spirally orientated gastropods A BOU T COLLECTIN G SEA SHELLS PLEASE: do NOT collect live animals or shells inhabited by hermit crabs: we all have the right to live ! Field information for labels: date of collection, name of locality, collector's name, ecological notes such as tidal condition, substrate (sand, mud, gravel, coral, leaf litter), solitary or occuring in colonies. Cleaning the shells: rinse the shells off sea water and sand, scrub with a soft brush (e.g. toothbrush) to remove algae or barnacles, let airdry for week in a dark place (colors fade quickly when exposed to light), rub on baby oil to protect the shell and enhance colors and patterns. Storing: identify the shells by their scientific name, prepare a label with the name and the field information, place the shell with its label in a DARK cabinet. Small shells can be conveniently stored in mini zip lock bags. Every few years, the shells should be cleaned with alcohol (immersed for about 20 min) and reprotected with baby oil to avoid moulding. 1 Architectonidae or sundials; 2 Trochidae or top shells; 3 Naticidae or moon shells; 4 Neritidae; 5 Turritellidae or screw shells; 6 Potamididae or horn shells; 7 Strombidae or conch shells; 8 Cypraeidae or cowries; 9 Ovulidae or egg shells (false cowries) 10 Tonnidae or Tun shells;11 Cassidae or helmet and bonnet shells;12 Harpidae or harp shells;13 Ficidae or fig shells;14 Muricidae or rock shells; 15 Olividae or olive shells;16 Conidae or cone shells;17 Bullidae or bubble shells Check list of plants (prepared by Jacqueline Henrot) trees and bushes Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) see illustration Terminalia catappa (ketapang) Combretaceae xx Hibiscus tiliaceus (sea hibiscus) Malvaceae xx Scaevola sericea (sea lettuce) Goodeniaceae 8 --07/05/17-- 840990358 xx Pandanus odoratissumus (common seashore srewpine) Pandanaceae xx Glochidion littorale (selunsor) Euphorbiaceae xx Dillenia suffroticosa (dillenia) Dilleniaceae xx creeping on the sand Ipomoeae pes-caprae (sea morning glory) Convulvulaceae xx Canavalia maritima (greater sea bean) Leguminosae xx Ishaemum muticum (centipede grass) Poaceae xx Vinca rosea (pink perriwinckle) Apocynaceae not on the beach itself but away from the sea, behind the vegetation behind the beach Nypa fruticans (nipah palm) Arecaceae not on the beach itself but away from the sea, behind the 9 --07/05/17-- 840990358 2 Mangroves and mudflats • mangroves grow on the coastal swamps and are flooded with salt water at every tide • only specially adapted plants are able to cope with such an environment. Some of the mangrove trees (bakau) have adapted to life on the soft and little oxigenated tidal mud by developing an extensive system of specialised roots for support (stilt roots), other species have developed breathing roots (pneumatophores) that poke above the mud • the seeds of the bakau tree do not fall in the tidal water on which they would float and be carried to sea, but they germinate while still attached to the tree. The young plant separates itself from the mother plant only when it has produced a sturdy spearlike root (hypocotyl) that enables it to plant itself firmly in the mud • the mangrove is very productive. The fallen leaves are decomposed by micro-organisms that are food for many other species. Fish, prawns, crabs, clams, oysters, and snails are abundant. These in turn, provide food to a variety of animals like otters, eagles, egrets and kingfishers • famous mangrove inhabitants: the proboscis monkeys (orang belanda), unique to Borneo which feeds extensively on mangrove tree leaves and is commonly seen in large troops at the water edge around dusk, when tens of thousands of giant fruit bats (flying foxes) leave the mangrove, where they roosted during the day, in search of food • the mangrove is a valuable ecosystem: not only does it support unique animal life and maintain the highly productive coastal fisheries, but it also stabilises the mudflats and protects the coastline from storms and erosion 10 --07/05/17-- • mudflats Walks and observation points 1. Sungai Seria see map 1 A (Seria Harbour) & B very close to Panaga, 2 sites with similar views 2. Dowitcher, Tattler and Kingfisher bird hides see map 1 C & D and map 2 The PNHS had 3 bird hides overlooking mudflats. For a successful visit, consult the tide table, you need a low tide in the morning or evening. Keys to the bird hides can be obtained from the current PNHS chairperson. 3. Taman Rekreasi Jubli near the Sungai Anduki see map 3 4. Belait river not really for a walk ! kayaks, motorboard or low tide or from the other side of the water 5. Tutong area see map 4 (1) Danau: take the junction before the bridge (2 & 3) from the white sands: take the sand track on the left after the bridge (4) at the end of the recreation area: turn left (back towards Danau) after the second bridge, follow the Pantai Seri Kenangan Amusement park 6. Brunei Bay charter a boat from Kampung Ayer to see the proboscis monkeys and flying foxes. Warning: out of petrol & more money 7. Selirong - the most spectacular - is an island in Temburong - 2 km of boardwalk and a tower permission from Director of Forestry at Forestry Department by fax 02-381012 indicating the date and amount of people. The boat ride to the island, from Kampung Ayer, takes about 40 minutes, it is safer to use a 840990358 long boat (30 people) with an experienced driver, cpntact Mr. Hassan at 02-202-690 but he speaks only Malay ; in 97 it cost us B$ 300 for the boat ride. It is also possible to camp on the island overnight, there are shelters along the boardwalk. What to see ... • BIRDS • PROBOSCIS MONKEYS • MUDSKIPPERS • CRABS • MANGROVE TREES eagles, kingfishers, hornbills mudskippers, crabs MUD FLATS & PNHS BIRD HIDES • the mud flat is the part of the mangrove exposed at low tide. IDENTIFYING WADERS (J. Elkins) red-necked stint: black bill and legs. Compared to long-toed stint appears to have shorter legs, with "knee" nearer body, feeds in more horizontal position with neck tucked in, giving a plumper appearance. Breeding plumage: reddish neck. Winter plumage: neck whitish with faint streaks. Largest number in autumn passage. From tattler hide: look left along edge bu track and also along raised high tide roost directly opposite hide. Can be seen regularly from kingfisher hide. long-toed stint: generally browner. Brown streaked upperparts, brownsih/yellow legs and bill, brown streaks well down breast. 11 --07/05/17-- Legs and toes appear longer with "knee" half way up. Shows more daylight under its body when feeding and does not hunch neck, so appears more slender. temminck's stint: absolutely plain darkish grey upperparts, no streaks at all, and yellowish legs. Occasional sightings of one or two birds during winter months, most commonly from kingfisher hide. sharp-tailed sandpiper: just like long-toed stint but larger. Rare but occasionally seen in September and April. curlew sandpiper: unmisteable in breeding plumage with redish underparts and down-curved bill. In winter it is light grey, white below with white rump. Up to 12 autumn and spring. sanderling: stint-shaped but slightly larger. Appears whitish with black legs and bill and black shoulder patch (not always visible). Usually seen on the beach or occasionally on high tide roost opposite tattler hide. Seen in small numbers spring and autumn. broad-billed sandpiper: stint-like but longer bill. Look for light double "eyebrow". A scarce passage migrant, seen occasionally spring and autumn. ruff: any generally brownish bird, with longish legs and beack which you cannot identify is usually this. Single birds seen autumn and spring. terek sandpiper: grey body and very short red or orange legs. Bill red at the base and very long and upcurved. Seen in small numbers during the autumn from dowitcher and taller hides. common sandpiper: plain brown bird with white on breast extending up the side of the wing. Short legs and continual "bobbing" of tail distinctive. Seen from all 3 hides and also on the beach and in ditches. Flies with stiff wings low over water with several pauses in wing beat. Birds spread out individually-rarely seen in flocks. Asiatic dowitcher: like a bar-tailed godwit but bill all black, long and straight. Feeds with neck hunched in with very stiff jerky movements, like a clock-work bird. Seen occasionally from dowitcher and tattler hides on autumn passage only. grey-tailed tattler: slightly bigger than common sandpiper but greyer breast with no white coming up. In flight, only wader that looks absolutely slate grey, with no hint of any marking. 