tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11375825745722419432024-03-14T01:22:13.319+08:00Life DiscoveryChun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-59861837664561795852014-01-07T16:07:00.000+08:002014-01-07T16:07:05.028+08:00Ant-aphid mutualism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2EDgwBl2RQ/Usuqypfu3hI/AAAAAAAACbM/RFSZjLgrDtY/s1600/111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2EDgwBl2RQ/Usuqypfu3hI/AAAAAAAACbM/RFSZjLgrDtY/s1600/111.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Phloem sap is a nutrient-rich resource that is of less chemical defense. However, the phloem sap is not widely exploited because it is not easily accessible, lack of essential amino acids and has a high osmotic potential (i.e. too concentrated) relative to the insect bodies (Corlett, 2009). Hemiptera, including aphids, is the major insect group that consumes the phloem sap, so-called sap-suckers. They have specialized mouthparts and excrete the excess sugar as 'honeydew'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The honeydew excreted by the Hemiptera generally contains more amino acids as the sap being processed by the symbiotic micro-organisms inside the Hemiptera bodies (Corlett, 2009). The honeydew also has lower osmotic potential so it serves as a better food sources to other insects (Corlett, 2009). Ants have established an obvious mutualism with aphids as they harvest the honeydew whilst protecting the aphids from their predators, parasites and pathogens in the meantime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have observed this interesting mutualism on the plant <i>Goniothalamus tapisoides</i> where the whole plant individual was covered with these aggressive weaver ants. It is interesting to know if a 'triple alliance' is present as the plant is also benefited as the ants protect the plant from other herbivores, which can probably compensate the loss of phloem sap (Moog <i>et al</i>., 2005).</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0gUDExzYL4/UsuqxcoRe5I/AAAAAAAACa8/57VyVoTzFsA/s1600/333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0gUDExzYL4/UsuqxcoRe5I/AAAAAAAACa8/57VyVoTzFsA/s1600/333.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The weaver ant harvesting the 'honeydew' excreted by the aphid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCBUizG95yo/Usuqxd4O0wI/AAAAAAAACbA/arvZv4n2uxE/s1600/222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCBUizG95yo/Usuqxd4O0wI/AAAAAAAACbA/arvZv4n2uxE/s1600/222.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This ant is guarding the aphids on the inflorescence and waiting for the honeydew production. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">References:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Corlett, R.T. 2009. The ecology of tropical East Asia. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moog, J., Saw, L.G., Hashim, R. and Maschwitz, U. 2005. The triple alliance: how a plant-ant, living in an ant-plant, acquires the third partner, a scale insect. <i>Insectes Sociaux</i> <b>52</b>: 169-176.</span></div>
Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-58499220107155926952011-04-07T14:19:00.007+08:002011-04-07T14:23:05.620+08:00Carex canina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWYYcxQ1JU/TZ0sz_0_vTI/AAAAAAAABuE/Qqm7kJbfqMU/s1600/Carex+canina_upload+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWYYcxQ1JU/TZ0sz_0_vTI/AAAAAAAABuE/Qqm7kJbfqMU/s400/Carex+canina_upload+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Carex canina</i> (Cyperaceae) is a highly restricted species which is only found in a few places in Guangdong, China including Hong Kong. It is therefore an endemic to Guangdong province. Nevertheless, it is not common at all in these localities where in the case of Hong Kong, Sunset Peak is the only locality where <i>C. canina</i> could be found.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP3DnnQe6xA/TZ0sxrqZZcI/AAAAAAAABuA/bSki9-4watA/s1600/Carex+canina_upload.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP3DnnQe6xA/TZ0sxrqZZcI/AAAAAAAABuA/bSki9-4watA/s400/Carex+canina_upload.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Achenes of <i>Carex canina </i>are trigonous just like most other <i>Carex </i>species. It looks a bit special than the others as the angles and faces of the achenes are conspicuously contricted forming a ring of constriction at the middle part of it (as shown in the photograph above). Its achenes also have a long beak at the apex which is about 1 mm long. By combining these features, this makes <i>C. canina</i> quite unique among the numerous <i>Carex</i> species recorded in Hong Kong.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWHwtFX9qh8/TZ0s01NKpTI/AAAAAAAABuI/ln7S6OSDJeA/s1600/Carex+canina_upload+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWHwtFX9qh8/TZ0s01NKpTI/AAAAAAAABuI/ln7S6OSDJeA/s400/Carex+canina_upload+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seed dispersal of <i>Carex </i>species is not well documented particulary in the old world. Seeds are not brightly coloured and without fleshy part for attracting mammals and birds. Seeds are not light enough nor winged for wind-dispersal. Studies from the America suggested that many of them are dispersed by ants (Handel, 1976; Vellend <i>et al</i>., 2000). High endemism of <i>Carex </i>species, especially for the forest-understorey species, does support this hypothesis as dispersal by ants is not as effective as vertebrate-dispersal although herbaceous species are always having higher endemism than the woody species (Hamrick <i>et al.</i>, 1992; Shaw, 1999).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>References: </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hamrick J., M. J. W. Godt and S. L. Sherman-Broyles (1992) Factors influencing levels of genetic diversity in woody plant species. New Forests 6:95-124. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Handel S. N. (1976) Dispersal ecology of <i>Carex pedunculata</i> (Cyperaceae), a new North American myrmecochore. American Journal of Botany 63: 1071-1079.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shaw J. C. (1999) The conservation status of Cyperaceae in Hong Kong. Porcupine 19: 16-18. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vellend M., M. J. Lechowicz and M. J. Waterway (2000) Germination and establishment of forest sedges (<i>Carex</i>, Cyperaceae): tests for home-site advantage and effects of leaf litter. American Journal of Botany 87: 1517-1525.</span></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-46336737692819077312011-03-23T10:15:00.037+08:002011-03-28T10:52:21.335+08:00Carex phacota<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9iaqwuxH6ts/TYlVtMJ_80I/AAAAAAAABoc/Fcf4FqzXxu8/s1600/Carex+phacota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B142pXMz4gc/TYlVtuYoMYI/AAAAAAAABog/ei6xeiKfLPU/s1600/Carex+phacota+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B142pXMz4gc/TYlVtuYoMYI/AAAAAAAABog/ei6xeiKfLPU/s400/Carex+phacota+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Carex phacota</i> is one of the 20-odd <i>Carex </i>species (Cyperaceae) in Hong Kong. It was assessed to be very rare without recent specimens. However several localities have been found recently because of more nature lovers getting interest in the diversity of local flora.