Orchids

WILD

OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CAMERON HIGHLANDS

 Orchids
WILD

OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS

REGIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
AWARENESS
CAMERON HIGHLANDS

A community based project on

environmental conservation and
awareness

First published February 2009

 WILD ORCHIDS OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS
COLOPHON

Photography: Amran Nadzar Khan

Antony van der Ent
Kaliyannan Karupiah

Technical Advisor: Embi Abdullah

Design: Antony van der Ent

Press preparation: Naga DDB

Editors: Carrol Marie Lawrence

Cheam May Choo
Liau Tai Leong

Authors: Cheam May Choo

Antony van der Ent
Embi Abdullah
Balu Perumal

Printed by: Digital Impressions Sdn Bhd.

Front photo: Epigeneium macropodum

Referred literature: The Orchids of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore by Gunnar

Seidenfaden & Jeffrey J. Wood, Olsen & Olsen, Fredensborg, 1992.

First published February 2009

© 2009 R.E.A.C.H
R.E.A.C.H.

ISBN 978-983-44449

This publication is available through:

Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands

3rd Floor, No 1,Main Road,
Brinchang, 39100, Cameron Highlands,
Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia
www.reach.org.my
Email: president@reach.org.my

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or any means,electronic or mechanical,including photography,
recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior
permission in writing from R.E.A.C.H.
CONTENTS

07 Prologue

Cameron Highlands
11 A hill resort

The montane forest

16 Montane forests
18 Biodiversity hotspot in the highlands
21 Cameron Highlands; an orchid haven

The Orchid family

25 Orchidaceae a family like no other

Orchids in the wild

30 Terrestrial Orchids
71 Saprophytic Orchids
77 Epiphytic Orchids
166 A whole lot more!

Threats to orchids
182 Development and land clearing
184 Illegal orchid poaching

Conservation
189 Why protect the natural rainforest?
190 Conservation efforts of REACH
192 Ecotourism; plays a vital role
193 REACH orchid team
194 A new discovery
196 Lost and found
197 Photographing orchids

198 Index

201 Glossary

202 Acknowledgements
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Let the rivers run free.

 CAMERON HIGHLANDS
Introduction
Cameron Highlands
a hill resort
Cameron Highlands was discovered by a
British surveyor named William Cameron
in 1885. During a mapping expedition into
the highlands of Malaya, he came across a
beautiful plateau nestled in the moun-
tainous terrains at altitudes of between
1300-1700 meters. Drawn by the cool
temperate climate, the British eventually
turned this highland “Shangri-la” into a
hill resort and health retreat for its officers.
Bungalows, hospital, mansions and a golf
course were built. After the colonial era,
the local affluent continued to settle in
Cameron Highlands, attracted by its
British countryside charm. The temperate
climate also made this area ideal for tea
cultivation and soon large areas were
cleared for it. Vegetable, flowers and fruit
farming followed. The population slowly
increased to more than 30,000. Tourism
Colonial buildings, Hilltop Bungalow in
tudor-style (left) and Lin Lu Bungalow
(above) set against a backdrop of
mountain scenery.
which includes both agro-tourism and
ecotourism, is the second most important
economic activity. Hotels, apartments and
other housing have sprung up over the last
two decades to cater for this. Cameron
Highlands is the smallest district in the
state of Pahang with a land area of only
71,218 hectares. To the west it soars to
more than 2000 metres above sea level
while it plummets to around 300 metres in
the river valleys to the east. Coming from
the south ,the townships include Ringlet,
Bertam Valley, Tanah Rata, Brinchang.
Tringkap, Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja
and Blue Valley. From only one winding
road across the rugged Titiwangsa range
from Tapah in the 1920’s, Cameron
Highlands now enjoys better accessibility
via 2 roads linking it to Perak and
Kelantan.
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Monkey cups basking in the sun on the

mountain peak of Gunung Brinchang.
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Cushions of soft moss in the cloud forest.

