Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Nulu Akinabalu (Part I)


At just over 4000 m in height (4095 m/13,435 ft), Gunung Kinabalu is a culturally and biologically significant place on Borneo. 'Kinabalu' is a derivative of Nulu Akinabalu, the name of given by native Kadazan Dusun residents to this mountain. Nulu Akinabalu roughly translates as the 'revered placed for the dead' because the lofty heights of this mountain is thought to be a sacred resting place for their ancestors to the Kadazan Dusun. Further iterations by non-native speakers perhaps shortened this name to Aki Nabalu, and finally to the form 'Kinabalu' in the Malay language as it is known colloquially today.

This is Part I of a series of posts on some of the plants and animals (perhaps a little orchid heavy) encountered on the hike up to the summit of Kinabalu on January, 2017.

To begin, here are two miniature Bulbophyllum species that we saw on the hike.

Bulbophyllum catenarium





Possible Bulbophyllum catenarium clumps high up on the trees? Except, they appear more orange rather than yellow.



And this is probably Bulbophyllum anguliferum in bud; wasn't able to see any in bloom unfortunately..




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