Ficus brunneoaurata collected from the summit ridge of Gunung Gading (c. 988 m) near Kuching in SW Sarawak. This collection was originally misidentified by C.C. Berg as Ficus bruneiensis (see label below). The two species are obviously closely related because of the similarity of the large reddish almost hairless stipules. However the figs are very different as F. brunneiensis figs are covered in long stiff hairs whereas F. brunneoaurata figs appear to be almost hairless.
GUNUNG GADING SUMMIT TRAIL (Information provided by Sarawak Forestry Corporation)
A challenging jungle trail leads up to the summit of Gunung Gading, which is the highest peak at 965 m. The summit trail is a continuation of Trail 2, beginning at the seventh waterfall. From there, a long and steady climb of about 2.5-3.5 hours leads to the summit. The lower part is through beautiful dipterocarp forest with big trees and the possibility to see Rafflesia flowers.
The trees gradually become shorter and beginning at about 700 m asl this forest gradually gives way to lower montane forest. The summit was the location of a British Army camp during the communist insurgency of the 1960`s. Remnants of the camp, a water tank, and barbed wire fencing, still remain.
An optional trek from Gunung Gading summit across a narrow saddle to Batu Berkubu is fairly easy but takes an additional 2.5-3.5 hours round trip. Trail markings are painted on trees but may be difficult to see during dark, rainy weather. The saddle has beautiful forest scenery. Batu Berkubu, which is on the flank of the Gunung Sebuloh, served as a communist base camp during the insurgency. This is a huge granite rock slab, as big as a house, which rests on two other massive rocks.
