FRIM trip.

[dom]

This trip is mainly to collect some mosses for FRIM herbarium and my own experiment. So, I just offered 2 friends of mine to join. Those who can't go with me. I am very sorry. You guys will take turn and go with me. Since the permit I had valid till end of this year. (FRIM=Forest Reserved Institute Malaysia.)

15th May 2005. 9am. A nice weather morning. Ming hang and Robby drove and parked at my living place. Then 3 of us went by my car, since my living place very near to FRIM.

The permit was shown to the security guard at the guard house before we enter. The entrance fees was waived. (RM3 per car + 1 person. RM1 per person.)

It is around 2Km from the entrance to the the water fall. There are officer houses, labs, library, primary school, offices and some activity courts like badminton and tennis court in there.

Sunday morning, there are lot of people came for jogging, cycling, jungle tracking, etc. Beside that, there is a company having their family day games over there. We can't wait to stop the car and get our "accessories" ready and running up to the water fall through the staircase.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010014.jpg
This is the first tree we were stop and getting some emersed mosses. There are at least 3-4 types of mosses growing on the tree trunk.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010015.jpg
Robby was busy to collect some mosses near the root of the tree.

[dom]

What mosses we had on that tree? I don't have any idea. The emersed mosses we saw are only able to find in FRIM so far. Once I have the answer from the professor. I will follow up the thread in there.

Just further up abit. We found another tree with a nice moss growing on the root.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/mapc/FRIM2-cont/P1010016.jpg
Can you see ming han's big backpack? The bag was full of plastic bags. He is looking for some nice cray fish or shrimps over there.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/mapc/FRIM2-cont/P1010017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010018.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12901.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12921.jpg
Closer look. Can you see the small capsul on it?

[dom]

I was forgotten to bring some plastic container. Lucky, robby brought some and I am able to keep the mosses in nice shape. After that, we found any tree growing with other type of moss. And of couse, this is emersed moss.

There are no submersed moss growing nicely where there is high human activity area. So we decided to collect the emersed moss we saw on the tree trunks/roots.

Around 20 meter away from where ming han standing. We found another tree with another type of moss. Due to the tree just growing out from the side of the mountain. Robby have to climb up and has his stunt to snap the picture of this tree. Thanks robby.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12771.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12781.jpg

Closer look of the moss.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12801.jpg

[dom]

I found there are some nicer moss upper the tree trunk. Due to Robby able to keep his stunt for 5 minutes only. This is the only picture we got for the moss.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12931.jpg

At this moment, ming han was disappeared in no where. I dare not to shout and just keep looking for him and other mosses. Finally, before i found him. I found another carpet type of moss growing on the tree and rock. It is very soft. Just tear it down slowly...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12811.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12821.jpg

There are some other type of mosses growing together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12831.jpg

A nice and fern just growing out in between
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12841.jpg

[dom]

Beside the mosses, I found some mushroom growing...

Soft and very soft mushroom.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12891.jpg

growing out from the rock.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12761.jpg

A palm size white mushroom.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010011.jpg

[dom]

After the emersed mosses, we are entering the higher humidity area. This full with rocks and mosses. Mostly mosses growing very close to the water or misting area. Lot of nice ferns or unknown species found. Due to I am very lack of the knowledge of the other species. I didn't take any. But there are some ferns already inside my plastic bag.

Check out the rock full with mosses.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010019.jpg

A snail found by ming han...(He just suddently running out from no where and put the snail on my hand.)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010020.jpg

This is where we gonna climb up. Slippery and the water with lot of leeches.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010025.jpg

[dom]

Oh...I found my favourite. Singapore Moss - Vesicularia dubyana. No worry. This piece of rock remain untouch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010024.jpg

Some are growing on tree root...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010023.jpg

This is where i found the Plagiomnium sp
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010028.jpg

And here...The rock misting by the water fall all the time.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF13031.jpg

[dom]

Where i found the Plagiomnium sp, for sure i can see the Thuidium sp growing together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12941.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12961.jpg

And of couse there are lot of Pinnatella sp growing a bit further where we found Thuidium sp.

[dom]

Around 2 hours + we spent there. We were not really find something new. I found some Pipthospatha sp growing on this big rock. I was going to jump into the pond and climb up to the rock. Ming han was shouting...(like a small kid) said found some mini moss.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010030.jpg

So, i just give up to get the closer look of that unknow species. And run to him to check out the mini moss. Found a limited amount of mini moss on the wood.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010022.jpg

[dom]

While we were feeling tired and ming han saw a snake just in front of him. We decided to take another route which is dry and more trees to climb up. Nothing was found while we were on the way up.

After 20 minutes, we saw this is the station where the private company have their quarantine water and lab.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010034.jpg

And, we saw a bunch of kids and uncle/aunties was jogging there. I was realised there is a small well built road all the way from the bottom of water fall to here.

There is a free water for anyone who thirsty. Check out Robby, how thirsty he is.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010035.jpg

[dom]

We saw there is a route with a small rock built staircase. We decided to follow it....and saw this disappointed scene.
The only way to get close to the water area was blocked. The door was locked.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/mapc/FRIM2-cont/P1010036.jpg

We saw there is part of the fence was destroyed. So we decided to turn back and come again to explore this place after the fence.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/mapc/FRIM2-cont/P1010037.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/mapc/FRIM2-cont/P1010038.jpg

[dom]

We took the same way where we went up. Hope we can found something better... GOD bless us. Ming han found the mini pelia look moss somewhere. (I can't recall where is it. But it is in the middle of water fall.)

That really made us excited and try to collect some of it. Ming Han keep laughing.(I think he gonna be crazy if he found the fissiden.) Here is the picture...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/DSCF12981.jpg

Robby found it again further down...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/itssg/Netting%20trip/FRIM2/P1010027.jpg

I am keeping some for the Dr.Saw, the herbarium, members and myself.

[dom]

For me, it is pelia look. Ming han said it is more like riccia. We can't get any answer before we have the correct from the professor.

Here are the mosses I found and part of it already in plastic bags. I am going to send to FRIM herbarium this week. Hope i can have time to goto pos office...

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/mapc/FRIM2-cont/P1010039.jpg

[Robert]

Hi Dominic,
thanks for sharing this interesting article with these superb pictures with us! You seemed to have a great day at FRIM. Most of the mosses seem to be terrestric ones but some a quit interesting e.g. the "mini pelia". The mosses from moist places near the waterfall could be interesting for us hobbiests. Some of the most popular mosses and liverworts of the hobby were not found submerse in nature yet. Please share with us what the professor said about these mosses and liverworts. And of course I would like to know if you have success in keeping them in your tanks.

Best regards

Robert

[amber2461]

Hey Dominic

Malaysia boleh! :joking: :joking: :joking: :joking:

Keep up the good work and like Robert said, keep us posted.

[dom]

Hi Robert,

Plagiomnium sp and Thuidium sp was collected somewhere before I goto FRIM. Plagiomnium sp was found in misting environment. Consider growing emersed. It is doing well submersed. But it needs very strong lighting and CO2. Slow glow moss.

Thuidium sp is another beautiful species. Look alike willow moss. Low lighting and CO2 will do. But need very cold water. Was found in very high humudity environment.

Hi Amber2461,

I will try my best. Going to Taman Negara with some other professors soon.

Cheers,
Dom

[kross]

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to check out Gunung Pulai! At least it's near Singapore. :D

[shaman]

Wow interesting adventure....
Anyone been to Kota Tinggi waterfall? Scouted any species from there?
I may wanna make a trip to Kulai hills in Johor this week. See what I can find...
Haha