Not many people know that orchid is called the Jewel of the Forest. That is the truth. In 1983-84, I did my Bsc Hon Thesis on Wild Orchid Ecology, with special reference on Limestone Ecology of Batu Cave and Bukit Takun, Templer Park, Selangor. My research is rather simple but 'dangerous' since I have to roam aroud both the Batu Cave and Bukit Takun, taking the natural temperature, humidity and light intesity at various time of the day where orchid are found. Other observations includes the growth medium, orchid species, their typical morphology, etc. I used to stay up there alone for few days (2-3 days) surviving on biscuits and available natural water. I managed to record about 38 species of wild orchids from these two places.
Climbing those limestone structure is not easy. At any moment the stone edge where one step or hold on could just crack, and if you are not well prepared, one would just flung down the cliff. I never gone through any cliff climbing training, but the challenges that I gone through make me remember Batu Cave and Bukit Takun well. I hope these two place, where I found lots of wild orchids still remain intact.
(2) As I graduated in 1984, and preferred to hold MyPhD (Penganggur terHormat Diraja) for some times, since I don't wanna be a scientist whom at that time seem to be 'over exploited species', I used to roam the Pendam Forest and once I found the smallest orchid I ever seen. I lost the species, and till today, if I go to any forest area, I would keep MyEyes open for the same plant.
(3) Today, I was very happy, MyLong awaited MyTiger or some called it Elephant orchid bloom profusely. I collected this orchid from Ulu Simunjan in 1984,a place called Nyelitak. It takes about two days, paddling through small winding Simunjan Kanan to reach the place (from Simunjan town). Today, due to the Oil Palm Plantation development to the area, it take only 10-20 minit drive from the Simunjan-Sri Aman Road.
(4) In Singapore, the Sultan of Johore used to transport his Tiger Orchid for show down there. He used to won special award for his bloom. I dream to beat him one day! I can't easily search for the botanical name of the orchid, but the petals do look like the tiger strips or leopard spots. The name is derived from such character. The leaves frond look like elephant trunk, such some people called the orchid as Elephant Orchid.
(5) The bloom can last till a month, and MyBloom is calculated with nine inflorences (nine long stalks).
(6) In fact last two years, I moved the Plant, which all this while was exposed too much to the sunlight, placed it on rocky ground, closed to a waterbodies (artificial waterfall and just by MyFish Pond, well shaded next to MyStore). It formed part of MyStore landscape, a real beautiful one. Love you god for sending me this Jewel of the Forest and now becoming the Jewel of MyStore!
(Terasi, Pendam, 2 May, 2009)
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2 comments:
Lovely plant! Wish i could have some in my garden but i am too naive with plants, no green fingers. Hope you keep them well.Hope you still have the holly plants you took from the temperate mountains.
Development sure destroy the habitat of these fragile plants.Perhaps, one day our land developers would be more sensitive to nature and terrain.may be costly must not in the long run, sometimes we never learn from history.
This would be great for landscaping...
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