840990358 Small numbers on passage - occasionally one or two over winter. Always solitary. snipe: various species to Borneo indistinguishable in the field. Long bill and strong brown and buff markings all over. Stripes on head. Keep your eyes open for woodcock-larger and stripes across head. Common snipe can be recognized in flight by faint white trailing edge to wings. red knot: rare. Like stint in shape and coloring but considerably bigger. No white on rump. great knot: rare. Same general shape as red knot but bigger. Bill slightly downcurved at tip and leggs appear very short. White rump. lesser golden plover: a good "standard" for measuring size, bill length and leg length of other species. Several hundred throughout the winter. At high tide seen on surrounding grassland. grey plover: just like a leseer golden but obviously larger and greyer. Ususally only 1 or 2. White rump. little ringed plover: black and white rings go round back of neck. Orange-colored legs and no wing bar in flight. Often patters feet on mud. Greatest numbers seen from kingfisher hide. Kentish plover: like little ringed and often feeding amongst them or with the stints but legs grey or black. In spring it gets a reddish cap. White wing bar in flight. Also patters feet sometimes. Seen from tattler and kingfisher hides. Mongolian plover: in summer plumage, orange comes right down breast, not just a band. In winter plumage like greater sand plover but smaller and legs darker. Hunches neck down and scurries more when feeding. Seen frequently pulling up worms. Mainly on Sungai Seria. greater sand plover: in summer plumage, orange forms band across breast. In winter plumage, almost same size as lesser golden. Bill heavy, head slightly flatter, walks more sedately with neck streched more. Legs paler and longer than Mongolian. Tends to pick up small crabs from surface. Fewer in number than Mongolian and ussuallly seen on Sungai Seria. Eastern curlew: like Eurasian curlew. Bill usually longer but not always. Only positive identification is no white V-shape on rump in flight. Usually upalways. Only positive identification is 12 --07/05/17-- no white V-shape on rump in flight. Usually up to 3 on autumn passage, some years not at all. whimbrel: godwit-sized. Long very down-curbed bill. Dark pattern on head. Pale V-shaped rump in flight. Seen in autumn passage, susually up to 6, but some years more. black-tailed godwit: not common. Like redshank, bill absolutely straight. Look for white rump when preening and prominent white wing bars in flight. bar-tailed godwit: scarce passage migrant. Like above, but slight upturn to bill. No white on rump or wings only possible ay to identify. common redshank: long red or orange bill and legs. Note prominent white trailing edge to wings and V-shaped rump in flight. Call: ringing tew tew. Small numbers during winter months. Most commonly seen in area of Dowitcher hide. spotted redshank: rare. Slightly larger and greyer than redshank. No white on wing only sure identification. common greenshank: bigger than redshank but same sort of proportions. Appears very white when feeding (ususally well into water). Legs are not green except when very close and often appear to be yellow. Small numbers during winter months. Seen commonly in area of dowitcher hide. marsh sandpiper: similar to greenshank but more slender in build. Bill very straight and jet black. Looks dainter and more longlegged than the greenshank. Prefers smaller pools. Present in small sumbers autumn and spring, ususally from kingfisher hide. wood sandpiper: smaller than lesser golden. Longish bill and legs, generally mottled brown all over, with brown on breast blending into belly. Legs often very yellow. Greatest numbers seen from kingfisher hide. green sandpiper: like wood sandpiper and often mixes with them. Darker especially undersides of wing in flight which makes white rump appear whiter. black-winged stilt: sabout godwit size but legs at least twice as long and usually pink. Jet black wings on otherwise white bird. Seen occasionally but not common. red-necked phalarope: although it occasionally feeds on mud like other waders, it is most likely to be seen on samll flooded pools, on the beach or on the grass. October-Novenber only. Rare. 840990358 oriental pratincole: although technically a wader, it doesn't behave like one. It will be seen in autumn and spring resting on dry mud or on bare ground or catching flies on the wing over grassland, looking exactly like a large swallow. When standing on the ground, it looks like a swallow too, with tiny legs and beak and reddish throat. Between 1 and 35 seen. - bird hides locations - shorebird faces/profiles -herons and egrets PLOVERS small bill & large eye stop-look-run-peck feeding action prey pecked from surface GODWITS & DOWITCHERS & SNIPES long bill & small eye deep bill probing for burrowing invertebrates SANDPIPERS & SHANKS medium bill (straight, decurved or upcurved) & medium eye multiple and single pecking (surface and subsurface), shallow probing STINTS small straight bill tiny size continuous and rapid surface pecking 13 --07/05/17-- 840990358 IDENTIFYING HERONS & EGRETS (J. Elkins) great white egret: very large, much larger than the others. Sinuous curve in the neck, very large dagger-like bill and black legs. It most frewuently stands still in the water. If you look at the head with a telescope, you will see a curved dark line which extends from the base of the bill to just behind the eye. intermediate egret: a smaller version of the great white with yellow bill and black legs. Intermediate in size between the great white and litle egret nut noticeably smaller than the great white. Hunts chiefly on the mud, standing still or moving slowly. Chinese egret: slightly larger than the common little egret and distinguished from it by a heavier bill, yellow above and darker on the lower mandible. It has grey/green/yellow legs, and hunts actively by running along pools and water edges in an almost crab-like fashion often with its head on one side looking down "monocukar" style. little egret: about the same size as the Chinese egret but much the ost delicately built of the egrets. It has a slim black bill and black legs. There are 3 sub species: one with black feet which is said to be resident in Borneo (nigripes) and one with yellow feet which is the migrant relative (garzetta). Both have blue/grey lores. Eastern (Pacific) reef egret: rather like the previous 2 species but slightly smaller, with green legs and a noticeably shorter leg below the knee. Not common as they prefer the beaches and coral coasts, but white phase birds seen regularly. Dark phase birds are rare. Hunts in much the same active fashion as the Chinese egret and often opens the wings slightly just before a strike. cattle egret: the smaller of the egrets and more commonly seen in padi fields or long grass, associating with cattle and buffalo. A flock occasionally visits the Sungia Seria but more often are seen on grassy roadside areas in flocks of up to 50. A smaller bird which tends to stand with hunched shoulders and a rather fluffy head. Also has yellow bill and black legs. Chinese pond heron: often seen in small numbers around the Sungai Seria estuary from November and through the winter 14 --07/05/17-- months although some years they have not appeared at all. They lookgenerally brownish and streaked when standing on the mud but are transformed inro "white birds" when they fly. By March they are turning "maroon" as they acquire breeding colors. little green heron: by far the comonest heron on the mud and resident throughout the year, although numbers do increae over the winter months so there is possibly an influx of migrant birds. Depending on the light conditions, they appear overall dull slate grey or quite brightly marked and streaked with a dark cap. illustration; heads of herons and egrets Check list of plants (prepared by Jacqueline Henrot) trees and bushes Terminalia catappa (ketapang) Combretaceae 840990358 3 MIXED DIPTEROCARP FOREST • the most common type of forest on Borneo, develops on welldrained ground from the lowlands up to 800 m altitude, represents 56 % of the primary forests in Brunei • luxuriant, tall and dense evergreen forest with a large diversity of species and life forms, and a distinct multilayered structure • the tallest trees (emergents) protrude above the canopy at 50 meters or more, the majority of their roots, however, do not penetrate more than 50 cm into the ground and the trees are supported, at their base, by impressive tall structures (buttresses) extending up to 6 m from the trunk • the dominant trees are various species of the "dipterocarp" family; dipterocarps (470 sp.) occur predominantly in S. E. Asia • some of the dipterocarps, like meranti (Shorea) and kapur (Dryobalanops), are of great interest for the timber industry • dipterocarps have fruits of various sizes, most often with 2 to 5 wings; the fruits are produced in massive amounts only every 3 to 5 years, they germinate immediately and cannot be stored for long periods • note on veins of diptero ! 15 --07/05/17-- • the illipute nuts, of high food value for the local tribes, are the fruits or certain dipterocarps • all dipterocarps have resin canals in their wood. Damar is the name for the resin of dipterocarps and a few unrelated species; burning damar used to provide lighting in Borneo longhouse and the resin was also to caulk boats • although dipterocarps can make up to 80 % of the emergents, the canopy is rich in species (150 sp. per hectare is not uncommon), among which the rare Borneo ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri) which has the most durable wood • as little as 2 % of the sunlight reaches the forest floor where a variety of palms can be found as well as wild gingers, aroids, begonias, and orchids • other plants avoid the low light conditions either by living higher in the canopy, resting on the trees (epiphytes), like the bird's nest fern and many orchids, or by climbing on the tree trunks (climbers), like the rattan palm, the strangling fig, and other lianas • because the soil is poor, competition for nutrients among plants of the forest is as intense as for space and light. Only the superficial layer of the soil contains the nutrients necessary for plant growth, mostly in the form of decomposing plant material and they are generally taken up by the plants before they can penetrate further into the soil. • the nutrient storage of the forest lies in the trees and not in the soil; when a tree is removed through logging, the forest has lost forever the nutrients it contained • animal life in the forest is shy and mostly nocturnal: mousedeer, barking deer, bearded pig, flying squirrel, lori, tarsier, pangolin, pit viper, marten. Bornean gibbons, macaques, hornbills, squirrels, and a plethora of insects, however, can be seen and heard during the day 840990358 Walks Most of the walks are along Labi road ! - see overview map. The junction to the Labi road is about 30 min. drive from Panaga. From the beginning to the end of the surface road (km 0), the drive takes roughly .... hour and the last unpaved 11 km can take up up to ... min depending on the weather conditions. 