In Merapoh Hills. by TAN CHENG LI

Headline Rare finds on outcrops MediaTitle The Star Date 16 Jul 2013 Color Full Color Section StarTwo Circulation 304,904 Page No 4 Readership 1,026,812 Language English ArticleSize 880 cm² Journalist Tan Cheng Li AdValue RM 40,981 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 122,944 Lush hills: Soaring limestone outcrops, such as Gua Panjang, tower over the landscape of Merapoh, Pahang. Botanists say each hill is dominated by different flora. Photo by LA I LA BASIR Botanists uncover a flora treasure trove in Merapoh hills. By TAN CHENG LI THE drive along Federal THE drive along Federal THE drive along Federal Route 8, or the Gua Musang Route 8, or the Gua Musang Route 8, or the Gua Musang Highway, in Pahang, is a Highway, in Pahang, is a Highway, in Pahang, is a rather scenic one. Towering over rather scenic one. Towering over rather scenic one. Towering over the expanse of oil palm estates, the expanse of oil palm estates, the expanse of oil palm estates, which are broken up in parts by which are broken up in parts by which are broken up in parts by rural kampung and lush forests, are rural kampung and lush forests, are rural kampung and lush forests, are majesticlooking limestone out majesticlooking limestone out majesticlooking limestone out crops. crops. crops. Some 20 limestone karsts some Some 20 limestone karsts some Some 20 limestone karsts some people say it is at least 30, as not all people say it is at least 30, as not all people say it is at least 30, as not all are shown on maps are scattered are shown on maps are scattered are shown on maps are scattered along the road stretching from along the road stretching from along the road stretching from Chegar Perah to Merapoh in the dis Chegar Perah to Merapoh in the dis Chegar Perah to Merapoh in the dis trict of Lipis before the land inches trict of Lipis before the land inches trict of Lipis before the land inches into Kelantan territory. into Kelantan territory. into Kelantan territory. The karsts are highly visible as The karsts are highly visible as The karsts are highly visible as one makes the drive but surpris one makes the drive but surpris ingly, they are completely unknown one makes the drive but surpris ingly, they are completely unknown ingly, they are completely unknown from a botanical viewpoint. from a botanical viewpoint. "We looked for data and found "We looked for data and found from a botanical viewpoint. "We looked for data and found no record of the plants there. None no record of the plants there. None of the limestone hills have been of the limestone hills have been no record of the plants there. None botanically explored before. For us, botanically explored before. For us, of the limestone hills have been it's a botanical blank on the map of it's a botanical blank on the map of botanically explored before. For us, flora," says Dr Ruth Kiew, a plant flora," says Dr Ruth Kiew, a plant it's a botanical blank on the map of taxonomist at the Forest Research taxonomist at the Forest Research flora," says Dr Ruth Kiew, a plant Institute of Malaysia (FR1M). Institute of Malaysia (FR1M). taxonomist at the Forest Research And so, when her team con And so, when her team con Institute of Malaysia (FR1M). verged on the hills around verged on the hills around And so, when her team con Merapoh, there were plenty of Merapoh, there were plenty of verged on the hills around interesting discoveries there were interesting discoveries there were Merapoh, there were plenty of rare, endemic plants, and even an rare, endemic plants, and even an interesting discoveries there were undescribed one. undescribed one. rare, endemic plants, and even an At Gua Gunting, the hill which At Gua Gunting, the hill which undescribed one. will be quarried, they recorded over will be quarried, they recorded over At Gua Gunting, the hill which 200 plant species in just two days. 200 plant species in just two days. will be quarried, they recorded over This is hardly surprising as lime This is hardly surprising as lime 200 plant species in just two days. stone hills are known for their rich stone hills are known for their rich This is hardly surprising as lime plant diversity. plant diversity. stone hills are known for their rich Peninsular Malaysia's limestone Peninsular Malaysia's limestone plant diversity. hills cover only 0.3% of the land area hills cover only 0.3% of the land area Peninsular Malaysia's limestone but are home to 14% of her plant but are home to 14% of her plant hills cover only 0.3% of the land area species. Unfortunately, none of the species. Unfortunately, none of the but are home to 14% of her plant