</div><a name='more'></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9iaqwuxH6ts/TYlVtMJ_80I/AAAAAAAABoc/Fcf4FqzXxu8/s1600/Carex+phacota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9iaqwuxH6ts/TYlVtMJ_80I/AAAAAAAABoc/Fcf4FqzXxu8/s400/Carex+phacota.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kdGx3IQnJPo/TYlVt7e5BcI/AAAAAAAABok/ft6bUWi1cDs/s1600/Carex+phacota+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kdGx3IQnJPo/TYlVt7e5BcI/AAAAAAAABok/ft6bUWi1cDs/s400/Carex+phacota+2.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Along the inflorescence, there is only one terminal staminate spikelet where all the other spikelets are pistillate. As most of the <i>Carex </i>species, if not all, are wind-pollinated, the pistillate spikelet right next to the staminate spikelet received most pollen grains from the latter due to their spatial closeness from field observation. I am interested to see if this is a kind of mechanism to assure fruit production by self-pollination with this "companion pistillate spiklet".</div></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-78725039546944088442011-01-30T18:47:00.002+08:002011-01-30T19:04:44.283+08:00Chlorophytum laxum<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TUVDivMJWRI/AAAAAAAABhk/0PoYTsn_4_U/s1600/Chlorophytum%2Blaxum.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TUVDivMJWRI/AAAAAAAABhk/0PoYTsn_4_U/s400/Chlorophytum%2Blaxum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567930778375510290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TUVDiZq2hII/AAAAAAAABhc/j2JR23u4_Cs/s1600/Chlorophytum%2Blaxum%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TUVDiZq2hII/AAAAAAAABhc/j2JR23u4_Cs/s400/Chlorophytum%2Blaxum%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567930772598719618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TUVDiM1RLcI/AAAAAAAABhU/EkAC3Dpf0e4/s1600/Chlorophytum%2Blaxum%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TUVDiM1RLcI/AAAAAAAABhU/EkAC3Dpf0e4/s400/Chlorophytum%2Blaxum%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567930769152748994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Chlorophytum laxum</span> (Liliaceae) is an inconspicuous herbaceous species found in grassland or forest edge in Hong Kong. It was listed as having restricted distribution in Hong Kong. Fruits are remarkable as the capsules are <span id="lblTaxonDesc">acutely three-angled.</span><br /><span id="lblTaxonDesc"></span></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-65499053794172412972010-12-28T16:46:00.017+08:002011-01-01T13:29:35.187+08:00Manglietia cf. yuyuanensis<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIq7D3cI/AAAAAAAABfE/mEGk91_YJPU/s1600/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis%2B%25283%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555652084206132674" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIq7D3cI/AAAAAAAABfE/mEGk91_YJPU/s400/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis%2B%25283%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIZZ39JI/AAAAAAAABe8/jhKww8-f20c/s1600/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555652079503537298" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIZZ39JI/AAAAAAAABe8/jhKww8-f20c/s400/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis%2B%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a>In a hiking trip in late June 2010, an atypical <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia </span>species was found in a montane valley. We quickly recognized that it was not <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia fordiana, </span>the only <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia </span>species recorded in Hong Kong, as it has much smaller flowers than <span style="font-style: italic;">M. fordiana</span>. It was thought to be another "taxon" no matter what taxonomic difference it refers to.<br /><br />Magnoliaceae is indeed very well documented in China as they have very high ornamental and cultural value in the country. In the book "Magnolias of China", several small-flowered <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia </span>were identified but the species matches only one of them, <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia yuyuanensis</span>, which also has a geographic range close to Hong Kong. However, different taxonomists have different opinions on whether <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia yuyuanensis </span>should be included in <span style="font-style: italic;">Manglietia fordiana</span>. However, besides the morphological difference, we also noticed there is a difference of their flowering time which makes natural inter-breeding very unlikely to happen. Possibility of natural inter-breeding is conventionally an important criteria in taxonomy so this supports that they are at least of subspecies or variety level difference rather than a simple inclusion.<br /><br />Yesterday we managed to make another trip to the valley to search for fruits but none was found. However, it is still exciting as more individuals were found. Many of them were adult tree but sapling or seedling were absent, suggesting that its regeneration is poor.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIDit-XI/AAAAAAAABes/7lXHcaNT8Rw/s1600/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555652073635051890" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIDit-XI/AAAAAAAABes/7lXHcaNT8Rw/s400/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIVJhcMI/AAAAAAAABe0/ELpMAi7yH34/s1600/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555652078361211074" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 267px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRmkIVJhcMI/AAAAAAAABe0/ELpMAi7yH34/s400/Manglietia%2Byuyanensis%2B%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-23074046663365910982010-12-23T23:06:00.008+08:002010-12-23T17:48:33.876+08:00Black Rhinoceros<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TQDh8UXs5AI/AAAAAAAABbM/YsmxrhK71nU/s1600/Black%2BRhino%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548683167296971778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TQDh8UXs5AI/AAAAAAAABbM/YsmxrhK71nU/s400/Black%2BRhino%2B%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TQDh9TzevrI/AAAAAAAABbU/78qQ7vgp610/s1600/Black%2BRhino%2B%25283%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548683184324918962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 362px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TQDh9TzevrI/AAAAAAAABbU/78qQ7vgp610/s400/Black%2BRhino%2B%25283%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a>There are currently five extant species of Rhinoceros in the world. White Rhinoceros and Black Rhinoceros are recognized as African Rhinos while Indian Rhinoceros (or Greater One-horned Rhinoceros), Javan Rhinoceros and Sumatran Rhinoceros are the Asian Rhinos. Among them, Black, Javan and Sumatran Rhinos are categorised as critically endangered according to the IUCN Redlist. Javan Rhino is particularly rare, maybe one of the rarest animals in the world, that less than a hundred is left on the planet. There are two disjunct populations of them in which 28-56 individuals are estimated in Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Indonesia and no more than 8 individuals in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam (WWF, 2010).
