Cannon ball

This is an attractive flower of cannon ball, Couroupita guianensis Aubl. from the family of Lecythidaceae. This family is also a member of subclass Dilleniidae. The flower exude a strong fragrance that attracts insects for pollination. One interesting feature about this plant is the unusual inflorescens that grow directly out of the main trunk. The name of this plant derived from the large brownish fruit. This tree is native of South America.

A rare species of fern at Tanjung Selantai

From my latest fieldwork in Johore, i was given the opportunity to encounter with this rare species of fern at Tanjung Selantai. It belongs to the genus of Breynia. The distribution of this species is very limited in Peninsular Malaysia but is abundantly found at Tanjung Selantai. However, none of the plants found there contained sorus. All the fronds are still young. It is located at a very steep hill with loose soil. It is really a hard climbed and very slippery with lots of ants or termites. I like the view very much.

My latest fieldtrip at Panti, Johore

Recently, I had taken my opportunity to SING herbarium to drop by Panti Forest Reserve, Johore in search for Dillenia albiflos (photo left). This species is endemic in the middle and southwest of Johore. The name of this species derived from the flower which meant 'white flower'. It is different from other species that occur in Peninsular Malaysia by having petiolar wings (photo below).

Somehow, there is another species in Peninsular Malaysia that has petiolar wings that is D. suffruticosa. However, it is easy to recognise this species as the habit of this species is shrub. It has elliptic leaves that are coriaceous with slight serrate margin. This species is usually found at secondary forests or planted at the roadside as ornamental plants.

Flower of Dillenia indica

That's the flower of Dillenia indica that i managed to capture in FRIM a few months ago. The fallen petals are white in colour. The stamens are claimed to be almost all the same length. However, from my disection i found outherwise. I notice that there are two types of stamen occuring in this flower. There is another one ring stamen that curve outwards situated around the carpel.