N.veitchii habitat revisited

[Robert]

Sunday 5.30am,we started our journey early so that we have ample time and return before night fall. The route was no easy as there were various obstacle-fallen trees, huge sandstone boulders to negotiate, etc.
Ascending to the peak, as in previous trip, we made use of the existing route carved out by the illegal bird nest collectors. There are about 3 series of cascading sandstone walls and inorder to move up they have made small notch cuttings on tree roots. The exposed roots also aenable ones to grab and move up.
"V" shape cuts on tree roots as ladder.

exposed tree roots used for our climb to ascend/descend

panoramic view from the peak

The mountain where N.veitchii grows, refering to one of the maps, was probably around 400 meter-500 meter. The mountain peak was made up of sandstone.
one of the huge sandstone peak

Dwelling place of the bird's nests collectors, made from plastic canvas as wall partition. It was about 6 meters to the edge where the fall down was 200-300ft.

temporary table and chair made from woody branches.

The mossy forest.



The N.veitchii are epiphyic and grow like orchids on tree branches relying on the night low clouds and rain. The air was also cool and moist during the day.





An interesting fact the N.hirsuta are tiny like gracilis. The leaves are smaller and bear no resemblance of gracilis.



N.albormarginata - found one grown and hanging on exposed mossy sandstone outcrop, struggling to grow among creepers and ferns.




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