Here are some of the more common orchids found here. Saw many plants of a green Malaxis in flower. Didn’t see much else because most of the orchids in lower altitudes are found high up in the canopy, unlike in montane mossy forests where they can be found at eye level.
The first flowering orchid we encountered, Flickingeria species. Out of reach of my lens. It had white flowers that were still open when we passed by again late afternoon.
This was very high up a large tree by a rocky river. I think it’s an Aerides. They’re usually found very close to rivers and waterfalls but I have also found them in dry limestone forests.
A beautiful Malaxis species with copper leaves.
Same Malaxis species as previous picture, growing on big boulder. Very wet here because it’s the rainy season!
This green Malaxis grows abundantly here. Many were in flower.
Inflorescence of the green Malaxis. I did not have my macro lens with me so I was only able to do this poor quality crop (click here).
Another green one. There were many along the trail.
This one is in the middle of the trail! It had some seed pods too.
More of the same copper-colored Malaxis.
Vanilla species. Many vines were cut and thrown about on the ground by people clearing the area to lay water pipes (from the water reservoir).
Coelogyne species. Small, young plant.
Other flora of Mount Kanyi, Sarawak:
Curious looking fruits littered the trails. These, I like to call buah mahkota or crown fruits because of the shape.
The peanut-like fruits of a woody liana, a jungle vine of the legume family. This is probably a Callerya species. Some are edible (need to be boiled first) and taste like peanut + potato.
Many large fruits that looked like oversized custard apples were found on the forest floor along the way to the east waterfall.
The insides. It was an old fallen fruit which had started to rot. I did notice a fruit hanging far up the canopy but couldn’t make out which was the plant it grew on. Plus, it was raining then and couldn’t point my camera up for a photo.
Burst fruit of Dillenia suffruticosa, locally known as Simpor Air.
Flower of Dillenia suffruticosa. Simpor Air is a small tree-shrub and its large leaves were popularly used to wrap meat in the local wet markets before plastic bags took over. For this reason, they’re also known as te-bak hiok (Teochew dialect) or pork leaves. :D
Flower of a wild ginger.
Gesneriad.
Fruits of a fig tree, borne on the trunk.
A Hoya curtain above water cascades.
More Hoya.
Another fig tree full of fruits.
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