rafflesiana of Lundu

[rbjong]

Hi all, i am posting some illustrative images of the recent trip, it was a continuation of the trip made previously, but this time i'm exploring a wider area.Mirabilis,gracilis and rafflesiana are predominant in the area but with the later immensely rich. As expected are some hybrids.

The habitats - weeds and pandanus associated with brackish stream
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8498.jpg

brackish pool
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8383alt.jpg

scattered and stunted trees in open sandy ground
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8464.jpg

mirabilis among rafflesiana
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8471.jpg

young gracilis in dense layers of casurina tree leaves(predominant in the area)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8439alt.jpg

..some varieties of rafflesiana hybrids
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8440.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8451.jpg

rafflesiana growing among bushes
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8381alt.jpg

..or dangling down on young tree
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8393.jpg

...mosquitoes colony on upper rafflesiana
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8453alt1.jpg

..lower pitchers

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8424.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8396.jpg

upper pitcher on casurina tree(common in the area nearer to the beach)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8476alt.jpg

lower pitchers of the following variation are not unusual but their population as compared to the their exceedingly greater no.of pollens is hard to explain.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8449.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/rbrtjong/DSC_8542alt.jpg

questions and comments are most welcome.

Robert

 

[Rubra]

Wow, stunning photos. Thanks for posting. Its kinda funny how you rarely see rafflesiana uppers in cultivation.

Peter

 

[killerplantsguy]

Robert,
Thank you for sharing more photos. Always fascinating to see plants in their natural setting. Great job!
KPG

 

[lol]

Nice pics

. You know, it would be easier just to post the pics inside the forum. If you're using photo bucket, just looks at the last link below each picture, click it, copy it, and paste it into the forum. Easy as pie

.

 

[rbjong]

Hi, thanks for the response.

LOL, it doesn't allow, it said i has posted beyond the limit.Inconvenience though

 

[fc3srx713b]

hey that dark raff is nice

 

[nepenthes gracilis]

The last N. rafflesiana is equisite! Any chance of habitat threatening Rob?

 

[fc3srx713b]

Quote[/b] (nepenthes gracilis @ Dec. 27 2005,7:07)]Any chance of habitat threatening Rob?

if there is that would be very sad!

but the only reason you ask is to 'save' them, right?

 

[rbjong]

well,no threat at the moment.There are some cuttings of young trees for firewoods. I didn't notice a single destruction of neps plant, save for some pulling that doesn't cause death. If there is a threat in future that would be building of hotels and resorts, This place is far and isolated. we have better place for resorts, so it's save.::

Nice to note the dark raff., i saw some young plant with baby pitchers around the matured plant with same coloration.

 

[TyFone]

Yes the last raff almost looks like its crossed with sanguinea.
Lovely photos BTW.
And Rubra it isnt that strange that you rarely see rafflesiana uppers in cultivation, because it grows huge, and I mean really HUGE.

 

[schloaty]

Woah. Now I know why I like rafs! Those are wonderful plants (and good photos, too)!

 

[nepenthes gracilis]

I've only seen raff uppers at Mike Catalani's CPJungle. And his plants were ENORMOUS.

 

[The Griffin]

That chocolate raff on the bottom is indeed yummy (pun)

It's so brown, I thought for a sec it was dead, lol.

Cheers,

Joe

 

[rbjong]

Joe,me too

. when i first saw it i wasn't giving a second look.My friend
found out while investigating the smaller pitchers

Robert

 

[Lam_wn]

hi,
thanks for all the pics, love raffs, and those are wonderful, the number of varieties are really uncountable!
Anyway, just wanted to ask relating the giant forms, what is the most stable characteristic used to determine one? is it the colour of the youngest leaf?
And I know its really difficult to 'classify' but what is the largest 'typical' form you came by so far? those in the pics are large btw
And what about elongata?
Do all these 3 'classes' grow under slightly different conditions? (eg moisture, lighting)
Thanks

 

[rbjong]

Hi Lam. I am unsure if the leaves alone can determine the pitcher's forms. Some young elongata plant have red brown leaves.Typical type are green throughout.

The measurement-typical pitcher have equal length as their leaves ie 7" to 8" with short tendril roughly 3"-4".Giant and elongata have approx pitcher's length of 13" and leaves are long.

Conditions are the same throughout the area. The land is flat and sandy fed with small streams and underlayer water bed with brackish waters. There are many pool of brackish water collection where some roots of gracilis,mirabilis,hybrids and rafs are slightly submerged in water. Moisture and lighting affecting the different forms are same throughout. Certainly the alkalinity and winds from the sea are a plus. The area lies between south china sea and the Gading national park.

Hope these explain.

Robert

 

[brutal]

Hi!
This pic is taken not far from Lundu road...
Ampullaria
Lunduroad is a really nice place...

 

[rbjong]

adrian,really nice green amps. Was it taken inside the Gading National Park or before the entrance. Any other species you came across

Robert

 

[chesara]

Wow
Fantastic looking plants,a long way for my raff to get anyway near those

Bye for now Julian