Mother of Thousands (Bryophyllum daigremontianum)

This Bryophyllum species is aptly named as it reproduces very rapidly. A native of Madagascar, this plant reproduces vegetatively via plantlets that grow from the spurs on the so called leaves of the plant.

The plantlets also survive a long time after being detached from the mother plant, allowing them ample time to set root and grow. When removed from the mother plant, the plantlet immediately starts to produce roots.

The area around the resort is prone to bushfires in the dry season. We are experimenting with using this plant as a fire suppression belt at certain areas of the resort. The plant is invasive and will displace surrounding vegetation. This makes it effective as a fire suppression belt.

Moth On Tea Leaves

Rhinoceros Beetle

Lynnette found a Rhinoceros Beetle at the Waterfall Lodge today. We decided to keep it as a pet.

Here it is enjoying a freshly picked strawberry. It makes a loud hissing sound when you try to take the strawberry away from it.

Cicada

We have Cicadas at the resort. Some of them congregate at certain locations along the jungle trail and you can hear them singing in the day time. 

We get the green coloured ones and also the dark brown ones.

* The cicada set free on the trunk of a pine tree. If you don't look carefully you might not even see it.

Earth Day 2011 - 22nd April

Just in case we get too caught up with school and work with Earth Day just round the corner, we decided to do our bit right here in Taman Simalem Resort.

We planted nearly 80 seeds in the plot of wasteland just beyond the playground at Kodon Kodon cafe. Hopefully in a few months time there will be some results.

Right now the area is a ripe spot for new pine seedlings to germinate. We keep finding new pine saplings there each trip. We relocated them when they are big enough as this plot will be developed in the future. The saplings will get a chance to grow up at some other location within the resort.

Karyn and Lynnette busy planting Crotalaria seeds

Marcus doing his bit for Earth Day 2011

Crotalaria Moth - Utetheisa Lotrix

We found this specimen at the open disturbed grassland at Tongging Mart, just to the right of the amphitheater. There are a few Crotalaria sp plants growing there and the last time I remembered seeing some caterpillars on the plants. 

Welcome

I have decided to start a blog to document some of the interesting flora and fauna that can be found at the Taman Simalem Resort.

Hope all the visitors to the site find it interesting and hopefully it will be of use for visitors to find out more about the animals and plants that they encounter at the Resort