limestone hills in Merapoh are pro limestone hills in Merapoh are pro species. Unfortunately, none of the tected, and hence, are at risk from tected, and hence, are at risk from limestone hills in Merapoh are pro wanton development. The FR1M wanton development. The FR1M tected, and hence, are at risk from team made two trips this year, team made two trips this year, wanton development. The FR1M where they surveyed five hills. where they surveyed five hills. team made two trips this year, "From what we have found so "From what we have found so where they surveyed five hills. far, it's a unique place as the flora far, it's a unique place as the flora "From what we have found so on each hill is so different. This is on each hill is so different. This is unique from my experience of work far, it's a unique place as the flora unique from my experience of work on each hill is so different. This is ing in Malaysia," says Dr Kiew, a ing in Malaysia," says Dr Kiew, a unique from my experience of work leading authority on limestone flora. leading authority on limestone flora. "I expected the flora to be an exten ing in Malaysia," says Dr Kiew, a "I expected the flora to be an exten leading authority on limestone flora. sion of limestones from Gua Musang sion of limestones from Gua Musang "I expected the flora to be an exten (in Kelantan), so I was surprised that (in Kelantan), so I was surprised that the hills are so different and we're the hills are so different and we're sion of limestones from Gua Musang picking up unexpected things." picking up unexpected things." (in Kelantan), so I was surprised that the hills are so different and we're One such instance is the discov One such instance is the discov ery of Pararuellia sumatrana var. rid ery of Pararuellia sumatrana var. rid picking up unexpected things." One such instance is the discov leyi which is previously known only leyi which is previously known only from Batu Caves, Selangor. from Batu Caves, Selangor. ery of Pararuellia sumatrana var. rid Another important find is that Another important find is that leyi which is previously known only of a balsam, Rhynchoglosswn obli of a balsam, Rhynchoglosswn obli from Batu Caves, Selangor. qua, previously known only from qua, previously known only from Another important find is that Gunung Tupus (at Chegar Perah, Gunung Tupus (at Chegar Perah, of a balsam, Rhynchoglosswn obli south of Merapoh) and another south of Merapoh) and another qua, previously known only from undisclosed site. FR1M scientists undisclosed site. FR1M scientists Gunung Tupus (at Chegar Perah, failed to locate the plant at Gunung failed to locate the plant at Gunung south of Merapoh) and another Tupus, now surrounded by oil Tupus, now surrounded by oil undisclosed site. FR1M scientists palms, and believe it has become palms, and believe it has become failed to locate the plant at Gunung extinct there. extinct there. Tupus, now surrounded by oil "This is just one indication of what "This is just one indication of what palms, and believe it has become can happen. If limestone hills are can happen. If limestone hills are extinct there. surrounded by oil palms and there surrounded by oil palms and there "This is just one indication of what is burning to clear the land, that will is burning to clear the land, that will can happen. If limestone hills are destroy the flora. If the hills are not destroy the flora. If the hills are not surrounded by oil palms and there protected with a buffer, then it is protected with a buffer, then it is is burning to clear the land, that will easy for species to become extinct." easy for species to become extinct." destroy the flora. If the hills are not The Merapoh hills also harbour The Merapoh hills also harbour protected with a buffer, then it is species of fern, begonia and balsam species of fern, begonia and balsam easy for species to become extinct." that grow only on limestone. The that grow only on limestone. The The Merapoh hills also harbour scientist also found the Pandanus scientist also found the Pandanus species of fern, begonia and balsam irregularis which is endemic to irregularis which is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia and grows only that grow only on limestone. The Peninsular Malaysia and grows only scientist also found the Pandanus on the summits of limestone hills. on the summits of limestone hills. Some other finds: irregularis which is endemic to Some other finds: Peninsular Malaysia and grows only > Spelaeanthus chinii Endemic to > Spelaeanthus chinii Endemic to Pahang, it was previously known on the summits of limestone hills.

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