1. Sungai Liang recreation park - worked onkm 42, at the begining of Labi, parking area and entrance to the park on the right side, boardwalk, canopy walk, suited for children. [we need the name of the park as it appears on the signboard and a rough sketch of the trails] 2. Forestry Commission area mile 2 = km ?, on the left soon fater going up the big hill at the start of Labi road: good sand track, follow it and barnch left at the first junction, the path degenerates into a maze of small walking tracks so mark your turns with something that you will recognize on the way back. Don't go on the left of the track as the University of Brunei does research there and you may affect their study. [ map provided, we need the name appearing on the board, suitable for children I guess, total walking time ? ] 3. Satellite stations mile 4 = km ?, the walk starts on a sharp left hand bend inbetween the two staellites stations, you can park behind teh barrier on the right; walk back (the way you came) to the start of the barrier and look left. There is a good track going uphill which degenerates into a pleasant sandy path. Folow the path uphill until you come to a large clearing. At the clearing there is a one-way trail straight on. The trail to the left takes you parallel with the road and a left turn near the end brings you down a steep gully back to the car. There are many trails to explore here but beware of becoming disorientated, mark your turns. [map provided, suitable for children ?, total walking time ?] 4. Wood yard -not found - 16 --07/05/17-- 5. 6. 7. 8. mile 5= km ? on a sharp right hand bend, one-way trail. Drive into the yard and ask permission from the office to park , drive to the end of the yard and park there. You'll see trails off to the left which can be explored but the main walk is to the right: follow a grassy track past a row of shanty huts on the left and folow the trail for as far as you can go. It takes about 1 hour walking and clambering up and down sandy gullies and mud tracks to eventually go down a steep hill to a large clearing. The track does continue straight on but gets very choked with grass. Look to the left at the far end of the clearing and you will see an indistinct path, it is swampy in its early stages but soon turns into a delightful walk along a small stream in very dense jungle. The path peters out at a small clearing with logs over the stream, it is not advisable to go further as it degenerates into swamp. [map provided; suitable for children ? total walking time ?] Andalau Forest Reserve - worked onkm 40, in the neighbourhood of the new Sungai Lumut Forestry Center [see description and map (to redraw) by Dave Watters and Jim Burrel - rewrite the description ] Sungai Lumut forestry centre -worked onkm 39, on the left-hand side. On Sundays the gate is closed, park on the side of the road and take the small path going around the gate. The trails start at the end of the paved area, to the right. Extensive network of trails and some boardwalks, some trails are suited for the not so fit and young children, others not. [we need the name of the park as it appears on the signboard and a rough sketch of the trails with their names and some notes about each] Precipice track km 36, take the trail opposite the Labi 36 km sign, keep to the right of the open area and proceed downhill to a small river. You'll reach the rest of an abandoned camp, search for the wooded glade on the left. Allow an hour walk each way. [still exists ? ] Sungai Mau road More for bird watching than actually walking 840990358 at km 29 slow down and take the next obvious left hand road, the corner is wide and the entrance of the walk about 50 m away. There are a few buildings at the right hand corner of the entrance. The tarred road quickly becomes bad and peters out in a earth road. [is it worth mentioning - are there walking possibilities or sights of interest ?] 9. Labi hills km 3, look for a small bridge with, just before, a little Chinese Temple on the left, which points the way to a wide, muddy clearing; in the far right hand corner of the clearing, the trail is clearly visible. Park on either side of the road, either before or after the bridge. The trail is wide and ascends for about 200 m; spectacular views of the forested lowlands and view over the mountain ranges in the distance. By good weather, it is possible to drive up the hill and further. [verify the information, is it still fun to walk this or has it become a driving trip ?] 10. Belait well no. 2 km ? , 2 km before the tarmac ends park and walk to the "top left" of the sawmill clearing. Loacte track (a bit overgrwon) and walk uphill until you come to iron poles on the right (remains of a high level bridge), scramble down slope to the left towards the stream. Walk upstream in the shallow water (some parts up to the knee) past old tanks with bats. When the stream bends to the right, you'll see a clearing to the right where was located the historical "Belait well no. 2". Suitable for children over 8, 3 km round trip, the walk is cool and dim. [map provided, description still valid ?] 11. Rampayoh waterfall √ km 0.3, on the left, next to a white electricity building. Walk along a distinct pathway bedide the river all the way, crossing small bridges over little tributaries. The first waterfall is 1/2 h walk. The path gets a little hilly towards the end. There are remains of an army camp at the end where you can picnic. You can swim in the waterfall pool. It is a good place to camp but contact the army to find out if they are using the site for exercice that day. [map provided] 17 --07/05/17-- 12. Mendaram waterfall √ - no bridge km 3.5, check for the green shield with indication XXXX and turn left, the small paved road leads to a car park. Cross the bridge and follow the trail, it takes about 15 min. to the waterfall, which is a good place for a swim, a picnic, or overnight camping. 13. Bukit teraja √ km 5.5, look for a white signboard on the left hand side "Welcome to Bukit Teraja" (still exists ?). Well trodden but steep track (may be slippery) leading up, after about 1 hour, to a large clearing with good views. A further tracks takes you to the top of the hill (417 m) in about 20 min. There is a shelter - and pitcher plants - on the ridge line. Leeches may be present. [description still ok ?, map provided but needs improvement] It is possible to walk from Bukit teraja to Rampayoh waterfall (8 h, described in "Jungle trips in and around Brunei") as well as from Bukit Teraja to Teraja waterfall (but you'll have to find your own way). 14 . Teraja waterfall km 13, past the longhouse, walk between the longhouse and the river until you see the trail behind the longhouse, follow the trail (about 45 min) until the waterfall, you'll have to cross the river at least once. Warning: leeches are abundant here, bring some salt, salt applied on the leeches makes them fall in a second. What to see ... • DIPTEROCARP TREES and SEEDS • PALMS, FERNS, EPIPHYTES, LIANAS • MONKEYS, SQUIRRELS, OTTERS, DEER, PIGS Animal sightings MAMMALS Dermopteres flying lemur or colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus): nocturnal but sometimes active in the morning and late afternooon Primates loris and tarsiers are nocturnal 840990358 maroon langur or red leaf monkey (Presbytis rubicunda): fur entirely red, long tail, diurnal, ususally in groups of 8, eats leaves pig tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina): diurnal, ususally in groups of 15-40, eats fruits, small vertebrate and invertebrate animals Bornean gibbon (Hylobates muelleri): diurnal and completely arboreal, eatsfleshy fruits, young leaves, and small insects Rodents ground squirrels and flying squirrels including the red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista): mostly nocturnal, becomes active shortly before dusk, eats leaves and seeds mouses and rats are mainly nocturnal Carnivores sun bear (Helarctos malayanus): active periodically during day and night, on the ground or in tall trees, eats bees' nests, termites, small animals, fruits Malay weasel (Mustela nudipes): terrestrial, active day and night, sleeps in holes in the ground oriental small clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea): diurnal, often in groups, eats crabs, other crustaceans and molluscs civets are active at night and therefore rarely seen short-tailed mongoose (Herpestes brachyurus): diurnal and terrestrial, eats spiders and small vertebrates Ungulates bearded pig (Sus barbatus): height at shoulder up to 90 cm, mostly active at night but also