The Nepenthes of Lundu road

In February and March 2009 my wife and I visited Borneo for 2 weeks. Lundu road and its species of Nepenthes was  the first or our field trips.

Elisabeth and I arrived a sunday evening in Kuching. We woke up early on monday: we had plenty of things to see.
I wanted to visit 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.
It'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 European cold weather on a February month...
This is a first time for my wife Elisabeth and, to me, it is a unique moment. I can't wait to meet the famous Bornean species!

Plants are supposed to be found quite near to the road. We parked and, quickly, we rush to climb the 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 bottom of a terrarium!


Nearby, I spot some pretty pitchers 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 slopes summit and there, under the shade of a tree, we find an adult specimen of Nepenthes hirsuta. The 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 nearby rotten N. rafflesiana pitcher. Maybe they have found some food in the pitcher's corpse?



We have already admired 6 species of pitcher plants. 5, you might correct. 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, similar 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. I'm talking about Raffle's pitcher plant: N. rafflesiana. This is the first pitcher plant I grow, a very variable species and a real gem.

I intended to see this thing of wonder when I first walked on those steep Bornean slopes...



and I found it quickly...



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


I spent a few moments to 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...



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







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