The Giving Tree

The ultimate botanist poem

I like this piece by Silverstein.


THE GIVING TREE

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer’s hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found?"
"I have no money," said the tree, "Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,
"I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home."
"I can’t give you a house" he said, "The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"
And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.
"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."
"I’ve nothing but my trunk," he says, "But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.
"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I’m nothing but an old stump now. I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more to give"
"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.
"Well", said the tree, "An old stump is still good for that."
"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

Mangrove musings

Bakau minyak, Rhizophora apiculata
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

I seem to have an affinity for mud. The group of plants closest to my heart grow in places full of smelly, wet, gooey and often slimy mud - the mangroves.

Thus far, I have done some simple study on the Rhizophoraceae, the Chek Jawa transect in 2004 and recently the Semakau transect in 2005 ( See the nice site by Ria ). It was fun. I feel at ease sloshing, wading, sinking knee deep (sometimes more) in mud and walking out smelling like you have not seen a bathroom in days.

They say mud is therapeutic, if that is the case, I must have really nice legs from all the mud therapy.

I digress. Mangroves are one of the most 'unglamorous' groups of plants. Unlike the lush productive tropical rainforests or the nice cool montane forests (oh I miss Kinabalu), the mangroves gives an image of a hot, smelly, wet place swarming with mosquitoes.

All the above mentioned is true. But amongst the mud, the salt water, the heat and the mosquitoes, a very unique assemblage of plants and animals thrive there. For example, plants which actually can live in soil without oxygen, drink sea water and still grow to impressive heights of over 10 meters. Or gobies which can stay out of water for extended periods of time.

For a new initiate into botany, the mangroves are a neat place to start your education. The members of each groups are few and easy to recognise and master. That is if you do not mind trudging through mud, risk being stabbed by rubbish, enduring the heat and mosquitoes.

I don't mind. Will talk about uses of mangroves soon.

Nepenthes villosa, Mt Kinabalu

DSC_3889.JPG
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

I remember being very excited when, during my undergrad days, I learnt that there are actually pitcher plants in Singapore. Whats more exciting is that they were just a 15 minutes walk away from where Science Faculty was! The idea of actually seeing these carnivorous plants in person, touching them and peering at their contents sounded too good to be true. Did a few exploratory treks up Kent Ridge to hunt for the pitchers but to no avail until one fine day, they just appeared magically before my eyes. I had finally learnt how to pick them out amongst many plants clambering for sunlight in the undergrowth. I had acquired the eye.

That was the beginning of a love affair about 8 years ago (goodness how time flies). Now I enjoy pointing out pitchers whenever the opportunity arose to my friends and students. This is one plant which never fails to incite excitment and fascination and is a marvellous tool to illustrate how complex plants can be; for what appears to be an elaborate cup is actually a modification of the mid rib of the pitcher's leaf. The cup, complete with a lid, operculum and sometimes digestive fluid, is simply an extension of the leaf's primary function: which is to get more nutrients.

So naturally, when I went trekking in Kinabalu, I was eagerly waiting to see the largest pitcher plant in the world, the Nepenthes raja. As luck would have it, the plant was not found along the trail I was in. Instead, I saw N. villosa, an endemic found only in Mount Kinabalu.

It's good enough for now. I will go back some day.

Talipot palm in flower

Talipot palm in flower
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

Went there specially to witness this rare event of the talipot palm flowering. This palm flowers once only in its entire life; after living for around 40 years, it bid the world farewell by giving the largest inflorescence in the world.

Felt very fortunate to witness this event.

Profile of Kinabalu

Profile of Kinabalu from Rose Cabin
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

The highest peak in South East Asia. My friend commented that Kinabalu is a lonely mountain. Though you are there as a group, most of the times you are trekking alone on the trail.
The silence and tranquility there surprised me, I was expecting more sounds from a huge forest such as this but along the way, was enveloped by silence and rolling mist.
Very very glad to have made it.

Banded Malayan Coral Snake

Banded Coral Snake
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

One last post before leaving for Kinabalu. This banded coral snake (Maticora intestinalis) (see Nick Baker's site ) was lying on the path of the Tekek Juara Trail. A group of students (around 25) walked across it before the one of them noticed it lying amongst the leaf litter. Fortunately we verified its identity quickly before anyone decided to prod it with a finger. What was really interesting was that the snake was apparently playing dead, possibly waiting out this huge stampede of humans to cross by before moving to safety.

And this snake packs a powerful neurotoxin in its bite. Which makes the situation all the more interesting, why didn't it attack?

Unlike what we see in movies (think Anaconda), most animals in the forest are shy, unless they are provoked, disturbed or forced into a corner. In the case of the banded coral snake, it is apparently highly disturbed by the sudden activity, some of us may have stepped on it (shudder... i was wearing slippers then), but still it did not attack. Reason being venomous snakes value their store of toxins. They will not utilise it unless truly neccessary.

Something to bear in mind when one encounter snakes, unless you are a trained handler, leave it alone and always give it space to move away (which will be its first instinct). If you have unwittingly corner it, move away slowly.

Well, a snake sighting is always exciting. Especially a close encounter with the likes of Manticora.

Lyssa zampa

Lyssa zampa
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

Seen this huge moth in school near end of May. My student (Anna) living in Bukit Timah found one flying in her apartment. To my surprise, I saw lots of them in Paya Beach in Tioman Island. The cats were having a good time entertaining themselves by pouncing on an unsuspecting moth. It must have been mating season or something for the moth. Siva has more records of it. See Habitatnews

Canopy shyness

Canopy shyness
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

Canopy profile one evening in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Hindhehe Park, when the sky is a beautiful greyish blue. Shot this frame with the last bit of my battery.

I have seen this described in the textbooks, canopy shyness; where the crowns of the trees do not overlap, instead leaves a regular gap between the edges of their crowns. What results in this intricate jigsaw where the pieces are laid in the right places, but not attached fully.

What causes canopy shyness is still not fully explained, we can only make a few guesses. Possible reasons are:
1. Mutual shading by adjacent trees, as a result the leaves on the outer edges fall off. Leaving a gap.

2. Leaves and small branches could have fallen off when the edges of 2 adjacent crowns brush against each other (which happens pretty frequently when the wind blows).

Still, questions unanswered, how far do each crown extend? Why isn't there one crown which dominates and grow into another tree's area? I could envisage a healthier tree expanding its crown and pushing away weaker competitors, diminishing the size of their crowns.

Anyone out there with other explanations?

Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy the sight.

Neil Gaiman is in Singapore

One of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, the creator of the incredible 'Sandman' series is coming over to Singapore on a book signing tour and also to share his new film "Mirrormask', a collaboration with his long time partner, Dave McKean.

I can't wait.

Visit Neil Gaiman's Website

Here's a sneak peek excerpt* from ANANSI BOYS the much anticipated new novel from Neil Gaiman...


It begins, as most things begin, with a song.

In the beginning, after all, were the words, and they came with a tune. That was how the world was made, how the void was divided, how the lands and the stars and the dreams and the little gods and the animals, how all of them came into the world.

They were sung.

The great beasts were sung into existence, after the Singer had done with the planets and the hills and the trees and the oceans and the lesser beasts. The cliffs that bound existence were sung, and the hunting grounds, and the dark.

Songs remain. They last. The right song can turn an emperor into a laughing-stock, can bring down dynasties. A song can last long after the events and the people in it are dust and dreams and gone. That's the power of songs.

Thanks to Siva and Adrian, have decided to try blogging about my interests as well. Shall begin with my recent Tioman trip once I get Flickr started.