The forests near Gunung Gaharu

[kuching]

Gunung Gaharu is a mountain in the border of Sarawak - Kalimantan Barat. In this trip, I was visiting the remaining Kerangas (health forest) and Kerapas (swampy Kerangas) near that mountain. Sadly, almost the whole area (opposite the mountain, near a river) will be gone soon as the forest will be cleared for the new farm land.

Therefore, I have to go there to pay the last visit to the remaining forest before it is gone forever.


Gunung Gaharu. Behind the mountain is Kalimantan Barat.





Before that, I came to this rocky hill to look for pitcher plant. There is no interesting pitcher plants growing there but I found the flower of a species of orchid which I think is Bromheadia borneensis.






Bromheadia borneensis???

[kuching]

There are some blackwater swamps in this area called "Kerapas" or the wet facies of Kerangas.





Bingo! I found the aquatic aroid again. I think this one is the common Crypt. cordata var. zonata:





The swamp is the home for so many species of aroids, including this one below:






This is the inflorescence of a species of aroid called Cyrtosperma ferox:

[kuching]

Unidentified species of orchid:




Very common plant in the swamp, Hanguana malayana. Due to the earth work carried out in the nearby area, the clay & soils are washed down into the swamp.






Say goodbye to this Kerangas forest:





A dirt road cutting through the Kerangas forest. Kerangas forest is very common in Borneo where the main substrate is the white sand. You still can see the white sand on the dirt road. The black coloured things on the road is the leaf litter & the tree branches.

[kuching]

A strange looking plant which I never seen before. It has very pinkish coloured flowers:




Close-up:





Last location is exploring this almost undisturbed Kerapas:





Found Betta ibanorum again.





Juvenile of Channa bankanensis. This species of snakehead is very common in blackwater stream or swamp:

[kuching]

Oh no, found this common aquatic plant again; Barclaya motleyi:





The most exciting thing is this species of orchid called Phalaenopsis sp. Since it is not flowering, I'm uncertain that this Phalaenopsis is P. bellina or not. Phalaenopsis bellina (common name is Lundu orchid or Norma orchid) is the state flower of Sarawak. It is found abundantly here!!! But too bad, the habitat will be destroyed soon.





Phalaenopsis sp. in situ:




Goodbye to this giant tree in the swamp:

[kuching]

More photos; here:

http://www.ibanorum.netfirms.com/gaharu.htm

[kuching]

Updating & correction:

This orchid is Dilochia wallichii




Lasia spinosa (aroid):





Probably Adenanthera sp. ; Family = Rubiaceae (coffee family). According to a botanist, this plant is still in very early bud; eventually the petals will grow from the middle of each pink star.







Aglaonema simplex (aroid).

[hwchoy]

[XnSdVd]

Down choy! Down! Bad choy! *get a mop and bucket out*

Either way, i noticed the forest looks very similar the the ones on the banks of the Rio Negro... Love the white sand.

[kuching]

Yup, the blackwater river in Amazon also got white sand with blackwater....but the flora is different from Borneo. I hope I can go to Amazon oneday.....

[valice]

The blackwater is highly due to the decomposition of the leaf litters around similar to that of the Amazon. But why the similar white sand? That's quite interesting.

[XnSdVd]

Valice, if you have time. Look at part 3 of "Amazon Abyss" There's a scene where they dive in a clear lake. The sand in the region looked almost like aragonite but it's inert silicone.

Been meaning to have a white substrated, white background papered tank. It'll probably increase the amount of light being reflected at the plants and lower the water temperature slightly. Seeing as how darker colours absorb light/heat better.

[Plantbrain]

Yes, this place looks a lot like Florida, without Disney World
Florida is loaded with that nutrient poor white sand you cannot grow much crops on. Those tannin fill pools are very common here.

The hot steamy weather, nasty biting flies and other pest are there as well

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Plantbrain]

Here's some more, most do not think that the USA has such places.

[kuching]

Wow!!Tom, I like your photos!!!

[lowell]

Amazing!wish I could go there also.thanks for sharing your pictures.

[XnSdVd]

Here's some more, most do not think that the USA has such places.

Heh heh, well it's really their loss when you think about it. But the ignorance of others is our loss as well.