Whilst the Flower Dome is of a cool, dry mediterranean climate, the Cloud Forest mimics a cool, moist high altitude montane forest climate. At the entrance is a waterfall to greet visitors.
Amongst the many interesting plants are the following:
- Begonia cultivars (Family: Begoniaceae)
- Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Common Name: Dawn Redwood; Family: Cupressaceae) from Sichuan-Hubei
- Camellia japonica cultivar (Common Name: Japanese Camellia, Rose of Winter; Family: Theaceae)
- Streptocarpus cultivar (Family: Gesneriaceae)
The first two photos are of the uncommon yellow shaft Lipstick Palm.
The Torenia polygonoides (common name: Malayan Eyebright; Family: Scrophulariaceae) weed can sometimes provide a beautiful groundcover of plants. Perhaps some nursery grower can try cultivating them for ornamental purposes.
The recent weather also seems perfect for the flowering of the pink flower Aeschynanthus (common name: Lipstick Plant; Family: Gesneriaceae).
It is amazing that the Bauhinia tree is almost covered with lots of thin-petaled pink flowers.
Whilst looking out for more plants, I came across this Cerbera odollam (common name: Pong Pong; Family: Apocynaceae) with a long and beautiful curved branch, that reminded me somewhat of the curved branch Tembusu at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and which was immortalized on our Singapore $5 note. I want to plant this tree at the Fragile Forest if I can have my way.
Under the shade netting, the Dendrobium secundum orchids were blooming in masses.
At another area, we saw stands of the uncommon Licuala mattanensis cv. Mapu. Its variegated leaves and slow growth makes it one of the more sought after and expensive palms.
The following day, we visited the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre. They have some of the most beautiful and unusual plants around, such as the Poikilospermum microstachys (Family: Cecropiaceae), Saurauia sp. (Family: Actinidiaceae), Piper porphyrophyllum (Family: Piperaceae), Phaius tankervilliae (Family: Orchidaceae), Cyrtandra vaginata (Family: Gesneriaceae), Musa borneensis (Family: Musaceae), Globba atrosanguinea (Family: Zingiberaceae), Cyrtandra splendens, Homalomena humilis (Family: Araceae), Commelina diffusa (Family: Commelinaceae) and so on. They are simply so amazing!
And it is not a surprise that we had the local kolo mee for lunch! What better place to taste this noodle than at its local origin.