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<br />The species shown here is Black Rhinoceros (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Diceros bicornis</span>) taken in Masai Mara national park, Kenya in 2009. The reserve together with the neighbouring Serengeti national park form one of the major unfenced areas for the Rhinoceros to live in. A recent study conducted a census by aerial reconnaissance surveys and estimated that there are about 461 individuals in these two nature reserves (Metzger et al., 2007). As a whole, IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group (2008) estimated that there are a total of 4180 wild individuals in 2007 and the population trend is kept increasing.
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<br />Black Rhinoceros has once been very abundant but its number dropped drastically between 1970 and 1992 by 96% due to illegal hunting (WWF, 2010)! Demands from Middle East for ornamental uses and Asian countries for traditional medicines are the major threats to the species (that is also why the Asian Rhinos are particularly endangered). Warfare among the African countries makes its conservation difficult too.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPpZDmrxwCI/AAAAAAAABZ4/MRPGd_A_PAo/s1600/Black%2BRhino%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546843809518829602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPpZDmrxwCI/AAAAAAAABZ4/MRPGd_A_PAo/s400/Black%2BRhino%2B%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a>Black Rhinoceros are indeed very susceptible to poaching as they are not only huge, but also due to their preference on habitats. They mainly inhabit and forage in grasslands and savannas which normally do not hide themselves in forests or other kind of shelters. They sometimes form group of up to 12 individuals which makes them easy to be killed off too.
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<br />I was lucky enough to see a mother with her calf wandering in the savanna in Masai Mara national park. Though I was so excited of seeing these rare magnificent animals in the wild, I was so worried of their fate in the meantime as illegal poaching is still serious in Africa.
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<br />"How are they?" I am thinking.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRLumN05y_I/AAAAAAAABck/MlteXknbyJo/s1600/100426-Chiu_SCMP-Young%2BPost%2B%2528e%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553763630815235058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 159px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TRLumN05y_I/AAAAAAAABck/MlteXknbyJo/s400/100426-Chiu_SCMP-Young%2BPost%2B%2528e%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TQDh8PdMvMI/AAAAAAAABbE/lY9M-pKOMM4/s1600/Black%2BRhino%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548683165977853122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TQDh8PdMvMI/AAAAAAAABbE/lY9M-pKOMM4/s400/Black%2BRhino%2B%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a>Good luck!
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Reference:</span>
<br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-size:85%;">IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group. 2008. <i>Diceros bicornis</i>. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. <<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/">http://www.iucnredlist.org/</a>>. Downloaded on 23 December 2010.
<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Metzger, K.L., A.R.E. Sinclair, K.L.I. Campbell, R. Hilborn, J.G.C. Hopcraft, S.A.R. Mduma and R.M. Reich. 2007. Using historical data to establish baselines for conservation: The black rhinoceros (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Diceros bicornis</span>) of the Serengeti as a case study. Biological Conservation 139: 358-374.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">WWF. 2010. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Rhinoceros. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Available at <<a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/">http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/</a>> Accessed on 23rd December 2010</span>. </div></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-81524835604924727082010-12-16T17:17:00.002+08:002010-12-16T17:32:18.516+08:00Balanophora fungosa<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPtiA4SV2CI/AAAAAAAABac/mAqftURjOAQ/s1600/Balanophora%2Bfungosa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPtiA4SV2CI/AAAAAAAABac/mAqftURjOAQ/s400/Balanophora%2Bfungosa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547135133285734434" border="0" /></a>Genus <span style="font-style: italic;">Balanophora </span>is belonging to angiosperms (flowering plants) though it is always misidentified as some kinds of fungi by hikers. Though it resembles fungi by appearance but you could find floral structures in <span style="font-style: italic;">Balanophora </span>such as its staminate and pistillate flowers and bracts by close observation. Also, fungi is saprophytic while <span style="font-style: italic;">Balanophora </span>is obligate parasitic with specific hosts.<br /><br />The specimen shown here is <span style="font-style: italic;">Balanophora fungosa</span> taken in Queensland in late Oct, 2010. It actually has a wide distribution which is ranged from Northeastern Australia, Pacific Islands, East Malaysia, India, Taiwan and South Japan. It was reported having various hosts including <span style="font-style: italic;">Macaranga tanarius</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Diospyros philippensis</span> etc (Hsiao et al., 2010). It has monoecious inflorescence where pistillate flowers are on the upper part of the inflorescence while staminate flowers are on the lower part. There is also a wide range of floral color where the populations from Taiwan and Japan are pinkish orange while those in Queensland are yellow, as shown in the photographs here. Though it is considered as rare and vulnerable in Taiwan but it was found very abundant on the forest ground in Queensland, maybe due to different climate and host availability.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPtiAo49oSI/AAAAAAAABaU/pfIe_GaSH64/s1600/Balanophora%2Bfungosa%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPtiAo49oSI/AAAAAAAABaU/pfIe_GaSH64/s400/Balanophora%2Bfungosa%2B%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547135129152758050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPtiAhvaS5I/AAAAAAAABaM/e3tQdZKSBmI/s1600/Balanophora%2Bfungosa%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPtiAhvaS5I/AAAAAAAABaM/e3tQdZKSBmI/s400/Balanophora%2Bfungosa%2B%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547135127233645458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reference:</span><br />Hsiao, S., W. Huang and L. Maw-Sun (2010). Genetic diversity of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Balanophora fungosa</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> and its conservation in Taiwan. Botanical Studies 51: 217-222.</span><br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-25604555218320396042010-12-07T19:06:00.010+08:002010-12-08T14:41:42.943+08:00Early Morning anthesis<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TP4VWlizifI/AAAAAAAABaw/Mo-cy4LqQj4/s1600/Thysanotus%2Bchinensis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TP4VWlizifI/AAAAAAAABaw/Mo-cy4LqQj4/s400/Thysanotus%2Bchinensis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547895268746430962" border="0" /></a>Flowers of <span style="font-style: italic;">Thysanotus chinensis</span> (Liliaceae) open fully between around 7 am and 9 am. It was listed as rare in previous biodiversity survey.