periodically during the day, eat fruits, seeds, herbs, roots lesser mouse-deer (Tagulus javanicus): active periodically during day and night, eats fruits, leaf shoots and fungi, solitary Bornean yellow muntjac or barking deer (M. atherodes): height at shoulder up to 50 cm, diurnal, eats herbs, young leaves, fruits and seeds (including those of dipterocarp trees) BIRDS REPTILES INSECTS 18 --07/05/17-- A few plants herbs Zingiberaceae (ginger family) bamboos, Poaceae trees Recogizing trees in the forest is not an easy task since leaves tower at least 15 m above our heads and flowers are unconspicuous. Look at the fallen fruits on the ground and the bark of the trees. Sometimes, but rarely, fallen leaves can also help in identifying trees. (in S. Liang and S. Lumut, just look at the tree labels !) The illustrations of seeds and leaves are from: "Trees of the BalikpapanSamarinda area, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, P.J.A. Keßler and K. Sidiyasa, Tropenbos series 7, The Tropenbos Foundation, Wageningen" FRUITS Dipterocarpaceae Fruits: with 2 wings: Anisoptera, Dipterocarpus, Vatica, , Hopea; with 3 wings: Cotylelobium, Shorea; with 5: Dryobalanops The diversity of fruits gives an idea of the diversity of species ! Leaves: Bark: resin See illustrations opposite. Leguminoseae Koompassia malaccensis Pterocarpus indicus Sindora wallichii Archidendron havilandii Ormosia macrodisca other families Kokoona ochracea (Celastraceae) Diospyros borneensis (Ebenaceae) Pentace adenophora (Tiliaceae) Baccaurea macrocarpa (Euphorbiaceae) Castanopsis argentea (Fagaceae) Quercus gaharuensis (Fagaceae) Myristica maxima (Myristicaceae) Rothmannia sp. (Rubiaceae) Dimocarpus longan (Sapindaceae) Scaphium macropodum (Sterculiaceae) 840990358 BARK Tristaniopsis sp. (Myrtaceae) bark orange-brown to grey, peeling off in large spiral scroll-like pieces common along riversides, hillsides and ridges up to 25 m tall, 30 cm diam. Dipterocarpaceae resin LEAVES Dipterocarpus sp. xx Melastomataceae xx palms Licuala sp. (fan palm) ILLUSTRATION TO ADD - in addition to the maps - distribution of Mixed Dipterocarp forests in Brunei - fruits of dipterocarps - other recognizable fruits - recognizable leaves BIBLIOGRAPHY Common Sarawak trees In the Brunei Forests A ckeck list of Brunei trees --Studying insects 19 --07/05/17-- 840990358 4 P EAT SWAMP FORESTS • cover about 15 % of Brunei land area • the ground is made out of partly decomposed organic debris or "peat", which can turn very dry after periods of prolongated drought and is extremely soggy after repeated rains.. The peat is built up into convex domes which can be as deep as 20 metres in their centre. The peat swamp is a harsh environment for plant life: the peat is acidic, poor in available minerals, and rich in toxic substances dissolved in the brown waters, it can be waterlogged and suffocating for the roots after heavy rains or too dry during periods without rainfall. At the periphery of the peat dome, where the peat is more shallow, the forest is dominated by a single tree species: the dipterocarp Shorea albida, locally called alan, which is endemic to Borneo. The alan trees tower at 70 metres, making them one of the tallest trees in the tropics. Towards the centre of the peat dome, the height of the alan decreases and where the peat is deepest, the alan trees are no more than 15 to 30 metres high and other tree species become more dominant. In nutrient-poor habitats, animal trapping is a way by which plants can increase their nutrition. Pitcher plants are found in peat swamps, heath, and montane forests, all characteristerised by poor substrates. They have modified leaves in the form of pitchers filled with water into which insects fall and are digested. Among the four or five species of pitcher plants living in the peat swamp, the most common is Nepenthes bicalcarata, which has two daggers pointing down beneath the lid. Other highly recognisable plants are the sealing wax palms, with their brilliant red leaf bases, and the large aroid lilies. 20 --07/05/17-- What to see ... • PITCHER PLANTS • ALAN TREES • SEALING WAX PALMS Where to go 1. Rasau, the end of the "Marudi walk" [ need description + map] 2. At the end of Labi road, the begining of the "Marudi walk" [ need description] 3 & 4. Badas: jln Badas and spg 638 Both roads (see map) lead to the water treatment plant and kg. Badas. The jln Badas follows large water pipes and power lines. Simpang 638 starts at the BLNG intersection. Although peat swamps are present on both sides, there are no obvious paths leading into the swamp. The roads have little traffic and are good places to spot animals, the spg. 638 is especially appreciated by birdwatchers. Look out for eagles and kingfishers perched on wires beside the road and birds of prey overhead. Civet cats and monkeys are often seen around dusk. 5. Badas clearing The opening in the peatswamp has been created by industrial activities about 10 years ago. Although the edges of the clearing are peatswamp forest, the clearing itself has its own flora, representative of disturbed habitats (see the check list of plants on p. xx). It is the best and closest place we know to observe pitcher plants and stick insects (at night). There are many hunter's traps set in the vegetation on the sides of the clearing. Wild pigs and a large deer have been observed there. The entrance of the trail is located near the end of the jln Badas, running from the Seria bypass to the Badas water reservoir, about 7 km from the bypass. On the right of the road, there is a small clearing which is the start of walk and carparking area -- if you reach the police station up hill on left, you have gone too far! 840990358 Cross the small stream (wooden plank), then follow the narrow overgrown jungle track which opens into a wide clearing. Turn right at the central area and take a narrow jungle track again at the far end. It is about 2 km round-trip. 6. Jln Mumong/ Kuala Balai Again, no trails inside the peat swamp, except for short ones created by the logging activities, but a good place to spot animals, especially the Red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), the Horse-tail squirel (Sundasciurus hippurus pryeri) and bearded pigs (Sus barbatus). If you are lucky, the Flatheaded cat (Felis planiceps). C A R N I V O R O U S P L A N T S develop on poor grounds (disturbed sites, peatswamp forest, kerangas forest, mountain areas). The nutrients they derive from digesting insects gives them a competitive advantage over plants growing in the same habitat and have to obtain their nutrients from the soil only. PITCHER PLANTS • pitcher plants (Nepenthes) are vines or creepers that have evolved a mechanism for trapping and digesting insects • the pitcher is a modified leaf • the pitcher is formed at the tip of the central nerve of the leaf blade that extends beyond the leaf (and is called "tendril"); the tip of the tendril thickens and grows into a pitcher; before the pitcher is fully formed, its lid is sealed to its body • the liquid inside the pitcher is secreted by glands from the inner surface; pitchers already contain liquid before their lid opens • not every leaf blade carries a pitcher, the tendrils are used also to attach the plant on the vegetation on which it climbs • the development of pitchers is seasonal • lower pitchers and higher pitchers vary markedly in shape: lower pitchers have generally 2 wings along the body whereas the upper pitchers have only 2 ridges • the forms and colors of pitchers vary much within species; pitcher plants form many hybrids between species -> identification is not always easy ! • the insects are attracted to the pitchers by nectar produced on the underside of the lid and the rim of the pitcher • the upper third of the inside of the pitcher is waxy: insects which have lost footing on the rim slip on the wax and fall into the pitcher's liquid 21 --07/05/17-- 840990358 • the rest of the pitcher's inside is glandular: it secretes the liquid and absorbs the nutrients from the digested insects • when an insects falls in the liquid, an acid is secreted by the glands, then digestive enzymes (which work better in an acidic environment); it may take 2 days to digest a mediumsize fly • some spiders and mosquito larvae live unharmed in the pitchers • the flowers are in elongated bunches; they are have 4 small brown sepals (no petals); a plant is either male or female; female flowers are larger at the base than male ones • pitcher plants are perennial (they live more than a year) • there are 71 species of Nepenthes (pitcher plants) in the world, among which 30 species on Borneo and 14 in Brunei • pitcher plants are divided in 2 groups: those of the lowlands (<600 m, = limit of the rainforest - 23 sp.) and those of the highlands (>600 m, cooler and wetter climate - 48 sp.) • the common pitcher plants found in the lowlands are: Nepenthes gracilis, N. rafflesiana, N. ampullaria, N. x hookeriana, N. bicalcarata (see description and illustrations, from "Carnivorous plants, A. Slak, 1979, Alphabooks, Sherborne,") Nepenthes gracilis This is usually a prostrate-stemmed plant, though it can occasionally climb to about 2 meters. The lower pitcher, 3. 5-7. 5 cm long, is light green with dark red spotting, with a light green rim and dark red lid, while the upper pitcher is 5-15 cm long, dark mahogany red or reddish brown, with a similarly-coloured or dark red lid, and a green to reddish-brown rim. In contrast, the interior is almost white or pinkish-white. It is found in the open, often in sunny places amongst herbs, occurring in Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia and Celebes. 