My current assignment took me to the Sungai Liang—Labi rainforest about 45 minutes away from where I live. It all started with an overseas client request for photographs of large pitcher plants known locally as Somboi-Somboi. Originally the idea was to photograph the ones found at Belalong in Temburong, three districts away. I approached a number of contacts who are botany experts residing locally and abroad who know more than a thing or two about the variety found in our backyard.
Waiting for my ride to Sungai Liang forest in search of "Samboi-Samboi" pitcher plants for a client in Japan. Good to be outdoor! #brunei
Note that in my anticipation of this assignment, I erroneously typed the local name as Samboi-Samboi when it should have been Somboi-Somboi. I want to take this opportunity to thank Hans Dols (Brunei Shell Petroleum), Dr Ulrike Bauer (University of Cambridge) for steering me in the right direction and also Neesa Johnlee (University Brunei Darussalam) for her “big blue sign” direction to where we eventually found these plants. She co-authored this BBC Earth News article with her lecturer. Last but not least, thanks Anthony for spending a precious afternoon away from commitments of sorts to photograph these pitcher plants with me.
Carnivory is an answer to the lack of nutrients. While plants get their energy from sunlight, air and water, they still need nitrogen and phosphor to grow. Usually these can be found in the soil but in some places they are so rare that it’s hard for plants to grow. Some plants have opened up another source: living animals. With sticky leaves, quick closing traps or slippery pitchers they catch insects and digest them to get the precious nutrients. — Nephenthes from Borneo
This ant (third and forth picture) appears to be the same type I photographed at the Sungai Liang Recreational Park earlier in the year though this one is entirely black, equally nimble and not camera shy. The relationship between ants and pitcher plants is a very special one. Read more about this on Nepenthes from Borneo.
Images captured with Canon 5D Mark II EF100mm Macro f/2.8 Hybrid IS and Canon Powershot G11
Live from Sungai Liang. A very productive shoot, lots of large pitcher plant photos in plain sight.
Sometimes I wonder where they get their inspiration from to come up with new kinds of aliens species and to keep it fresh, you know not the same ‘here comes the alien/monsters we’ve seen before for the millionth time. Boo.’ 😆
A type of killer plant gobbled a blue tit for the second time in history. Yes, it sounds like a scene from the unrated version of Avatar, but it actually happened in Somerset, England. Oh, before you gripe to the standards and practices department, please note that the blue tit in question is a bird seen throughout Europe and Central Asia.
The murderous plant in question is known as Nepenthes x mixta, or Monkey Cup pitcher, and is native to South East Asia.
This particular plant belongs to Nigel Hewitt-Cooper, a prize-winning gardener in Somerset, England, who came onto the “scene of the crime” while inspecting his tropical garden, according to the BBC.
He was “absolutely staggered,” mainly because it is exceedingly rare for plants to eat birds. Although carnivorous plants have been known to chow down on frogs, lizards, mice and the occasional rat, Hewitt-Cooper’s Monkey Cup pitcher is believed to be only the second time that such a plant has been documented eating a bird, the BBC said.
OH BRILLIANT!!!! This is most exciting for me! haha. The bats I work on reside in pitcher plants! Did you see any when you were out? haha.. Great photos Jan! 😀 If i am a little richer, i’d hire you to take good photos for my thesis!! lol.
Nice. Sharp. Captivating. Well Done.
Nice afternoon to destress. Great company you’ve been too.
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FYI the black ant is “carpenter ant” (Camponotus sp).
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If I may correct the ant species is Polyrhachis pruinosa. Very common visitor to Nepenthes pitchers, and,curiously, very rarely captured by the plant!
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Thank you.
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Inspiration for a horror/sci-fi movie.
You’ve captured every detail. Nice shots. 🙂
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One that immediately springs to mind (pun intended) is the 2010 SKYLINE where squid-like lifeforms suck out human brains. Haha!
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Sometimes I wonder where they get their inspiration from to come up with new kinds of aliens species and to keep it fresh, you know not the same ‘here comes the alien/monsters we’ve seen before for the millionth time. Boo.’ 😆
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Fantastic photography
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Thank you very much!
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Interesting read: Carnivorous Nepenthes Plant Gobbles Blue Tit In Somerset, England
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OH BRILLIANT!!!! This is most exciting for me! haha. The bats I work on reside in pitcher plants! Did you see any when you were out? haha.. Great photos Jan! 😀 If i am a little richer, i’d hire you to take good photos for my thesis!! lol.
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