THE MONTANE FOREST
Biodiversity hotspot
in the highlands
Biodiversity is the sum of all species
occurring in an area and the tropical
rainforest is the most diverse ecosystem in
the world. Malaysia’s rainforest has a huge
variety of plant species (approximately a
quarter of the world’s total). Cameron
Highlands located at the centre of
Peninsular Malaysia exemplifies this.
There are more than 14,500 species of
flowering plants in Malaysia and many are
of the highland variety. Orchids are widely
represented with more than half of the
1000 species in Peninsular Malaysia
endemic to the highlands. Other exotic
plants in Cameron Highlands include the
Nepenthes (monkey cups), a carnivorous
plant (see photo), ferns such as Matonia
pectinata (which is said to date back to the
Jurassic ages) and local herbs e.g. kacik
fatimah. The forest of the highlands also
Matonia pectinata; a living fossil (left).
Kacik Fatimah (Labisia pumila); is a
local medicinal herb used as an
aphrodisiac for women (above).
support a rich variety of birds, insects and
small mammals. In Peninsular Malaysia
there are more than 70 species of highland
birds and bird watching is a popular
ecotourism activity. There is also an
abundance of insects with the more
glamorous being the giant rhinoceros
beetle, the stag beetle and myriad
butterflies. Many jungle trekkers will testify
that bees, hornets and wasps are plentiful
too. Mammals include short-tail moles and
mountain goats (which locals call serow).
The orchid survey team once stumbled
upon a serow carcass during one of their
jungle forays. Of the reptilians the
dreaded ones include green pit vipers and
oriental spitting cobras. The harmless
reptilians are monitor lizards, mountain
impress tortoise and agama lizards.
 TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Dilochia
This is a small genus of about 8 species.
The plants are tall with erect, tough,
cane-like stems. The species are mostly
terrestrial but a few are epiphytic. The
leaves are two tiered, leathery and elliptic.
The inflorescences with fairly large
colourful flowers are borne at the
terminal ends of the erect stems. They
are sparingly branched. Bracts are
conspicuous and persistent. The flowers
usually do not open fully. The sepals and
petals are almost equal in size. The lip is
parallel to the column. In Dilochia cantleyi
the flowers are a creamy yellow tinged
Dilochia
cantleyi
with beautiful violet. The other species
found in Cameron Highlands is Dilochia
wallichii. The plants grow in thick
vegetative matter or sometimes on
branches and tree trunks where there is
an accumulation of vegetative matter.
The species occurs on mountain ridges, in
damp moss in the highlands where they
are normally exposed to direct sunlight.
Most of the species are hardy plants and
occur only in the highlands. The genus is
distributed in Southeast Asia and Papua
New Guinea.
Dilochia wallichii Found in Thailand, Malaysia, Java, Borneo, Sumatra and New Guinea in montane forests
at elevations of 170 to 1500 meters. They are giant sized terrestrial orchids. Leaves are
elliptic and inflorescence erect with few or no branches. Sepals and petals do not open
Flower Size 3.75cm widely. They are pinkish on the outside and light yellow on the inside. The lips are light
yellow in colour with purplish-red markings.
 TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Geodorum
A group of epiphytic orchids of medium
to large size. The pseudobulbs are almost
round and subterranean. The stems are
fleshy, bearing leaves that are broad and
plicate. The flowers are large, attractive
and are bor ne on long drooping
inflorescences. Colours are usually white
to creamy yellow. Sepals and petals are
similar and almost equal in size. The lip is
broad and concave with a saccate base.
The central part of the lip is usually
yellow lined with reddish orange veins.
The column has a distinct foot.
Geodorum
citrinum, a
medium sized
terrestrial
orchid with
pseudobulbs.
The plants prefer a fairly shaded
environment, thick well drained and
moist medium on the rainforest floor.
They are fairly hardy but will succumb
