Hello

This is the first of many field reports I will post here.
These two weeks in Borneo have been tremendous and I want to thank Jean-Marc, Stewart Mc Pherson, Alastair Robinson, Jacques ("Kinabalu") and all the pepole who have provided help to set this trip, exclusively dedicated to Sarawak's flora and fauna ;) .
I want to dedicate those posts to my wife, Ellisabeth, who came with me in all the field trips (they were many!) and to Yeo, Rosli and Vino. Those three guys have been the real highlights of our journey.



February 23th 2009.


Elisabeth and I arrived sunday evening in Kuching. We woke up early on monday morning. We have plenty of things to see.
I wanted to see the road leading to the Sarawakian town of Lundu, for it is known for the magnificent lowland Nepenthes specimens that can be found there. I've been told, that in some places of the road's bank, one could find up to seven different Nepenthes species.
I's really hot as you can imagine and temperature quickly reaches towering temperatures. It's only 9 am. I recognize almost at once the typical habitat for some species of pitcher-plants: sunny spots, open soil, sparse vegetation and the widespread "resam fern", Dicranopteris linearis.

I already had the chance to see Nepenthes in the wild but I am nonetheless totally excited. The 18 hours of flight are long forgotten, long forgotten as well is the cold weather of France on a february month...
This is a first time for Elisabeth and, to me, it is a unique moment. I can't wait to meet the famous Bornean species of the great Isle of Borneo!

Plants are supposed to be found quite near to the road. We parked and, quickly, we rush to climb the very steep slopes.



Enough of the talking, shall we go?

Here's the fist species: a very young N. gracilis:

I can't help to smile, thinking how this seedling would look like in a 13 cm square pot in the botton of a terrarium!


Nearby, I spot some pretty picthers developing on a liana.



Then, I identify N. mirabilis, a species that I am fond of. Surprisingly, I won't have many opportunities to admire it during my trip.




A few moments later, I stumble on Nepenthes ampullaria, in a shady spot, of course. What a beauty!











We're heading toward the summit of the slopes and there, under the shade of a tree, we find an adult specimen of Nepenthes hirsuta. These upper pitchers are really elegant:

I'm glad to see this species which is usualy not a favourite among growers. This plant is similar to the clone I grow at home.

We're diving in the vegetation and I swiftly spot some slender pitchers. I already know that they belong to a pitcher plant species that I'm familiar with...

Nepenthes albomarginata !





It's a real pleasure to admire this particular species. My eyes are gazing at a swarm of ants, creeping all over a rotten pitcher. Maybe they have found some food in the pitcher corpse?



We have already admired 6 species of pitcher plants. 5, you may say. You would be right. I'm just keeping my favourite species for the end of the post.
Our guide - with whom I get along immediately - has spotted the seventh species. A species that I only know from books because I don't grow it.
This is Nepenthes reinwardtiana.

I'm hypnotized. The pitchers are really beautiful and the foliage, smiliar to N. gracilis', is interesting.





This is becoming a cliché but here are the famous eyespots:



There was one species that I really long to admire, a species, which, to my eyes, really symbolize Borneo, at the same degree than N. rajah or N. ampullaria. This is N. rafflesiana. This is the first pitcher plant I grow, a very variable species and a real gem.

This is that very species that I intend to see when I first walk on those steep Bornean slopes...


and I found it quickly...

It's satisfying to note that what I've learned from books can be so useful in the field: Its was very easy for me to find N. rafflesiana. I recognized the leaves immediately.
This is a carnivorous plant:


I spent a few moments tp look at the upper pitchers, then I glance at the soil, among the low vegetation, in search of the lower pitchers. I can't wait to see them.

I think I remained silent for a few moments. My wife is amused because, usually when I got so excited, I can't help to speak endlessly... ;D



I'm thinking: "You can't grow this in a fish tank!" ;D






Like I've been told, you can find various "forms" of Nepenthes rafflesiana in the same spot. That morning, I think my love for that particular species became even stronger.








You will all note that I couldn't prevent myself from grabbing the pitchers. Rest assured, I learned to hold my hands on the following field trips.

This is the end of the first field report. It was just only the first morning in Borneo. 12 hours earlier, we were in the aircraft, somewhere between Amsterdam ans Singapore. This was a tremendous start.
The day was not over. The following afternoon, we were heading to the surroundings of the town of Bau, famous for its limestone cliffs ans hills.


François.

Fantastic report as always François

Glad you enjoyed yourself (as if you wouldn't) I do envy you.
I look forward to reading about the rest of your trip.

Glad you made it back safely - no tigers this time?

Some lovely shots of beautiful plants.You can understand how small rodents are sometimes caught in them when you see the size of some of those pitchers!Thanks for sharing

Great write up. Look forward to reading more !

Hi François, hope you truly enjoy your time here, the local food, fine weather ( rain in eveing and sunny morning ) during your visit and the neps species/hybrids you observed in the wild. wonderful write up !

Hey François,

Great report! Sounds like a "religious experience"! I've had those a few times when I find myself in the company of such amazing plants! Keep up the fine work! - Rich

Such incredible pics! All those ants were cool too.

Thanks for sharing.

Lucky guy Ilike those clump of ampullaria in the middle of that branch

Hello,


I'm happy you like the report.

Rich, I think you hit the nail. I was indeed something like a religious experience. My mind is still out there and the two last days have been quite filled with lingering melancholy.

Phil, no tigers this time. ;-) These have been true holidays, although we really hiked a lot and almost didn't get real rest.
We met 13 Nepenthes species (mainly lowland) and some Utricularia and Drosera too.
Don't miss the upcoming reports!


François.

Thanks for the pics & the report, what an amazing experience!!


Best wishes,
Fernando

Incredible report François!!!
Those Raff's are gorgeous! So lucky :) i soon hope to be going to the Indonesian countries to see some Nepenthes as well

Beautifull photos! Its wonderfull realizing how big these plants gets in the wild.
Can you tell us the Average temperatures of these habitats?

regards

Adilson

Stunning report!!! A bit speechless
I totally understand your with N.rafflesiana.
Lovely species!!

Thanks for sharing François.

Iggy

Wonderful photos. I've got a soft spot for raffs, so seeing all the different forms is a treat. I am also fascinated by the hirsuta uppers, they look real nice.

Thanks for this travel report. I am already looking forward to the next one.

Regards,

Christer

Francois,

This is very nice! That same spot I have visited in 2002 with a guy from the Chien Lee' s Nepenthes nursery. One of the best spots to see local lowland Nepenthes! And those Nepenthes rafflesiana, the big ones are the Giant form! There was one pitcher I could stike my hand into. And with only 2 other species I could do the same, Nepenthes rajah and N. sumatrana.
One caractertistic about Nepenthes rafflessiana 'Giant' is the wine-red underside of the leaves. The ordinarry N. raflessiana is green. You can clearly notice this on the lowest picture. Also you get a lot of Nepenthes rafflesiana in Bako N.P. but the plants there have much smaller pitchers then those along that road to Lundu.

The hortus botanicus in Leiden also has a Nepenthes raflessiana 'Giant' with the same wine-red undementum at the underside of the leaves. Also other forms of Nepenthes rafflesiana can be seen there wich all have green undersides of the leaves.

Alexander

Francois,

Did you also see the Nepenthes x hookeriana there? I have seen it there also at that same spot along the road to Lundu. Realy a must location for those who want to see Nepenthes in the wild! And not that far from Bau.

Alexander