<br /></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Early morning anthesis is a common phenomenon scattered through angiosperms. Flowers of the early morning anthesis species open in early morning, probably soon after dawn and close before or around mid-day. It is suggested to prevent heat stress as anther and stigma would be destroyed by over-heating and closure of flowers would also reduce transpiration. These are reasonable explainations as most of the early morning anthesis species are herbaceous, grassland inhabitants.
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<br />It is important to note that early morning anthesis should be more related to the pollinator activity where it is the ultimate goal of floral anthesis. After a quick search on the literatures, bees were reported to be the major pollinators of early morning anthesis species including <span style="font-style: italic;">Pyrrhopappus carolinianus</span> (Asteraceae) (<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRICHAR%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:宋体; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@SimSun"; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style>Estes and Thorp, 1975) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Cassia fasciculata</span> (Caesalpiniaceae) (Thorp and Estes, 1975). Bees were reported to forage actively for the pollen after dawn and their activities quickly reduced towards the mid-day. The close relationship between pollinator activity and timing of anthesis is interesting and I think the early morning thesis species in Hong Kong are also pollinated by bees as certain groups of them are particularly active in the morning. There is a number of candidates for observation including the ones shown here, namely <span style="font-style: italic;">Geissapis cristata</span> (Fabaceae), <span style="font-style: italic;">Thysanotus chinensis</span> (Liliaceae) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Xyris pauciflora</span> (Xyridaceae).
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TP4VW4rJrCI/AAAAAAAABa4/30wrjoeCBUU/s1600/Geissapis%2Bcristata.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TP4VW4rJrCI/AAAAAAAABa4/30wrjoeCBUU/s400/Geissapis%2Bcristata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547895273881709602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Geissapis cristata</span> (Fabaceae) is another rare species in Hong Kong which inhabits lowland wetland.
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<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TP4VWbI0gxI/AAAAAAAABao/VEg1bXFjjlw/s1600/Xyris%2Bpauciflora.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TP4VWbI0gxI/AAAAAAAABao/VEg1bXFjjlw/s400/Xyris%2Bpauciflora.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547895265953088274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Xyris pauciflora</span> (Xyridaceae) is commonly found near wet places in Hong Kong. All of the species listed here are having brightly-colored corolla. It is an important feature to send visual signal to pollinators and to offer them a landing place.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >References:</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Estes J.R. and Thorp R.W. (1975) Pollination Ecology of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Pyrrhopappus carolinianus</span> (Compositae). <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >American Journal of Botany</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> 62: 148-159.
<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;">Thorp R.W. and Estes J.R. (1975) Intrafloral behavior of bees on flowers of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Cassia fasciculata</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> 48: 175-184.</span>
<br />Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-36017750077807861212010-11-29T16:35:00.007+08:002010-11-29T18:11:03.229+08:00Southern Cassowary<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNovxAxEqI/AAAAAAAABYo/o-Av5GpxGtQ/s1600/Southern%2BCassowary.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNovxAxEqI/AAAAAAAABYo/o-Av5GpxGtQ/s400/Southern%2BCassowary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544890736042906274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNoviRx89I/AAAAAAAABYg/85TpwaB6cUU/s1600/Southern%2BCassowary%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNoviRx89I/AAAAAAAABYg/85TpwaB6cUU/s400/Southern%2BCassowary%2B%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544890732087735250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNovFaD-uI/AAAAAAAABYY/_t59Y-Q24Xk/s1600/Southern%2BCassowary%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNovFaD-uI/AAAAAAAABYY/_t59Y-Q24Xk/s400/Southern%2BCassowary%2B%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544890724337842914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNovP22FsI/AAAAAAAABYQ/mBMDujXRdWs/s1600/Southern%2BCassowary%2B%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TPNovP22FsI/AAAAAAAABYQ/mBMDujXRdWs/s400/Southern%2BCassowary%2B%25283%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544890727142921922" border="0" /></a></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRICHAR%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:宋体; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@SimSun"; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;} span.order {mso-style-name:order;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0pt; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->Southern Cassowary (<span style="font-style: italic;">Casuarius casuarius</span>) is one of the very few extant members of ratites which is a group of flightless birds in the order Struthioniformes. The other members are all quite well known including Kiwi, Ostrich and Emu. They are primitive group of birds originated from Godwana and were once a very diverse group. However, as most of them require great home range and vulnerable to human settlement, urban development and persecution, many of them had gone extinct. Unlike Ostrich and Emu, Southern Cassowary inhabits forests which mainly forages on the forest ground for fallen fruits. It occurs in Southern Papua New Guinea and Northeastern Queensland, Australia. Its population in Wet Tropics in Queensland is, however, facing habitat loss which is a major threat to the population. The Australian population is therefore listed as endangered under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act.
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<br />This spectacular species is on the top of my target birding list for the Australian trip. However it is a nocturnal or crepuscular species which is somewhat difficult to see during the daytime. Fortunately, with the aid of a ornithologist from CSIRO based in the Wet Tropics, I finally saw a father with three juveniles in a resort at Mission Beach, one day before returning to Hong Kong.
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<br />It is interesting to note that the breeding behavior of Southern Cassowary is unlike other birds, where the female birds or both parents are responsible to <span class="dct-tt">nurture </span>the chicks. Female bird of Southern Cassowary will leave her partner immediately once after laying the eggs. The male bird will then be responsible for incubating the eggs and looking after the chicks after hatching. Male Southern Cassowary is highly territorial which will patrol its territory and forage with its chicks. The above pictures show a father with three chicks foraging at the backyard of a beach resort. They were quite curious of what we were doing when we met each other. People seeing Cassowary have to bear in mind that they are potentially dangerous to human where there are reports of people being killed by this huge bird.
<br />
<br />P.S. Southern Cassowary is listed in the interesting book <<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Birds-See-Before-You/dp/1844420191/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228813975&sr=8-1">100 birds to see before you die</a>>. Three ratites are in the list that the other two are Common Ostrich and Southern Brown Kiwi. This encourages me to dig out pictures of Common Ostrich..