under excessive sunlight. The species of
this genus occur in the lowlands and also
in the mountains at moderate elevations.
They are distributed from India ,China to
the Pacific Islands. The species found here
are Geodorum densiflorum and Geodorum
citrinum. The above picture was taken by
Kali in a forest near Brinchang.
 EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Bulbophyllum
aeolium, this
extraordinary
orchid occurs
in hill and
lower
montane
forests.
Bulbophyllum
Bulbophyllum is the largest genus in the
orchid family with about 2000 species.
There are at least 200 species recorded in
Cameron Highlands. The scientific name
comes from the Latin word ‘bulbus’
meaning bulb-like and the Greek word
‘pyhllon’ meaning leaf. This is in reference
to the pseudobulbs from which the leaves
emerge. This is a broad genus of mainly
epiphytic plants of varying sizes. The
vegetative forms range from tall, cane-like
plants, root climbers that cling onto trees
and occasionally rock surfaces to pen-
dulous plants. The flowers are borne on
inflorescences that arise from the base of
the pseudobulbs or the rhizomes. The
plants are sympodials with wide variations
in the bulbs, leaves and flowers. However
the basic criteria for this genus is that the
pseudobulbs are single-node, the inflores-
cences are basal and the lips mobile. The
flowers emit an odour of rotting carcasses,
perfect for attracting flies, their usual
pollinators. The plants prefer the cool
shade of the rainforest and occur on trees
by riverbanks and on hill-slopes. They are
found both in the lowlands and in the
highlands. Generally, however they are
found growing in small clusters or
climbers in small colonies on tree trunks
or branches between the mid-storey to the
canopy level. Sometimes they appear in
the most common and unusual of places
like on lamp posts, rooftops and crevices
right smack in the town centre. The genus
includes epiphytes, terrestrial and some
lithophytic species. They are distributed
in Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa,
Central and South America. The above
picture was taken by Antony, with him
balancing precariously on the tree
branches 5 metres above the ground!
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Bulbophyllum This relatively large orchid is highly sought after by collectors. The sepals and petals come
in different hues of yellow, orange and red. In full bloom the dorsal sepal is erect and the
lobbii lateral sepals are curved towards each other. The petals are narrower, horizontally spread
with fine purple veins on them. The lip is prominent and curved. Each pseudobulb has a
Flower Size 6cm single leaf and bears a single flower. This epiphytic species is found in Borneo, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and the Philippines at altitudes of 700 to 2000 meters. They thrive in lowland
and montane forests on trunks and main branches of trees.
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Bulbophyllum A very prominent feature of this orchid is the maroon coloured veins streaking across the
petals and sepals like zebra stripes. The dorsal sepal tapers to a sharp point and the lateral
inunctum
sepals lie close together, edges almost touching. The lip is relatively small, bright orange in
colour and warty looking. They are found in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. It is rarely
Flower Size 2.5cm sighted in Cameron Highlands now.
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Bulbophyllum Words cannot adequately describe this wonderful flower, which is yet another proof of
Mother Nature’s creative genius. The flowers numbering 6 to 8 are beautifully arranged in
virescens a circle to form a crown of greenish-yellow. The sepals are long and tapering with dark
green veins. The petals are narrower than the sepals and their ends are almost whisker-like.
Flower Size 30cm The lip resembles a lolling tongue of white with a dark purple centre. They are found in
the Peninsular Malaysia, the Moluccas and Sumatra at elevations of around 760 to 1000
meters.
RARE BULBOPHYLLUMS