22 --07/05/17-- Nepenthes rafflesiana The pitchers have a distinctive form, as shown in the accompanying pictures. The teeth of the rim are rather sharp and conspicuous and the rim differs from those of other species in that it widens markedly at its upper end, just below the lid. The lid has two keels and the spur is unbranched. The lower pitcher is 7. 5-25. 5 cm long and has rather prominent wings, the edges of which bend inwards towards one another, and are fringed with long hairs. The upper pitcher is 7. 5-30 cm long. The background colour of the outside of the tube, lid and rim of both upper and lower pitchers is usually cream to pale green, and the pitcher is beautifully marked with chocolate, garnet or dark red, the same colour being irregularly striped on the ribs of the rim. The species grows up to 9 meters high in nature and is found at the edge of forest or on sunny banks in both wet and dry ground. It is native to Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. Nepenthes ampullaria This species is peculiar in producing, in addition to the climbing stem, ground-level rosettes of small leaves which are white to pink, and may be less than 5 cm long. There may be many sprouting from underground rhizomes around a single climbing stem, and each is surrounded by several terrestrial pitchers springing from the ground; an equally unique feature. They are tub-like, round-bottomed and very short, 3. 5-5 cm) long, some being scarcely deeper than wide, and there are two fringed wings. The mouth is oval to nearly round and almost horizontal, and the lip formed by the rim is unusually narrow, as the inner part of the rim descends the interior of the mouth almost vertically. The lid is two-keeled and remarkably narrow, being less than 3 mm wide. Almost identical but somewhat longer pitchers are produced on the lowermost leaves of the climbing stem, hanging down to rest on the ground, but aerial pitchers are apparently never found. The terrestrial pitcher varies from light to yellowgreen, and is usually blotched with red or purple, while the ground pitcher is usually entirely green. The species grows up to 9 meters in the wild, and is found in wet forests and peaty places in Malaya, Borneo, New Guinea, Sumatra and Singapore. Nepenthes x hookeriana Where N. rafflesiana and N. ampullaria grow within a short distance of one another, as they do in Borneo, Sumatra and Malaysia, this natural hybrid between the two species very often occurs. The characteristics of the 840990358 pitcher are generally about midway between the two parents. The influence of N. ampullaria is seen in the widely elliptical entrance with its broad rim, while the general form of the pitcher brings N. rafflesiana more to mind. The pitcher is light green with reddish blotches, while the rim is usually green. Nepenthes bicalcarata The pitchers of this species possess two very curious sharp thorn-like structures just under the lid of the pitcher. Their use seems far from clear, but in 1880 F. W. Burbidge expressed the belief that they served to discourage the attentions of a small insect-eating lemur, Tarsius spectrum, which he had found freely raiding the pitchers of N. rafflesiana, but in the case of N. bicalcarata '. . . the Tarsius is certainly held and pierced when he inserts his head to see what there is in the pitcher.'' The lower pitchers are 6.5-10 cm high, tub-shaped, the bottoms rounded, and there are two fringed wings. The mouth is round. The inner part of the rim is rather wide and almost flat, and is inclined rather steeply into the pitcher. Its ends, immediately under the base of the lid, terminate in the two curved thorns referred to above, and which have evolved from a number of ribs. The lid is kidney-shaped, and the spur is quite long, thick and blunt. The upper pitchers are 5-13 cm long, funnel or bell-shaped, with two pronounced ribs replacing the wings, but in other details they are similar to the lower pitchers. The outside of the pitcher and both surfaces of the lid may vary from pale to mid-green, suffused with rustred to pure rust, while the rim is green. This species may grow to 14 meters in height, and occurs in swampy forests in Borneo. Upper and lower pitchers vary quite markedly in shape as well as in the attachment of the tendril and the presence or absence of wings From left to right. N. gracilis, N. rafflesiana: upper pitcher, N. x hookeriana A: lower pitcher and B: upper pitcher Opposite. (above) N. bicalcarata. A: upper pitcher, B: lower pitcher. The thorn-like structures are clearly visible under the lids. (under) N. ampullaria. A: ground and B: terrestrial pitchers. 23 --07/05/17-- They look alike but the terrestrial pitcher emerges direct from the earth and its attachment to the plant is not visible. SUNDEWS • sundews (Drosera) xxxxxxxxxxxxx Best places to observe pitcher plants and sundews: The Badas clearing (p. xx) - really the best and easiest -, the peatswamp forest at the end of Labi road (p. xx) or in Rasau (p. xx), the place where we ended the kayaking trip, Labi mile 5 and 7 ?. Check list of plants ( J. Henrot) at the entrance of the walk Passiflora foetida (stinking passionflower) Passifloraceae from S. America; the whole plant has an unpleasant smell; the unripe fruit and flowerbud are enclosed in a basket from finely divided sticky bracts the pulp of the small yellow berries is deliciously sweet Chromolaena odorata (Jack-in-the-bush) Compositae virulent exotic weed that makes agriculture difficult the plant has a typical smell when bruised Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) Leguminosae thorny with small purple flowers native of tropical America folds its leaflets and petiole if touched from the wet forest - first part of the trail Hornstedtia scyphifera (great spindle ginger) Zingiberaceae stem up to 5 meter tall, rhizome slightly above ground level supported by stilt roots, red flowers at ground level Costus speciosus (white costus) Zingiberaceae 840990358 spiraling stem topped by a flowerhead, the flower bracts look like a red pineapple, the flowers are white (often cannot be seen because they have already fallen off), visited by large female carpenter bees. unlike many members of the ginger family, it has no aromatic smell Cyrtostachys renda (sealing wax palm) Arecaceae typical of peat swamp forest, reaches up to 8 m orange color towards the top adapted to very poor soil and/or disturbed sites Nepenthes (pitcher plants) Nepenthaceae see the following text from "Carnivorous plants, A. Slak, 1979, Alphabooks, Sherborne, Dorset" for more detail N. gracilis (slender pitcher plant) small size N. rafflesiana (Raffles' pitcher plant) large and elongated pitchers the rim widens markedly at the upper end, below the lid N. ampullaria (narrow-lidded pitcher plant) barrel-shaped, narrow lid flipped outwards, rests on the ground N. x hookeriana hybrid of N. rafflesiana and N. ampullaria pitchers about midway between the two parents N. bicalcarata (dagger pitcher plant) 2 teeth under the lid, lower and upper pitchers very different typical of peat swamps; association with ants that live in a hollow swelling where the tendril joins the pitcher Drosera spathulata or burmanni (sundew) Droseraceae carnivorous plant which traps insects by the sticky hairs on its leaves small pink rosette of leaves on the ground (1 cm diameter !) white-mauvish flowers on a thin stalk Burmannia coelestis, Burmanniaceae slender stem, 10 cm tall part of the flower is a purplish tube with 3 broad wings the seeds (as in the case of orchids') require an association with fungi to germinate Bromheadia finlaysoniana (common bromheadia) Orchidaceae clump of stem 1 meter tall, only one flower opens at a time; the flowers are beautiful but short lived: they open in the morning and fade by midday 24 --07/05/17-- Dianella ensifolia (common dianella) Liliaceae small white purplish flowers and bright blue fruits numerous Cyperaceae (sedges) Dillenia suffruticosa (dillenia) Dilleniaceae up to 5 meters high, large characteristic leaves yellow flowers and red fruits opening as a star Melastoma malabathricum (straits rhododendron) Melastomataceae purple flowers, edible berries leaves with the characteristic venation of the Melastoma family Macaranga hypoleuca (macaranga) Euphorbiaceae blue-green waxy stems and tree-lobed leaf blades hollow twigs inhabited by ants (notice the small holes that serve as entrances for the ants) the ants feed on white starchy food bodies produced by the plant Cassytha filiformis (Dodder laurel) Lauraceae parasitic plants without roots or leaves, yellow-orange small round green fruits Mikania cordata (mile-a-minute) Compositae aggressive creeper, triangular leaves with hart-shaped base, crowded small flowers on a flowerhead Lycopodium sp. (club-mosses) Lycopodiales living fossils, cousins of the ferns Dicranopteris curranii (previously Gleichenia linearis) Gleicheniaceae the most common fern in clearings and openings of the forest typical terminal forking Pteridium caudatum (bracken fern) Hypolepidiaceae fern forming thickets in the open, note the place of the sori the fronds are considered edible Nephrolepis bisserata (broad sword fern) Nephrolepidaceae a bit sticky to the touch, lighter green and softer than the bracken fern characteristic