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRICHAR%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:宋体; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@SimSun"; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0pt; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ></span> </div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="order" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></span></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-69122568929849045402010-10-21T21:12:00.007+08:002010-10-22T10:38:26.936+08:00Opisthotropis andersonii<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8d2IDk_I/AAAAAAAABX8/AfzrDgKlev8/s1600/Opisthotropis+andersonii_Pokfulam_121010_Chiu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8d2IDk_I/AAAAAAAABX8/AfzrDgKlev8/s400/Opisthotropis+andersonii_Pokfulam_121010_Chiu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486825854145522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8dlax5CI/AAAAAAAABX0/Uz9cQ8TwblM/s1600/Opisthotropis+andersonii_Pokfulam_121010_Chiu+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8dlax5CI/AAAAAAAABX0/Uz9cQ8TwblM/s400/Opisthotropis+andersonii_Pokfulam_121010_Chiu+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486821369275426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8dfoNByI/AAAAAAAABXs/Sexx_HMQKik/s1600/Opisthotropis+andersonii_Pokfulam_121010_Chiu+%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8dfoNByI/AAAAAAAABXs/Sexx_HMQKik/s400/Opisthotropis+andersonii_Pokfulam_121010_Chiu+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486819814967074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Opisthotropis andersonii</span> is not only endemic to China, but also a near-endemic to Hong Kong with a narrow geographical distribution. It has not been assessed by IUCN Redlist but no significant threat is posed to the species at the moment. It is non-venomous and very docile which rarely attempts to bite. It is commonly found in lowland streams in Hong Kong. It is not surprising to see two or more individuals in a night within the same stream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8eYjk0zI/AAAAAAAABYE/_HQUJocD2hM/s1600/night.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TMA8eYjk0zI/AAAAAAAABYE/_HQUJocD2hM/s400/night.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530486835096376114" border="0" /></a>Got a pretty nice view before night-safari.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-64907104753017602822010-10-14T22:25:00.005+08:002010-10-14T22:52:04.015+08:00Anisopappus chinensis<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TLcTjfrfEpI/AAAAAAAABXc/TwjK5AFhTxU/s1600/Anisopappus+chinensis.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TLcTjfrfEpI/AAAAAAAABXc/TwjK5AFhTxU/s400/Anisopappus+chinensis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527908568140812946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TLcTjSu10RI/AAAAAAAABXU/amwIUmvPR10/s1600/Anisopappus+chinensis+%281%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TLcTjSu10RI/AAAAAAAABXU/amwIUmvPR10/s400/Anisopappus+chinensis+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527908564665225490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Anisopappus chinensis</span> (Asteraceae) is a Chinese endemic which is mainly ranged from South China. It is also the only species from the genus distributed in China. It has a prolonged flowering season where flowers were seen from April to October. It explicitly inhabits dry grassy slope in Hong Kong. Though it is said to be a common species, I only had a few encounter of it. However, hiking on dry grassy slope in high summer is something not very pleasant.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-30142372262450759652010-10-13T11:40:00.004+08:002010-10-13T13:58:42.447+08:00Agriocnemis lacteola<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TLUqKEgGomI/AAAAAAAABW0/VbAKmJ1HPN4/s1600/Agriocnemis+lacteola.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TLUqKEgGomI/AAAAAAAABW0/VbAKmJ1HPN4/s400/Agriocnemis+lacteola.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527370470162604642" border="0" /></a>Got some luck to see this locally rare small damselfly!Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-54705676030661659852010-09-30T21:16:00.003+08:002010-09-30T21:31:46.486+08:00Eleocharis geniculata<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TKSN0TbCbzI/AAAAAAAABWo/CFoFDqVsNTI/s1600/Eleocharis+geniculata+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TKSN0TbCbzI/AAAAAAAABWo/CFoFDqVsNTI/s400/Eleocharis+geniculata+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522694972769464114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TKSNz1lkRmI/AAAAAAAABWg/nz1KrM7NHsc/s1600/Eleocharis+geniculata+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TKSNz1lkRmI/AAAAAAAABWg/nz1KrM7NHsc/s400/Eleocharis+geniculata+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522694964760561250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TKSNzmmBLCI/AAAAAAAABWY/F7NcN8_I59c/s1600/Eleocharis+geniculata.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TKSNzmmBLCI/AAAAAAAABWY/F7NcN8_I59c/s400/Eleocharis+geniculata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522694960735923234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Eleocharis</span> (Cyperaceae) is a large genus comprised of about 200 species. Most of them are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions over the world. Their very broad geographical range might probably attribute to wind-pollination and wind-dispersal mechanisms, which are particularly efficient in open and windy habitats that most of the members inhabit. No leaf blade can be found in the genus where only shealth is present which is a major characteristic for the genus.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Eleocharis geniculata</span> is uncommon in Hong Kong. Their abundance might be confined by limited suitable habitat which mainly inhabit coastal wetlands. Identification of it is easy by identifying three major characters:<br /><ol><li>Spickelets are broader than culm (shown in 1st photo);</li><li>Stigma is bifid (shown in 3rd photo);</li><li>Nuts are blackish, of about 1 mm long with 6-8 hypogynous bristles (shown in 3rd photo).</li></ol></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-52447770525839520732010-09-15T18:20:00.010+08:002010-09-22T16:13:55.054+08:00Scleria lithosperma [misidentified as Scleria biflora]<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TJCeP2AfjKI/AAAAAAAABWA/GyXKSD6lcQA/s1600/Scleria+biflora.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TJCeP2AfjKI/AAAAAAAABWA/GyXKSD6lcQA/s400/Scleria+biflora.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517083538561666210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TJCePpsONjI/AAAAAAAABV4/adkj2pRAVR0/s1600/Scleria+biflora+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TJCePpsONjI/AAAAAAAABV4/adkj2pRAVR0/s400/Scleria+biflora+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517083535255418418" border="0" /></a>The above specimen is more likely <span style="font-style: italic;">Scleria lithosperma</span> than <span style="font-style: italic;">S. biflora</span>. After checking a bunch of literatures I found that nuts of <span style="font-style: italic;">S. biflora </span>should be globose, regularly cancellate and beaked with black/purplish persistent style base. It is obviously wrong for the above specimen which is having obtusely trigonous, smooth and shining nuts. Both species could have simple inflorescence which is originally thought not the case for <span style="font-style: italic;">S. lithosperma</span>.