Clay and nepenthes

[Robert]

Clay, a common type of soil , found in various part of Sarawak. it is sticky when wet, contained iron oxide hence the reddish colouration. A nepenthes habitat with human activity, in this case a rural road widening work, lead to severe soil erosion and minor landslide.

This was an area where some matured N.reinwardtiana were growing epiphytically.

Note the road bank, after heavy rain and subsequently more rain resulted in erosion and mudslide.



a general view of reinwardtiana



closer view of reinwardtiana



a female plant with many flowering spikes



Eroded clay were further broken up and fragmented into varying sizes through weathering. These can be collected for planting northiana, free, from mother nature ;D



The well drain road bank will soon be reclaimed back by nature. Young neps seedlings -mirabilis, trichocarpa, gracilis, ampullaria, and reinwardtiana were often the very first to colonise, later ferns and other plants associated with it.

reinwardtiana seedling on a well drain slope



..and a red form.