The Nepenthes of Lundu road

[sockhom]

Hello

This is the first of many field reports I will post here.
These two weeks in Borneo have been tremendous and I want to thank Jean-Marc, Stewart Mc Pherson, Alastair Robinson, Jacques ("Kinabalu") and all the people who have provided help to set this trip, exclusively dedicated to Sarawak's flora and fauna .
I want to dedicate those posts to my wife, Ellisabeth, who came with me in all the field trips (they were many!) and to Yeo, Rosli and Vino. Those three guys have been the real highlights of our journey.



February 23th 2009.


Elisabeth and I arrived sunday evening in Kuching. We woke up early on monday morning. We have plenty of things to see.
I wanted to see the road leading to the Sarawakian town of Lundu, for it is known for the magnificent lowland Nepenthes specimens that can be found there. I've been told, that in some places of the road's bank, one could find up to seven different Nepenthes species.
I's really hot as you can imagine and temperature quickly reaches towering temperatures. It's only 9 am. I recognize almost at once the typical habitat for some species of pitcher-plants: sunny spots, open soil, sparse vegetation and the widespread "resam fern", Dicranopteris linearis.

I already had the chance to see Nepenthes in the wild but I am nonetheless totally excited. The 18 hours of flight are long forgotten, long forgotten as well is the cold weather of France on a february month...
This is a first time for Elisabeth and, to me, it is a unique moment. I can't wait to meet the famous Bornean species of the great Isle of Borneo!

Plants are supposed to be found quite near to the road. We parked and, quickly, we rush to climb the very steep slopes.



Enough of the talking, shall we go?


Here's the fist species: a very young N. gracilis:

I can't help to smile, thinking how this seedling would look like in a 13 cm square pot in the botton of a terrarium!


Nearby, I spot some pretty pitchers developing on a liana.



Then, I identify N. mirabilis, a species that I am fond of. Surprisingly, I won't have many opportunities to admire it during my trip.




A few moments later, I stumble on Nepenthes ampullaria, in a shady spot, of course. What a beauty!











We're heading toward the summit of the slopes and there, under the shade of a tree, we find an adult specimen of Nepenthes hirsuta. These upper pitchers are really elegant:

I'm glad to see this species which is usualy not a favourite among growers. This plant is similar to the clone I grow at home.

We're diving in the vegetation and I swiftly spot some slender pitchers. I already know that they belong to a pitcher plant species that I'm familiar with...

[sockhom]

Nepenthes albomarginata !





It's a real pleasure to admire this particular species. My eyes are gazing at a swarm of ants, creeping all over a rotten pitcher. Maybe they have found some food in the pitcher corpse?



We have already admired 6 species of pitcher plants. 5, you may say. You would be right. I'm just keeping my favourite species for the end of the post.
Our guide - with whom I get along immediately - has spotted the seventh species. A species that I only know from books because I don't grow it.
This is Nepenthes reinwardtiana.

I'm hypnotized. The pitchers are really beautiful and the foliage, smiliar to N. gracilis', is interesting.





This is becoming a cliché but here are the famous eyespots:



There was one species that I really long to admire, a species, which, to my eyes, really symbolize Borneo, at the same degree than N. rajah or N. ampullaria. This is N. rafflesiana. This is the first pitcher plant I grow, a very variable species and a real gem.

This is that very species that I intend to see when I first walk on those steep Bornean slopes...


and I found it quickly...


It's satisfying to note that what I've learned from books can be so useful in the field: Its was very easy for me to find N. rafflesiana. I recognized the leaves immediately.
This is a carnivorous plant:


I spent a few moments tp look at the upper pitchers, then I glance at the soil, among the low vegetation, in search of the lower pitchers. I can't wait to see them.

[sockhom]

I think I remained silent for a few moments. My wife is amused because, usually when I got so excited, I can't help to speak endlessly... ;D



I'm thinking: "You can't grow this in a fish tank!" ;D






Like I've been told, you can find various "forms" of Nepenthes rafflesiana in the same spot. That morning, I think my love for that particular species became even stronger.








You will all note that I couldn't prevent myself from grabbing the pitchers. Rest assured, I learned to hold my hands on the following field trips.

This is the end of the first field report. It was just only the first morning in Borneo. 12 hours earlier, we were in the aircraft, somewhere between Amsterdam ans Singapore. This was a tremendous start.
The day was not over. The following afternoon, we were heading to the surroundings of the town of Bau, famous for its limestone cliffs ans hills.


François.

[Brian Barnes]

Hi Francois,

WOW....what an incredible trip you had!
All of those lovely pitchers would definitely have me drooling as well...what a blast! Thank you for taking the time to share your trip and photos with us. We look forward to more...

Now, you must go to Llu Tepui to photograph Heliamphora elongata... ;D

Happy Growing,

Brian.

[daniel]

Hi François,

wow, you have been in paradise.
Really wonderful pictures and your report is also very interesting.

Thanks very much for sharing and of course i´m looking forward to see more of your field reports.

BTW, have you perhaps seen any Drosera during your trip?

Best regards,

Dani

[gerald]

hi francois, amazing report,plant in the wild are the most beauty!!!!!!!

friendly
gerald

[maxposwillo]

Hi François,

Very nice report! Great pictures too!

Looks like you had a lot of fun!

-Max