<br /><br />I here keep the original message of <span style="font-style: italic;">S. biflora</span>. However its status might not be correct:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Scleria biflora</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> (Cyperaceae) is most likely the smallest </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Scleria </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">species in Hong Kong. Inflorescence only bears one or two florets which gives its scientific name </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">biflora</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">. It is quite common in Hong Kong which can mainly be found in forest edge, shrubland or path side. However, the inflorescence or nuts are too inconspicuous which might usually be overlooked. It is also difficult to photograph where the above pictures are heavily cropped in order to show its inflorescence and nuts.</span><br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-66154506107269919822010-09-08T21:45:00.007+08:002010-09-30T21:32:49.752+08:00Fimbristylis cymosa<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIeTlvIJooI/AAAAAAAABVc/JbGRwSHG5dU/s1600/Fimbristylis+cymosa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIeTlvIJooI/AAAAAAAABVc/JbGRwSHG5dU/s400/Fimbristylis+cymosa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514538545253556866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIeTlInL70I/AAAAAAAABVU/oLi7CaLcyEI/s1600/Fimbristylis+cymosa+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIeTlInL70I/AAAAAAAABVU/oLi7CaLcyEI/s400/Fimbristylis+cymosa+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514538534914748226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIeTkkBXJnI/AAAAAAAABVM/4G9Zv2-8nJk/s1600/Fimbristylis+cymosa+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIeTkkBXJnI/AAAAAAAABVM/4G9Zv2-8nJk/s400/Fimbristylis+cymosa+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514538525092423282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fimbristylis cymosa</span> (Cyperaceae) is one of the commonest <span style="font-style: italic;">Fimbristylis </span>species seen in Hong Kong especially in the coastal or sandy shores. The height of the plant can be varied quite much which is ranged from about 10 to 40 cm. It has a compound inflorescence with relatively small spickelets. I roughly measured over 10 spickelets from several individuals and most of them are about 3 mm. One of the easiest way to distinguish this species from many other <span style="font-style: italic;">Fimbristylis </span>is that it produces blackish nuts which gives its Chinese name "黑果飄拂草" (literally means black-nut Fimbristylis). Though some publications stated that its stigma is either bifid or trifid, so far I could only find the bifid one but none of them are trifid. I will correct myself if I did find the latter.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-79603494965142067752010-09-06T23:09:00.003+08:002010-09-07T14:59:02.572+08:00Rhynchospora corymbosa<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIUFa7OeOQI/AAAAAAAABVA/uNAaoLnJXOE/s1600/Rhynchospora+corymbosa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIUFa7OeOQI/AAAAAAAABVA/uNAaoLnJXOE/s400/Rhynchospora+corymbosa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513819278918170882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIUFaVPxhgI/AAAAAAAABU4/lL-zgD9bD5Q/s1600/Rhynchospora+corymbosa+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIUFaVPxhgI/AAAAAAAABU4/lL-zgD9bD5Q/s400/Rhynchospora+corymbosa+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513819268723082754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIUFaGU_zOI/AAAAAAAABUw/ndJTu1CcXFk/s1600/Rhynchospora+corymbosa+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TIUFaGU_zOI/AAAAAAAABUw/ndJTu1CcXFk/s400/Rhynchospora+corymbosa+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513819264718458082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rhynchospora corymbosa</span> (Cyperaceae) is a globally distributed species which is reported to be found in tropical and subtropical regions. However it was previously assessed as rare in Hong Kong which can only be found in a few localities. The above individual was found in an undescribed locality which is only holding a few individuals. It mainly inhabits lowland wetland or streamside which is, therefore, very vulnerable to disturbance, channelization, development and pollution. There is indeed quite a lot of wetland-associated species in Hong Kong so it's important to take care of this habitat in order to conserve this diversity.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-21795886696577243112010-08-30T14:20:00.008+08:002010-09-30T21:33:22.463+08:00Fimbristylis thomsonii<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPsSx-_II/AAAAAAAABTU/1TKa3S-M7NU/s1600/Fimbristylis+thomsonii+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPsSx-_II/AAAAAAAABTU/1TKa3S-M7NU/s400/Fimbristylis+thomsonii+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511086191392259202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPrloc0qI/AAAAAAAABTM/J1m_UBrMfBo/s1600/Fimbristylis+thomsonii+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPrloc0qI/AAAAAAAABTM/J1m_UBrMfBo/s400/Fimbristylis+thomsonii+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511086179272676002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPrcLrumI/AAAAAAAABTE/hkEmbD8_0I0/s1600/Fimbristylis+thomsonii+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPrcLrumI/AAAAAAAABTE/hkEmbD8_0I0/s400/Fimbristylis+thomsonii+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511086176736098914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPrAF_yjI/AAAAAAAABS8/OEfp2B6rF4Q/s1600/Fimbristylis+thomsonii.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/THtPrAF_yjI/AAAAAAAABS8/OEfp2B6rF4Q/s400/Fimbristylis+thomsonii.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511086169196055090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fimbristylis thomsonii</span> (Cyperaceae) is a very common sedge in grassland or hillside in Hong Kong. There are several features making it recognizable in the field: conical spickelets where scales are spirally arranged; leaf-like bracts; many spickelets (usually more than 2); and 3 stigmas on a single style which could be visible when it is in stigma receptive phase. Habitat is also a very important clue to rule out those coastal species in the long species list.<br /><br />It has quite a long flowering season which has been recorded to flower since April and I could still find many blooming ones at the end of August.</div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-88813925972917543152010-08-20T12:10:00.005+08:002010-08-20T16:32:27.409+08:00Firmiana simplex<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4AcHy20sI/AAAAAAAABSo/KYHXPAqWBKI/s1600/Firmiana+simplex.