Site icon THE FIGS OF BORNEO

Ficus nervosa, Sayap, Kinabalu

uluulublog

Ficus nervosa  tree next to the  river bridge 10 minutes drive from Sayap sub-station in the Kinabalu Park. The heavy rain made photography difficult.

Ficus nervosa  on the left next to the bridge. Between the bridge and the fig tree is an ominous mist net. Mist nets are used for trapping birds and bats, normally so that they can be eaten. Unfortunately unlike most of the rest of the world, mist nets are not banned in Borneo
The mist net had been left  extended even though there were no ripe figs on the tree.
There were still some rotting figs hanging from the tree. No wonder the local birds had been scared away.

This very long slightly fuzzy pointed stipule is characteristic of  Ficus nervosa subspecies pubinervis which is the subspecies found in Borneo

Note the reddish/green  needle like stipule. Needle like stipules are  characteristic of  Ficus dubia, Ficus subulata,  Ficus chartacea  and Ficus nervosa subspecies pubnervis.
Sayap is one of the most scenic areas of Borneo with many fast flowing streams  pouring down from the  very wet western slopes of Kinabalu to join the  Wariu and then the Tempasuk River which runs down past Kota Belud and joins the sea at Kuala Abai.
Killing  and eating all the local birds is not a good way of encouraging bird watchers to visit Sayap !

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