Site icon THE FIGS OF BORNEO

The fabulous figs of Signal Hill, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

uluulublog

The map above shows Signal Hill as an oval island of green amidst the busy roads and buildings of Kota Kinabalu.  At least 8 different species of figs have been recorded from Signal Hill. These figs are relatively easy to locate and  therefore provide an easy introduction to to the figs of urban  Kota Kinabalu.

For additional fig species which can be found  around Kota Kinabalu see  The magnificent figs of Tanjung Aru beach.

The best starting point is the Signal Hill lookout  highlighted by the orange arrow in the photo above.
The Signal Hill lookout is around 15-25 minutes walk from the Sabah Tourism office in central Kota Kinabalu up a steep series of steps.
Photo taken from the Signal Hill lookout of a fruiting  Ficus drupacea  topped  by a Green Imperial Pigeon. In the background is the water village next to Gaya Island  one of the 5 islands which make up the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
The  Atkinson clock tower (1905)  is said to be the oldest building in Kota Kinabalu.
Just below the Signal Hill lookout there is an interesting label listing some of the  many different trees growing on Signal Hill. Unfortunately this label does not mention any figs !
Growing right of the label are two species of bat dispersed figs both of which are common on Signal Hill. Behind the label is Ficus septica and on the left is Ficus callosa.
Ficus callosa is  rare in Borneo although it is locally common on Signal Hill. These figs grow into tall straight trees with striking white trunks.
Ficus callosa fig fruits ripen green and are dispersed by fruit bats that fly at night.
A Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea  has come to feast on the ripe figs of  a large Ficus drupacea  strangler which grows just below the Signal Hill lookout.
Ficus septica is a very common small tree in the patches of secondary  forest in Kota Kinabalu. The figs ripen green and are also dispersed by nocturnal fruit bats.
Ficus tinctoria gibbosa is a very common small tree on Signal Hill often starting as an epiphyte later dropping down aerial roots to reach the ground. The ripe figs are dispersed by Glossy Starlings
Ficus fistulosa  prefers damp gullies next to roads on Signal Hill.
Ficus fistulosa is  a common fig of damp rainforest often  found long roadsides throughout Borneo. On Signal Hill it prefers the damp gullies of along streams. The figs ripen green and are dispersed by bats.
Ficus variegata fruiting in the forest on Signal Hill.
Ficus variegata figs may ripen either green or red.
A typical evening view from the Signal Hill lookout looking west towards the setting sun. Silhouetted  are 3 islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.  Mamutik backed by Sulug on the left and  Manukan on the right.

Three additional fig species can also  be found on Signal Hill;

Ficus aurata

Ficus fulva

Ficus microcarpa

 

Exit mobile version