Dillenia suffruticosa in Kuching, Sarawak

On my previous trip to Kuching, Sarawak lately, i found out that there are abundance of 'simpoh ayer' that can be found growing wild there. It can be found almost everywhere, by the roadside, at the bushes and even on the island on rocks formation in Bako National Park. Pretty amazing plant and they are pretty well known to the natives too. My tour guide, Stephen (Kelabit tribe) told us that they use the leaves from this simpoh to wrap food inside the jungle as they help to avoid the food from going bad and the leaves are very fragrance.

Below, is the flower of Dillenia suffruticosa which i captured during my trip to Semengoh Rehabilitation Centre. The flower and leaves characters are consistant with the one found in Peninsular Malaysia.

I noticed that they are often planted as ornamental plant here in Sarawak too. On my trip to Bako National Forest, i managed to catch a glimpse of a rather poisonous snake resting on the simpoh branch after its lunch, waiting for digestion (photo below). See whether you have a good eye sight to spot it!

Ethnobotany usage of 'simpoh' & their identification

It had been a long time since i updated this blog. I was rather buzy with work and family affairs lately. However, i would like to share a poster that i had presented lately at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Seminar at Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. This seminar was organized by FRIM. For those who are interested in the ethnobotany of 'simpoh' and would like to get some tips to identify them can do so by browsing through my poster. I had presented only 5 species of 'simpoh' (Dillenia) that occur in Peninsular Malaysia that were used by certain ethnic in not only Malaysia but also Southeast Asia. Furthermore, i had included the latest distribution of Dillenia species in Peninsular Malaysia.