In search of Crypt fusca of Sarawak

[kuching]

In the past, everyone thought Cryptocoryne fusca (aquatic aroid) was an endemic species to Kalimantan of Indonesian Borneo. However, recently, there is someone from Malaysian Borneo found it in a blackwater stream near Sarawak - Kalimantan border. I didn't know that location until I got the information lately.....

Later, I realised that Batang Lupar was used to be part of the drainage system of upper Kapuas river in the ancient time of Borneo.....so, it could be somewhere there near the border.

August 5, 2007. I decided to find the location (information is not telling the exact location) with John.


I woke up at 5.30am. It's a long journey to the border, so we started our journey at 6am in the morning. There is no more rain since 3 days ago until now so I guess the dry season is finally started.


Below: When I woke up in the morning.....I can see the moon:






After so many hours of driving, we reached a blackwater stream near the border. There was no Crypt. in this stream except the common Blyxa sp. & hair grasses.





After half an hour of searching for Crypt. along the stream, we saw an Iban's longhouse. John went to ask an old man for information. I showed him Crypt. longicauda (which I collected from other river) and the old man told us that he knows where to find it near the longhouse.

Then, he brought us to an old rubber plantation....


Below: The half naked old man is our guide.

[kuching]

After 15 minutes of walk, our guide pointed his finger at the stream. We walked to the stream & found out it's Barclaya motleyi. We walked along the stream & found Barclaya motleyi was everywhere!!! There was no sight of Cryptocoryne at all!!! The old man told us that's the only aquatic plant grows in this stream. Both of us were so disappointed. We felt like wasting our time after travelling for almost 5 hours to the border and found nothing.

I decided to walk to another direction to search for Crypt. First I saw Donax grandis. Then, I saw something below Donax grandis....oh gosh!!! It's Crypt. fusca!!! Finally I found the Crypt. fusca of Sarawak!


Donax grandis




Crypt. fusca!!!





The habitat (water ph is 5.5, water temperature is 26 degree Celsius):

[kuching]

Crypt fusca....a new record in Sarawak.




To be continued....

[kuching]

Close-up of the Crypt. fusca. So far, this is the only locality of Crypt. fusca in Sarawak.




The blackwater stream. Rasbora eithovenii found abundantly here.






According to our guide, his father used to walk for a week to cross the border to catch fish in Danau Sentarum (the largest lake in Borneo). In the past, fish were found abundantly in Danau Sentarum. All the fish they caught were preserved by using salt (salted fish) before bringing it back. But nowsaday, not many people in his longhouse dare to cross the border as it is not safe anymore as before.

When I walked pass the rubber plantation, I smell a nice fragrance on the air. When I looked up, I saw a species of Hoya was flowering!!!



Unidentified species of Hoya with flowers:





Close-up of the flowers of Hoya:






Another species of Hoya. (no flower):

[kuching]

Our mission was accomplished. It was a successful trip.

After taking our lunch, we went to explore some places near the border.


An Iban longhouse. According to the local people, their ancestors were migrated from upper Kapuas river to this place since very long time ago.







The kids from the longhouse:





There is a clearwater stream near the longhouse, so we went to check it out.


Below: John is searching for wild fighting fish:






And both of us caught Betta taeniata in this stream. Another new location of Betta taeniata!!! This species is not as rare as we thought. My Betta taeniata was caught in this site (see below)....hiding under Pandan plant (Pandanus sp.) near the bank.





My Betta taeniata (female)

[kuching]

Rasbora sumatrana




After that we went to Batang Ai to re-visit the locality of an unidentified species of Crypt. (Crypt. sp. "Batang Ai" which is probably new to science. When we reached there, we failed to find any Crypt. at all. The only Crypt we found is the common Crypt. striolata. The water level was very high as there was too much rainfall in the last few days. I was so depressed as I worried that someone came here and collected all of them. Then, I decided to walk along the river to explore the upper part. There are a lot of Blyxa in the river (in the open area). After finding a shallow part in the river, I walked down from the river bank into the river bed to photograph the beautiful Blyxa. Then, John yelled at me that he saw Crypt. striolata again in a spot shaded by the forest. I walked to his direction slowly and I noticed something on my left, under the water is a clump of green coloured aquatic plants. When I walked closer, my jaw dropped......it's a clump of Crypt. sp. "Batang Ai" !!!! Hurray!!! I finally found it again in another secret location!!!

Blyxa sp.





I never thought I could find this Crypt. sp. "Batang Ai" again....HURRRAY!!!(compared to other species of Crypt., this species is rare)

[kuching]

Borneo is indeed a paradise for so many beautiful plants, especially Cryptocoryne. I'm proud to be born in this island.

Crypt. sp. "Batang Ai"





The habitat. (Water ph is 6 and water temperature is around 26 degree Celcius)





Crypt. sp. "Batang Ai" and Blyxa sp.




The image of the plant is a bit blur caused by the ripple in the water surface:





Crypt. striolata found abundantly here:

[kuching]

The Crypt. fusca which I collected from Kalimantan Barat is doing well in my "Crypt tank". The tank is covered by using plastic cover, but now I'm opened for photography purpose:




I cut off all the leaves before I brought back to Sarawak (in case custom officer question me for bringing plant back from Kalimantan without permit) but now all the leaves are grown back....within one month period!




Close-up of Crypt fusca.





Just planted my Crypt sp. "Batang Ai"....




The Crypt. sp. "Batang Ai" which I collected from the first collection (last year) was melt (all the leaves) when my tank was full of water after the heavy rainfall but now the leaves are slowly growing back.....and I pray that it'll flower as soon as possible in order to find out what it is.

[kuching]

Close-up of the beautiful Crypt sp. "Batang ai".

[Jungle-mania]

Out of curiousity, how is it that such rare crypts are not propagated on a commerical level, is it because they are hard to cultivate? I don't think lack of demand would be a reason, since people are willing to fork out big bucks for a small plant.