sweetish smell that fills the whole area from the forest - towards the end of the trail beware of the hunter's traps Ixora sp., Rubiaceae pink flowers with 4 pointy petals Salacca affinis (salak) Arecaceae viciously thorny base, edible fruits (salak) with a snake skin Adenia acuminata (scarlet adenia) Passifloraceae slender climber with oblong leaves, small flowers in tube 840990358 bright orange fruits with seeds suspended inside by white stalks Check list of birds (V.Stanger) along the road xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in the clearing xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Check list of plants (prepared by Jacqueline Henrot) trees and bushes Terminalia catappa (ketapang) Combretaceae xx 25 --07/05/17-- 840990358 5 KERANGAS FOREST Best locations • Badas What to see ... • AGATHIS BORNEENSIS Heath forests are also called kerangas, which is the name given by the Ibans (local tribe) for the areas (excluding peat swamps) where the soil is so poor that hill rice cannot grow. They formed on the beaches exposed, near the coast, by the falling sea level about a million years ago and, further inland, by the uplift of the land mass some seven million years ago. Over time, the sand has been covered by a thick layer of organic matter, allowing vegetation to develop. Heath forests are extremely fragile, once the organic layer is removed, no forest can regenerate and only sand remains. The barren stretches of white sand by the coast near Tutong were once covered by a kerangas forest, which was destroyed by fire one hundred years ago. On remnant inland terraces which are surrounded by peat swamps, the forest is dominated by the majestic conifer Agathis borneensis (tulong). Because tulong timber is extremely valuable (four times more expensive than meranti), plots of unlogged tulong trees are rare on Borneo. In general, however, kerangas forests have mostly short trees and a low diversity in species. Not only is the soil poor but it cannot hold water and the trees are often subjected to periods of drought. The kerangas forest nonetheless has peculiar attractions, like the insectivorous sundews (Drosera) with tiny rosettes of leaves bearing glandular hairs, pitcher plants, and "ant plants" (Myrmecodia) with inflated stems inhabited by black ants. Check list of plants (prepared by Jacqueline Henrot) trees and bushes Terminalia catappa (ketapang) Combretaceae 26 --07/05/17-- 840990358 BADAS ' PITCHER PLANT WALK Location of walk Near the end of the jalan Badas, running from the Seria bypass to the Badas water reservoir, about 7 km from the bypass. The road follows the large water pipes and power lines. On the right of the road, there is a small clearing which is the start of walk and carparking area -- if you reach the police station up hill on left, you have gone too far! Cross the small stream (wooden plank), then follow the narrow overgrown jungle track which opens into a wide clearing. Turn right at the central area and take a narrow jungle track again at the far end. Time to drive from Panaga approx. 20 min. Distance of walk - Labi road, about miles 7 and 9: Nepenthes ampullaria, N. bicalcarata, but also N. mirabilis and N. albomarginata (which has a white band around the top of the pitchers) - white sands of Tutong - place where we came out of kayaks C A R N I V O R O U S P L A N T S develop on poor grounds (disturbed sites, mountain areas). The nutrients they derive from digesting insects gives them a competitive advantage over plants growing in the same habitat and have to obtain their nutrients from the soil only PITCHER PLANTS • pitcher plants (Nepenthes) are vines or creepers that have ebolved a mechanism for trapping and digesting insects • the pitcher is a modified leaf • the pitcher is formed at the tip of the central nerve of the leaf blade that extends beyond the leaf (and is called "tendril"); the tip of the tendril thickens and grows into a pitcher; before the pitcher is fully formed, its lid is sealed to its body • the liquid inside the pitcher is secreted by glands from the inner surface; pitchers already contain liquid before their lid opens approx. 2 km round trip. What to see ... • BIRDS: look out for eagles and kingfishers perched on wires beside road on way up, birds of prey overhead and leaf birds etc. in trees surrounding clearing • WASTELAND FLORA • PITCHER PLANTS on ground and on bushes around the clear area & more on the jungle track towards the end • SUNDEWS: tiny, on the ground in exposed sandy places • STICK INSECTS: at night (see "Night walks") • not every leaf blade carries a pitcher, the tendrils are used also to attach the plant on the vegetation on which it climbs • the development of pitchers is seasonal • lower pitchers and higher pitchers vary markedly in shape: lower pitchers have generally 2 wings along the body whereas the upper pitchers have only 2 ridges Other places to see pitcher plants: 27 --07/05/17-- 840990358 • the forms and colors of pitchers vary much within species; pitcher plants form many hybrids between species -> identification is not always easy ! • the insects are attracted to the pitchers by nectar produced on the underside of the lid and the rim of the pitcher • the upper third of the inside of the pitcher is waxy: insects which have lost footing on the rim slip on the wax and fall into the pitcher's liquid • the rest of the pitcher's inside is glandular: it secretes the liquid and absorbs the nutrients from the digested insects • when an insects falls in the liquid, an acid is secreted by the glands, then digestive enzymes (which work better in an acidic environment); it may take 2 days to digest a mediumsize fly • some spiders and mosquito larvae live unharmed in the pitchers • the flowers are in elongated bunches; they are have 4 small brown sepals (no petals); a plant is either male or female; female flowers are larger at the base than male ones • pitcher plants are perennial (they live more than a year) • there are 71 species of Nepenthes (pitcher plants) in the world, among which 30 species on Borneo and 14 in Brunei • pitcher plants are divided in 2 groups: those of the lowlands (<600 m, = limit of the rainforest - 23 sp.) and those of the highlands (>600 m, cooler and wetter climate - 48 sp.) SUND EW S Upper and lower pitchers vary quite markedly in shape as well as in the attachment of the tendril and the presence or absence of wings From left to right. N. gracilis, N. rafflesiana: upper pitcher, N. x hookeriana A: lower pitcher and B: upper pitcher Descriptions and illustrations from "Carnivorous plants, A. Slak, 1979, Alphabooks, Sherborne," Nepenthes gracilis This is usually a prostrate-stemmed plant, though it can occasionally climb to about 2 meters. The lower pitcher, 3. 5-7. 5 cm long, is light green with dark red spotting, with a light green rim and dark red lid, while the upper pitcher is 5-15 cm long, dark mahogany red or reddish brown, with a similarly-coloured or dark red lid, and a green to reddish-brown rim. In contrast, the interior is almost white or pinkish-white. It is found in the open, often in sunny places amongst herbs, occurring in Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia and Celebes. Nepenthes rafflesiana The pitchers have a distinctive form, as shown in the accompanying pictures. The teeth of the rim are rather sharp and conspicuous and the rim differs from those of other species in that it widens markedly at its upper end, just below the lid. The lid has two keels and the spur is unbranched. The lower pitcher is 7. 5-25. 5 cm long and has rather prominent wings, the edges of which bend inwards towards one another, and are fringed with long hairs. The upper pitcher is 7. 5-30 cm long. The background colour of the outside of the tube, lid and rim of both upper and lower pitchers is usually cream to pale green, and the pitcher is beautifully marked with chocolate, garnet or dark red, the same colour being irregularly striped on the ribs of the rim. The species grows up to 9 meters high in nature and is • sundews (Drosera) xxxxxxxxxxxxx 28 --07/05/17-- 840990358 found at the edge of forest or on sunny banks in both wet and dry ground. It is native to Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. Nepenthes ampullaria This species is peculiar in producing, in addition to the climbing stem, ground-level rosettes of small leaves which are white to pink, and may be less than 5 cm long. There may be many sprouting from underground rhizomes around a single climbing stem, and each is surrounded by several terrestrial pitchers springing from the ground; an equally unique feature. They are tub-like, round-bottomed and very short, 3. 