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4AcHy20sI/AAAAAAAABSo/KYHXPAqWBKI/s400/Firmiana+simplex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507339877449388738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4AaeRwXZI/AAAAAAAABSI/F96ZJUwfdq8/s1600/Firmiana+simplex+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4AaeRwXZI/AAAAAAAABSI/F96ZJUwfdq8/s400/Firmiana+simplex+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507339849124830610" border="0" /></a>Status of <span style="font-style: italic;">Firmiana simplex</span> (Sterculiaceae) in Hong Kong is interesting. <span style="font-style: italic;">F. simplex</span> is a very famous Chinese tree which is commonly cultivated in most parts of China where it is also originated from. However, most of the official literatures suggest wild populations of <span style="font-style: italic;">F. simplex</span> in Hong Kong appear to be naturalized from cultivated individuals but not truly wild. Personally I am not convinced very much by this as many individuals are found far away from the hiking paths or main roads but in the valley. There is not many exotic woody species could invade into a new environment as successful as this. Also, wild populations of <span style="font-style: italic;">F. simplex</span> are mainly concentrated to the Eastern part of Hong Kong but not the central and western regions. All these evidences seem not a natural consequence of naturalization of cultivated species but more likely to be true wild populations. <span style="font-style: italic;">Podocarpus macrophyllus</span> shows a similar distribution in Hong Kong. Is this kind of biased distribution because of the oceanic micro-climate from the Eastern side of Hong Kong?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4AbCD-ULI/AAAAAAAABSY/U-1i_0Q8q0I/s1600/Firmiana+simplex+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4AbCD-ULI/AAAAAAAABSY/U-1i_0Q8q0I/s400/Firmiana+simplex+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507339858730700978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Firmiana simplex</span> resembles <span style="font-style: italic;">Vernicia montana</span> quite much if flower or fruit is not available. They are actually belonging to different family. The former is from Sterculiaceae while the latter is Euphorbiaceae. Glands are often present at the leaf base in Euphorbiaceae but lacked in Sterculiaceae. From the above picture, glands are absent at the leaf base which is a very useful clue to rule <span style="font-style: italic;">V. montana</span> out. Also, <span style="font-style: italic;">F. simplex</span> is sometimes called 青桐 (literally means tree with greenish bark). Picture below shows a very typical appearance of the bark of <span style="font-style: italic;">F. simplex</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4Aag-FHCI/AAAAAAAABSQ/LSGp2UilT6o/s1600/Firmiana+simplex+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TG4Aag-FHCI/AAAAAAAABSQ/LSGp2UilT6o/s400/Firmiana+simplex+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507339849847610402" border="0" /></a></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-72923926887341269342010-08-18T17:05:00.004+08:002010-08-18T17:18:11.311+08:00Streblus taxoides<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TGuifLPfXJI/AAAAAAAABR8/qPZwiLqzpm4/s1600/Streblus+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TGuifLPfXJI/AAAAAAAABR8/qPZwiLqzpm4/s400/Streblus+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506673625867967634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TGuie9-7boI/AAAAAAAABR0/e5lyAqAtwos/s1600/Streblus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TGuie9-7boI/AAAAAAAABR0/e5lyAqAtwos/s400/Streblus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506673622308843138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Streblus</span>, a very unfamiliar genus to me, belongs to Moraceae where about five species could be found in Hainan but none in Hong Kong. I only managed to find immature fruits of <span style="font-style: italic;">S. taxoides</span> during my visit to Hainan in late May. Moraceae usually produces syncarp like <span style="font-style: italic;">Ficus </span>or <span style="font-style: italic;">Artocarpus </span>but some of the genera also produces drupe like <span style="font-style: italic;">Streblus</span>.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-10733257803999229002010-08-09T16:59:00.008+08:002010-08-09T17:16:04.300+08:00Syzygium impressum<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPEIW17pI/AAAAAAAABRM/ft4q96zUa9Y/s1600/Syzygium+impressum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPEIW17pI/AAAAAAAABRM/ft4q96zUa9Y/s400/Syzygium+impressum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502219039632912018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Syzygium impressum</span> (Myrtaceae) is a very recently described species which is only valid since 2008. Botanists from IBSC found some questionable specimens of S<span style="font-style: italic;">yzygium buxifolium</span> which consistently differed from the typical one when they were preparing the <span style="font-style: italic;">Flora of Hong Kong</span>. All of those specimens were collected from the Sunset Peak, Hong Kong. This taxon resembles <span style="font-style: italic;">S. buxifolium</span> very much, but could be distinguished by its ovate leaves, impressed midveins and smaller fruits. It was later named as <span style="font-style: italic;">Syzygium impressum</span> which was derived from its conspicuously impressed midveins.<br /><br />There are nine <span style="font-style: italic;">Syzygium </span>species in Hong Kong whereas identification based on vegetative parts is sometimes difficult. However, not many species have angled young branchlets where <span style="font-style: italic;">S. impressum</span> is one of them (see below):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPElCCPrI/AAAAAAAABRU/I7DJgt5LdrI/s1600/Syzygium+impressum+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPElCCPrI/AAAAAAAABRU/I7DJgt5LdrI/s400/Syzygium+impressum+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502219047330266802" border="0" /></a>In addition, by careful assessment and observation, the midveins of it are conspicuously impressed adaxially.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPE6WxJ_I/AAAAAAAABRc/z_hkY8Mvfo0/s1600/Syzygium+impressum+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPE6WxJ_I/AAAAAAAABRc/z_hkY8Mvfo0/s400/Syzygium+impressum+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502219053054371826" border="0" /></a>The general apperance of it is indeed like small-leave <span style="font-style: italic;">Ilex </span>species as its crown is very dense. Also, there isn't major habitat overlapping between it and <span style="font-style: italic;">S. buxifolium</span> as the former is solely recorded from streamsides in montane forests but the latter is a very common shrub in lowland forest edge and shrubland.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPFIUN67I/AAAAAAAABRk/pGAWgshYXeU/s1600/Syzygium+impressum+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPFIUN67I/AAAAAAAABRk/pGAWgshYXeU/s400/Syzygium+impressum+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502219056801770418" border="0" /></a>The recent encounter reminds me that I had seen a very similar one apart from Sunset Peak<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>. Unfortunately I didn't take any specimen or photographs at that time and there is no way to verify unless re-visiting the site. However, woody species is comparatively having lower chance to cause endemism especially in such a tiny place. It is not unexpected to find more populations of this currently-restricted species in other parts of Hong Kong, or even Guangdong. It might probably be overlooked in the past which was confused with <span style="font-style: italic;">S. buxifolium</span> or its allied taxa.