a field guide to the planet - by Damon Ramsey
INDO-MALAYAN Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest
plants
The diversity of plants in the rainforests of Asia is too much for one page!
Order Laurales
Family Lauraceae
Order Piperales
Family Piperaceae
Order Pandanales
Family Pandanaceae
Order Zingiberales
Family Zingiberaceae
Order Dillenales
Family Dilleniaceae
Order Vitales
Family Vitaceae
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Order Rosales
Family Rosaceae
Family Moraceae
Order Malpighiales
Family Euphorbiaceae
Macaranga sp. (Krakatoa, Indonesia). The species in this genus are among the most common of tropical Asian jungle plants, as they are pioneer species: those that grow fast and quick on the edge of the rainforest.
Family Rafflesiaceae
These are the biggest flowers in the world. They are only found in the rainforest of south-east Asia. Contrary to popular belief, they don't stink; (that's another large tropical flower called Amorphophallus titanum)
Rafflesia keithii, (Poring Hot Springs, Malaysia). This species is the second largest in the genus after the Sumatran species Rafflesia arnoldii.
Order Malvales
Family Malvaceae
Family Dipterocarpaceae
Order Myrtales
Family Myrtaceae
Family Melastomataceae
Osbeckia lanata. Found in the understory in montane forests in Sri Lanka (Horton Plains, Sri Lanka).
Order Caryophyllales
Family Droseraceae
Family Nepenthaceae
Nepenthes sp. (Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo, Indonesia).
Nepenthes rajah, 'Pitcher Plant', (Mesilau, Malaysia). The largest of all Pitcher Plants (with my hand for scale). Only found close to the ground on a few mountains in northern Borneo.
Order Ericales
Family Lecythidaceae
Careya arborea (Jahoo Camp, Cambodia).
Family Ericaceae, 'Heathers'
Rhododendron spp.
Many species in this genus have large red flowers. They are mostly found in the higher altitude forests of Asia.
The flowers of Rhododendron provide some much needed bright colour to the gloom of the montane rainforest in Borneo (Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia).
Rhododendron arboreum, 'Ceylon Rhododendron'. Grows as a shrub in the open or small tree in more protected areas. Leaves greyish-brown on underside due to hairs. Large bunches of a dozen red flowers. Found in cloud forest, endemic to Sri Lanka. (Horton Plains).
Rhododendron sp. (Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia).
Vaccinium leschenaultia, Indian Cranberry. Shrub or small tree. Found in montane forest in India and Sri Lanka. (Horton Plains, Sri Lanka).
Order Gentianales
Family Rubiaceae
Family Apocynaceae
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
Order Lamiales
Family Verbenaceae
Family Lamiaceae
Order Apiales
Family Araliaceae
For the page on the Asian tropical rainforest
Thinking of travelling again after everything settles down? The first expedition I am booked to work on after the virus is New Guinea & Indonesia in 2021 with Silversea.