5-5 cm) long, some being scarcely deeper than wide, and there are two fringed wings. The mouth is oval to nearly round and almost horizontal, and the lip formed by the rim is unusually narrow, as the inner part of the rim descends the interior of the mouth almost vertically. The lid is two-keeled and remarkably narrow, being less than 3 mm wide. Almost identical but somewhat longer pitchers are produced on the lowermost leaves of the climbing stem, hanging down to rest on the ground, but aerial pitchers are apparently never found. The terrestrial pitcher varies from light to yellowgreen, and is usually blotched with red or purple, while the ground pitcher is usually entirely green. The species grows up to 9 meters in the wild, and is found in wet forests and peaty places in Malaya, Borneo, New Guinea, Sumatra and Singapore. Nepenthes x hookeriana Where N. rafflesiana and N. ampullaria grow within a short distance of one another, as they do in Borneo, Sumatra and Malaysia, this natural hybrid between the two species very often occurs. The characteristics of the pitcher are generally about midway between the two parents. The influence of N. ampullaria is seen in the widely elliptical entrance with its broad rim, while the general form of the pitcher brings N. rafflesiana more to mind. The pitcher is light green with reddish blotches, while the rim is usually green. Nepenthes bicalcarata The pitchers of this species possess two very curious sharp thorn-like structures just under the lid of the pitcher. Their use seems far from clear, but in 1880 F. W. Burbidge expressed the belief that they served to discourage the attentions of a small insect-eating lemur, Tarsius spectrum, which he had found freely raiding the pitchers of N. rafflesiana, but in the 29 --07/05/17-- case of N. bicalcarata '. . . the Tarsius is certainly held and pierced when he inserts his head to see what there is in the pitcher.'' The lower pitchers are 6.5-10 cm high, tub-shaped, the bottoms rounded, and there are two fringed wings. The mouth is round. The inner part of the rim is rather wide and almost flat, and is inclined rather steeply into the pitcher. Its ends, immediately under the base of the lid, terminate in the two curved thorns referred to above, and which have evolved from a number of ribs. The lid is kidney-shaped, and the spur is quite long, thick and blunt. The upper pitchers are 5-13 cm long, funnel or bell-shaped, with two pronounced ribs replacing the wings, but in other details they are similar to the lower pitchers. The outside of the pitcher and both surfaces of the lid may vary from pale to mid-green, suffused with rustred to pure rust, while the rim is green. This species may grow to 14 meters in height, and occurs in swampy forests in Borneo. Opposite. (above) N. bicalcarata. A: upper pitcher, B: lower pitcher. The thorn-like structures are clearly visible under the lids. (under) N. ampullaria. A: ground and B: terrestrial pitchers. They look alike but the terrestrial pitcher emerges direct from the earth and its attachment to the plant is not visible. Check list of plants ( J. Henrot) at the entrance of the walk Passiflora foetida (stinking passionflower) Passifloraceae from S. America; the whole plant has an unpleasant smell; the unripe fruit and flowerbud are enclosed in a basket from finely divided sticky bracts the pulp of the small yellow berries is deliciously sweet Chromolaena odorata (Jack-in-the-bush) Compositae virulent exotic weed that makes agriculture difficult the plant has a typical smell when bruised Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) Leguminosae thorny with small purple flowers native of tropical America folds its leaflets and petiole if touched 840990358 from the wet forest - first part of the trail Hornstedtia scyphifera (great spindle ginger) Zingiberaceae stem up to 5 meter tall, rhizome slightly above ground level supported by stilt roots, red flowers at ground level Costus speciosus (white costus) Zingiberaceae spiraling stem topped by a flowerhead, the flower bracts look like a red pineapple, the flowers are white (often cannot be seen because they have already fallen off), visited by large female carpenter bees. unlike many members of the ginger family, it has no aromatic smell Cyrtostachys renda (sealing wax palm) Arecaceae typical of peat swamp forest, reaches up to 8 m orange color towards the top adapted to very poor soil and/or disturbed sites Nepenthes (pitcher plants) Nepenthaceae see the following text from "Carnivorous plants, A. Slak, 1979, Alphabooks, Sherborne, Dorset" for more detail N. gracilis (slender pitcher plant) small size N. rafflesiana (Raffles' pitcher plant) large and elongated pitchers the rim widens markedly at the upper end, below the lid N. ampullaria (narrow-lidded pitcher plant) barrel-shaped, narrow lid flipped outwards, rests on the ground N. x hookeriana hybrid of N. rafflesiana and N. ampullaria pitchers about midway between the two parents N. bicalcarata (dagger pitcher plant) 2 teeth under the lid, lower and upper pitchers very different typical of peat swamps; association with ants that live in a hollow swelling where the tendril joins the pitcher Drosera spathulata or burmanni (sundew) Droseraceae carnivorous plant which traps insects by the sticky hairs on its leaves small pink rosette of leaves on the ground (1 cm diameter !) white-mauvish flowers on a thin stalk Burmannia coelestis, Burmanniaceae slender stem, 10 cm tall part of the flower is a purplish tube with 3 broad wings 30 --07/05/17-- the seeds (as in the case of orchids') require an association with fungi to germinate Bromheadia finlaysoniana (common bromheadia) Orchidaceae clump of stem 1 meter tall, only one flower opens at a time; the flowers are beautiful but short lived: they open in the morning and fade by midday Dianella ensifolia (common dianella) Liliaceae small white purplish flowers and bright blue fruits numerous Cyperaceae (sedges) Dillenia suffruticosa (dillenia) Dilleniaceae up to 5 meters high, large characteristic leaves yellow flowers and red fruits opening as a star Melastoma malabathricum (straits rhododendron) Melastomataceae purple flowers, edible berries leaves with the characteristic venation of the Melastoma family Macaranga hypoleuca (macaranga) Euphorbiaceae blue-green waxy stems and tree-lobed leaf blades hollow twigs inhabited by ants (notice the small holes that serve as entrances for the ants) the ants feed on white starchy food bodies produced by the plant Cassytha filiformis (Dodder laurel) Lauraceae parasitic plants without roots or leaves, yellow-orange small round green fruits Mikania cordata (mile-a-minute) Compositae aggressive creeper, triangular leaves with hart-shaped base, crowded small flowers on a flowerhead Lycopodium sp. (club-mosses) Lycopodiales living fossils, cousins of the ferns Dicranopteris curranii (previously Gleichenia linearis) Gleicheniaceae the most common fern in clearings and openings of the forest typical terminal forking Pteridium caudatum (bracken fern) Hypolepidiaceae fern forming thickets in the open, note the place of the sori the fronds are considered edible Nephrolepis bisserata (broad sword fern) Nephrolepidaceae a bit sticky to the touch, lighter green and softer than the bracken fern characteristic sweetish smell that fills the whole area from the forest - towards the end of the trail beware of the hunter's traps Ixora sp., Rubiaceae 840990358 pink flowers with 4 pointy petals Salacca affinis (salak) Arecaceae viciously thorny base, edible fruits (salak) with a snake skin Adenia acuminata (scarlet adenia) Passifloraceae slender climber with oblong leaves, small flowers in tube bright orange fruits with seeds suspended inside by white stalks Check list of birds (V.Stanger) along the road xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in the clearing xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 31 --07/05/17-- 840990358 10 R OADSIDE TREES Best locations xxc • xx What to see ... • xx BEAN FAMILY Le gumino sae , Fabace ae 700 genera and >15 000 species cosmopolitan Diversity of forms, remarkable adaptations trees, shrubs, climbers and herbs - large trees of the tropical forests - shrubs of the dry or arid regions (Acacia) reduction of the leaves to enlarged petioles (phyllodes) - climbing plants of the temperate regions leaf transformed in tendril (function of leaf by the stipules) Nitrogen fixation - roots with nodules containing bacteria which are capable of taking up atmospheric nitrogen and converting it into other nitrogenous compounds. The legumes benefit from this compound, which enables them to grow on relatively poor soil. Sensitivity - movement of leaf in reaction to stimulus (light and/or touch); e.g. Mimosa pudica (leaflets into pairs then rachis) Great economical importance timber, forage, high protein food for humans, dyes, drugs, oils, ornamentals CHARACTERS Leaves: alternate (rarely opposite); simple or most often compound with 2-many leaflets 32 --07/05/17-- Fruit: pod, always with 1 cavity and 1 row of seeds variety of forms: does not open (peanut - Arachis) to explosive (broom, Cytisus and Lupinus) if the pod twist violently; dry or fleshy (green bean); inflated or compressed; greenish or brightly colored; from a few millimeters to 30 cm or more Inflorescence: a raceme or a tight cluster (Mimosa) Sepals: 5; Petals: 5 Ovary: 1, superior MIMOSA sub - fa mily Flowers: regular, small and usually in heads Petals: all the same, free or joined Stamens: many, free, or their stalks joined in a tube, extend beyond the short petals Leaves: typically bipinnate although some have seemingly simple leaves which are actually phyllodes (e.g., Acacia mangium) 55 genera, mostly woody tropical and subtropical plants Acacia (numerous free stamens), native to warm semi-arid regions, often grown as ornamentals, Acacia senegal: arabic gum, Acacia mangium (Panaga), Acacia decurrens (Australian black wattle: wattle bark, used for tanning), Acacia melanoxylon (Australian blackwood: timber) Mimosa (up to 10 stamens), Mimosa pudica Albizia julibrissin: mimosa tree Prosopis: mesquite, small weedy tree in the arid SW of US, seeds used as animal feed Inga, Calliandra CA ESA LPINIA sub - fa mily Flowers: bilaterally symmetrical Sepals: 5, usually not joined together Petals: 5, the uppermost petal (called "standard") inside the other Stamens: 10 or fewer, not joined and not hidden 200 genera (more than 2/3 from Africa and America), 2800 species generally trees or shrubs of the tropical and subtropical regions Cassia, Delonix, Peltophorum, Cercis, Bauhinia 840990358 timber, drug (Senna: laxative), dye (hematoxylin), medicinal purposes (Tamarindus indica), ornamentals (Delonix regia: flamboyant) BEA N sub - fa mi l y (Faboïdeae, Papilionoïdeae, Lotoïdeae) Flowers: bilaterally symmetrical Sepals: joined in a cup with 5 teeth Petals: 5, the upper one forming the "standard", more or less overlapping with the others, the 2 lowermost united in a boat-shaped "keel" the 2 side ones, "wings" overlapping the keel Stamens: 10, their stalks more or less joined, hidden within the keel 450 genera, 9000 species, all over the world but many herbs and shrubs of the warm temperate regions Crotalaria (rattlebox), Lupinus, Cytisus (scotch broom), Robinia (black locust), Sesbania, Lotus, Psorolea, Centrosema (blue pea), Clitoria (butterfly pea), forage: Medicago (alfalfa), Melilotus and Trifolium (clover), Vicia (vetch), Vigna (cowpea) dye: Indigofera (indigo), Genista tinctoria (yellow dye from leaves, twigs, and flowers) high protein good and oils: Glycine (soybean), Arachis (groundnut), Cicer (chickpea), Leans (lentil), Pisum (garden pea), Phaseolus (cultivated bean), Vicia faba (broad bean) poison: Abrus precatorius green manure (to increase the fertility of the soil): Pueraria (kudzu), Trifolium, Medicago and enlarged stems of the leaves, which are called "phyllodes" because they carry out the functions of a normal leaf. Acacia mangium belongs to the family of the Leguminosae (tribe of Mimosoïdae). Some of you may know Mimosa pudica, which has tiny opposite leaflets which fold as soon as they are touched, or the beautiful yellow mimosa blossoms from Nice. All the trees from the Mimosaceae family carry composite leaves with small leaflets, and the very young seedlings of Acacia mangium do as well (Fig. B). As the seedlings develop, however, the leaf stems flatten and the leaflets disappear. The seedling pictured in Fig. C shows a leaf in an intermediary stage along with already fully developed phyllodes. Why would leaves disappear in favor of another leaf-like structure ? I don't actually know but it might be an adaptation to a dry climate. Acacia mangium is not a native species from Brunei but originates from dry areas in Papua New Guinea. Leaves have a high density of "pores" (stomata) which are the sites of gaseous exchanges between the air and the plant, also the major sites of water loss during the day. Therefore, plants have adapted to dry conditions by reducing the amounts of stomata, reducing the size of the leaves, or replacing the leaves by thorns. Replacing the leaves by phyllodes (hence a leaf stem) may be another way to avoid excessive water losses. Check list of plants (prepared by Jacqueline Henrot) trees and bushes Terminalia catappa (ketapang) Combretaceae xx What you think you see is not always what it is. A common sight in Brunei is the tree Acacia mangium, it is widely planted in Panaga and along the road sites because it grows fast on very poor soils. It carries green "appendices" that look like Fig. A. Leaves ? No. The adult tree has no leaves. What we see are in fact the flattened 33 --07/05/17-- 840990358 12 NIGHT WALKS • VARIOUS INSECTS and SPIDERS: spiders, stinckbugs, moths and caterpillars • SNAKES, LIZARDS and FROGS • BATS and CIVET CATS A FEW FA CTS ON STICK INSECTS (PHA SMIDS) Places to go • The Badas pitcher plant walk see description on page x • The Agathis borneensis trail see description on page x • The Rampayoh and Mendaram waterfall trails see description on page x What to take • a very good (powerful) torch and spare batteries • good footware: boots or rubber boots it can be wet and slippery and snakes are active • insect repellent (the moskitos love you at twilight) • long pants and a long sleeve shirt • a friend ! as for any walk, it is not advisable to go alone; the noise of a large group, however, will disturb the animals and you are not likely to see much: 4-5 people is ideal • water & food if you plan to stay long • if you'd like to pictures: a camera with flash and a good waterproof protection in case of rain What to do • start before darkness (6 -ish) and go to the end of your trail so that you see the terrain once by daylight • wait till it turns really dark (have a sandwitch and a drink) • proceed slowly and silently back to the beginning of the trail, looking closely at the vegetation (especially under the leaves at your eye level), up in the trees, and around you • do not stick your hands in the vegetation without looking, there can be snakes on branches • do not touch hairy caterpillar What to see ... • STICK INSECTS: look well, they are well camouflaged ! 34 --07/05/17-- • except for a few species, stick insects are active at night, especially after a rainfall • they are vegetarian, their diet consists of leaves or young shoots of forest plants most species are not selective in their diet but some are and you will find them feeding on one type of plant only • they feed head-down on the underside of the leaves • body size can reach 30 cm • there are about 2500 known species of stick insects, predominantly in the tropics, but more have not yet a scientific name • males are much smaller than females they look sometimes so different that the males and females of the same species were first recorded as belonging to different genera ! • their defense mechanisms against predators: - they are so well camouflaged that if they remain still or drop to the ground, they are mistaken for a twig - some species produce a loud hissing sound (by rubbing the wing covers against the lower wings) - like a snake - and curve their abdomen upwards - like a scorpion - some species have wings and fly away - some species have very colorful (unfunctional) wings that they flash to the predator to confuse it - some species have glands that emit a strong foul-smelling fluid - some species auto-amputate the non-essential body part that the predator has seized (e.g. a leg or an antenna) 840990358 • the eggs are either glued to vegetation or dropped to the ground, they take several month to a year or more to hatch, some eggs have the shape of a micro starfruit • the nymphs (younger forms) are similar to the adults except in the development of wings • leaf insects are a particular group of stick insects (Phyllium, Nannophyllium and Chitoniscus) that resemble leaves, unfortunately, you are not likely to see one ! female leaf insects have no functional wings and live in the canopy of very tall trees males have functional wings (allowing them to fly to the females), they are much smaller and are less leaf-like than the females Haaniella echinata is the most common stick insect on Borneo. It is found only in lowland primary forest. The female has a size, from head to tail, of about 11 cm, the male of about 7.5 cm, both have a spiny body and underdevelopped wings. Their color is daek brown. Haaniella lays the largest egg in the insect world: 1 cm in length. They take 7-15 months to hatch. The males lives on average 20 months, 6 months less than the females. Haaniella produces a hissing sound and curves its body upwards when threatened but nevertheless becomes often the snack of a monitor lizard (Varanus). Other stick insects species that can be encountered on one of the walks: Lonchodes validor, L. brevipes, L. haematomus, L. hosei (see illustration) very stick-like stick insects, color of a dead twig L. validor is the most common in Brunei Orthomeria alexis one of the rare stick insects active by day common in the 200 meters of the Rampayoh water fall thicker body than the Lonchodes, with some green and black line patterns Acacus sarawacus Centema hadrillus Pharnacia sagitta 35 --07/05/17-- 840990358 Dares validispinus 36 --07/05/17-- 840990358 14 FROM THE MARKET Where to go • Kuala Belait • Seria • Sungai Mau What to see ... • FRUITS and VEGETABLE • FISH • LIVE ANIMALS The durian (Durio zibethinus) exist, wild, in the forests of Borneo. The cultivated tree has been succesfully introduced in India, the Philippines, and S. E. Asia. In the tropical regions of America and Africa, its repeated introduction has failed due to the odor of the fruit and the poor growth of the tree. 2. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is the most famous fruit of the orient. It originates from the rainforests of Malaysia. The non-edible outside part of the fruit is purple while the edible inside is white. The okra (ladies' fingers, gombo) (Hibiscus esculentus) is a close parent/of the same family as the garden hibiscus. Its flowers are yellow. The fruit is ? Guavas originate from tropical America. They are a cheap and highly efficient source of vitamin C, They are also rich in vitamin A, iron, phosphorus and calcium. The ginger family is strictly tropical and includes several species which contain oils in their rhizomes or seeds which are used to add a pleasant taste to food and drinks. The most important are: ginger, cardamon, and turmeric. Borneo is home to many wild species of the ginger family. 37 --07/05/17-- 840990358 Check list of plants (prepared by Jacqueline Henrot) trees and bushes Terminalia catappa (ketapang) Combret 38 --07/05/17-- 840990358