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFvPE6WxJ_I/AAAAAAAABRc/z_hkY8Mvfo0/s1600/Syzygium+impressum+2.jpg"><br /></a></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-82463930305743586592010-08-06T16:15:00.002+08:002010-08-06T16:24:06.294+08:00Scincella modesta<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFaa1akHzJI/AAAAAAAABQQ/FGm4XZbJ66Q/s1600/Scincella+modesta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFaa1akHzJI/AAAAAAAABQQ/FGm4XZbJ66Q/s400/Scincella+modesta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500754237334211730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFaa02w8MeI/AAAAAAAABQI/uOkgeIysMEo/s1600/Scincella+modesta+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFaa02w8MeI/AAAAAAAABQI/uOkgeIysMEo/s400/Scincella+modesta+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500754227724300770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Scincella modesta</span> is one of the smallest skinks in Hong Kong. They move very quickly and love to hide themselves under leaf litter. They are particularly easy to see in mornings or evenings. The above photographs were taken at 17:30 in summer time.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-22043565902896161622010-08-03T16:35:00.007+08:002010-08-03T17:02:48.366+08:00Syzygium fluviatile<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFfU5wVG8JI/AAAAAAAABRA/vo593qDkXLk/s1600/Syzygium+fluviatile+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFfU5wVG8JI/AAAAAAAABRA/vo593qDkXLk/s400/Syzygium+fluviatile+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501099558547419282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFfU5i6yHrI/AAAAAAAABQ4/hOVCkQx2bF4/s1600/Syzygium+fluviatile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFfU5i6yHrI/AAAAAAAABQ4/hOVCkQx2bF4/s400/Syzygium+fluviatile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501099554947342002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFfU5XftwXI/AAAAAAAABQw/PzmoBr50uE8/s1600/Syzygium+fluviatile+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFfU5XftwXI/AAAAAAAABQw/PzmoBr50uE8/s400/Syzygium+fluviatile+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501099551881019762" border="0" /></a>There is very few information and pictures of <span style="font-style: italic;">Syzygium fluviatile</span> (Myrtaceae) available on internet and books after some intensive search. It might be because of its globally narrow distribution as it is probably a Chinese endemic. Even so, it is only found in three provinces in China, including <span id="lblTaxonDesc">Guangxi, Guizhou and Hainan according to Flora of China. However, a <a href="http://www.kfbg.org.hk/content/37/13/2/E03_Jianfengling_report_w.pdf">rapid biodiversity survey report prepared by KFBG, Hong Kong</a>, stated that this species is endemic to Hainan. Indeed, it is</span> a very common streamside shrub in Hainan based on my own observation. The specific epithet "fluviatile" means existing in or about rivers which is very true.<br /><span id="lblTaxonDesc"></span></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-3965326749532176552010-07-30T16:08:00.004+08:002010-07-30T16:34:45.380+08:00Scutellaria javanica<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFKJ8Oo3tbI/AAAAAAAABP8/pvj64hjVh4A/s1600/Scutellaria+javanica.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFKJ8Oo3tbI/AAAAAAAABP8/pvj64hjVh4A/s400/Scutellaria+javanica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499609762787472818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFKJ7yAauMI/AAAAAAAABP0/R-aB9I2JPLc/s1600/Scutellaria+javanica+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TFKJ7yAauMI/AAAAAAAABP0/R-aB9I2JPLc/s400/Scutellaria+javanica+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499609755101608130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Scutellaria javanica</span> is a large <span style="font-style: italic;">Scutellaria </span>species which could reach up to 1 m tall and has relative large flowers among other <span style="font-style: italic;">Scutellaria </span>species. In China, it is only distributed in Hainan which is a nationally uncommon species. It can also be found in <span id="lblTaxonDesc">Indonesia and Philippines, suggesting it is a tropical species. Its type specimen was from Java which gives its specific name, <span style="font-style: italic;">javanica</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">S. javanica</span> is believed to be fairly common in Hainan which is mainly found near water or along streams. It is remarkably easy to identify by its large individual and dark purple flowers.<br /><span id="lblTaxonDesc"></span></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-45726337708577468852010-07-27T14:13:00.003+08:002010-07-27T14:20:59.431+08:00Canthium horridum<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TE55Ony4POI/AAAAAAAABO8/BD4g9gZ3k-s/s1600/Canthium+horridum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TE55Ony4POI/AAAAAAAABO8/BD4g9gZ3k-s/s400/Canthium+horridum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498465487173467362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TE55OXgJMQI/AAAAAAAABO0/ZQswaNNoBQ8/s1600/Canthium+horridum+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TE55OXgJMQI/AAAAAAAABO0/ZQswaNNoBQ8/s400/Canthium+horridum+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498465482799919362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Canthium horridum</span> is a common weedy shrub in Hainan Island but a rare species in Hong Kong. Rubiaceae is a tropical family which is very diverse and predominant in Asian tropical regions. Identifying Rubiaceae is not difficult in field by its opposite leaves, persistent stipules and lack of latex. Some of its members are armed with thorns though it is quite uncommon. </div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1137582574572241943.post-40330800360572438142010-07-12T14:49:00.005+08:002010-07-12T14:58:52.918+08:00Hydnocarpus hainanensis<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TDq7J_RK7bI/AAAAAAAABOo/1j_Z7XdyCfo/s1600/Hydnocarpus+hainanensis+%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TDq7J_RK7bI/AAAAAAAABOo/1j_Z7XdyCfo/s400/Hydnocarpus+hainanensis+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492908475808411058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TDq7JT-1y9I/AAAAAAAABOg/bpbsN7TogwQ/s1600/Hydnocarpus+hainanensis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_J99lp4xssU0/TDq7JT-1y9I/AAAAAAAABOg/bpbsN7TogwQ/s400/Hydnocarpus+hainanensis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492908464188804050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hydnocarpus hainensis</span> is a restrictedly distributed species in Southeast Asia which is ranged from southern China to Vietnam. The Chinese population is mostly restricted in Hainan Island. It is listed as vulnerable according to the IUCN Redlist though its status might be outdated. However, as it is mainly found in low altitude in mountaneous regions where deforestation is serious, it still constitutes certain level of conservation importance.<br /><br />Based on the on-site observation, flowers emit some unpleasant smell like spoiling food. Flowers in anthesis are very easy to detach where mass dropping of flowers occur in strong wind.<br /></div>Chun-Chiu, Panghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463707873466200382noreply@blogger.com