B. blumei B. botryophorum

B. diplantherum B. flavescens

B. optusipetalum B. spp. aff. membranaceum

B. tortuosum B.biflorum
 EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Bromheadia Ceratostylis
A group of epiphytic or terrestrial plants
of slender and long stems up to heights of
2m. Leaves may be lanceolate or
flattened. The flowers are borne on
inflorescences at the terminal ends or
laterally on the stems. The flowers are
fairly large and quite striking in colour but
only one or two bloom in succession.
Sepals and petals are similar and widely
spreading. Lips are shorter than sepals.
Plants are often seen growing in clumps
and hanging down from tree branches or
clusters standing erect in semi-shaded
habitat. The genus is found throughout
the lowlands and also in the cool
mountains at moderate to high elevations.
In Sarawak, natives use the juice from
pounded roots of B. finlaysoniana as a
herbal medicine.
Ceratostylis
robusta
A genus of small epiphytic plants that
grows in clusters, creeping or sometimes
pendulous. They are often seen on tree
branches or on trunks where they cling in
clusters with roots spreading. The stems
maybe short or long and are seen hanging
downwards from the branches. The leaves
are also short and narrow and in many
instances rounded. The flowers are
usually small borne on inflorescence at
the apex of the stems and are not
particularly colourful. They are mid-
storey or canopy level epiphytes that
prefer a semi-shaded environment and
are easily vulnerable to environmental
changes. This genus is usually found in
higher elevations but is also found at low
elevations. They are distributed from
India, China through Southeast Asia and
east to the Pacific Islands.
 EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Coelogyne
This is a large genus of sympodial plants
which has beautiful and outstanding
flowers. Some species of this genus are
also known as “necklace orchids” because
of their long pendant multi-flowered
inflorescences. The characteristic feature
of this genus is its deep stigmatic cavity
from which it derives its name (Koilos is
the Greek word for ‘hollow’ and gyne
means ‘woman’). The pseudobulbs of the
plants could be clustered or apart and
have large, sometimes broad leaves. The
flowers are large, fairly colourful on erect
or pendulous, hanging inflorescence.
They range from a few to as many as
forty flowers which open simultaneously
or in succession. The sepals are free, often
concave. The petals are free and narrower
than the sepals. The lip is tri-lobed with
high lateral lobes along the basal part.
The terminal part of the lips maybe
Coelogyne
stenochila,
grows in
Peninsular
Malaysia
exposed
ridges in
upper
montane
forests.
smooth, toothed or warty. The column
bears two long pollinia. In some species
the flowers emit a sweet smell to attract
pollinators such as bees, wasps and
beetles. The flowers can be cultivated but
do not last long and therefore not very
popular with hybridists. Their habitat
ranges from huge trees, along river banks,
(the picture on page 1 and 2 was taken
with great difficulty because the orchid
was on an overhanging branch above a
rushing river), slopes or deep valleys,
where they grow as epiphytes or some-
times as terrestrials. The species are found
in the lowlands and highlands at various
elevations and localities. It is an
interesting group of 190 species and is
found in Himalayas, India, China,
Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. In
Cameron Highlands alone a few Coelogyne
species can be found.
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Coelogyne xyrekes This is an epiphyte with clustered pseudobulbs carrying a single leaf. It blooms on a 7.5 cm
long inflorescence. The flowers are large and appear singly. The sepals and petals are
pinkish-orange in colour. The lips are dark brown and have a ruffled appearance. They are
Flower Size 7.5cm found in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra in montane forests at elevations of
700 to 1900 meters.
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Coelogyne kaliana This is another lovely Coelogyne orchid. This epiphyte has pseudo-bulbs carrying long,
pendulous, 4 to 12 flowered inflorescences. The flowers are predominantly white. Sepals
and petals are snow white. Lips are white on the outer surface but brown on the inner
Flower Size 2.5cm surface which is streaked with white veins. The ‘landing pad’ on the lip is a bright
attractive yellow to lure insects. This species is found in Peninsular Malaysia in montane
forests. They live on shrubs, tree trunks and large branches at elevations of 1650 to 2000
meters.
 EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Dendrobium
This is a broad genus of sympodial plants
with over 1200 species. Dendrobium is the
second largest genus after Bulbophyllum.
Dendrobium in Greek essentially means
“one who lives on trees” or epiphyte. It is
derived from the word dendron (“tree”) and
bios “ life”. With so many species under
this genus there is a wide variation in
plant forms, leaves and flowers. Some
stems are fleshy pseudobulbs, some are
tough, large canes, whilst some are small
and slender like. The leaves also vary
widely, from small single fleshy leaves to
flat or thin leaves, to cylindrical terete
forms. The flowers vary from large to
small, showy and colourful, singly or on
inflorescences borne at the apex or
laterally. The flowers may last for 1 day to
months. They are usually epiphytic but
are sometimes lithophytic. The species are
Dendrobium
revolutum, is
found in
Myanamar,
Thailand,
Malaysia and
Laos.
adaptable to various habitats, some prefer
moist warm growth conditions whilst
some prefer cool, dry and plentiful
sunlight to grow. The genus occurs over a
wide area in the lowlands as well as the
highlands ranging through all parts of
Asia to the Pacific and is the second most
common orchid genera after Cattleyas to
be cultivated. Some species are grown as
medicinal plants. Dendrobium nobile is used
as traditional Chinese herbal medicine.
This genus is widely hybridized by
horticulturists. We have found many
species of this genus all over Cameron
Highlands, from the Orang Asli villages to
various forest reserves but because of
rampant poaching they have become
scarce. Dendrobium brinchangense is shown in
REACH’s logo.
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Dendrobium This species has spectacular flowers that from afar look like pink bouquets. The stems are
leafy, about 20 cm long bearing short single flowered inflorescences. The sepals and petals
kentrophyllum are pink lined with maroon veins and petals are narrower than sepals. Lips are not distinct.
Dendrobium kentrophyllum is found in the eastern Himalayas, Laos, Thailand, Peninsular
Flower Size 2cm Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. They occur in peat swamp, hill, ridge-top and lower
montane forests at elevations from sea-level to 1520 meters.
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Epigeneium The flowers of this species resemble the flowers of Coelogyne kaliana but the sepals and
petals are not pure white. They are tinged with pink. The pseudobulbs are 2 to 3 cm long
longipes
and the leaves short and broad. The inflorescences are short with 3 to 5 flowers. The
centre part of the lip is a bright yellow with reddish brown veins at the base. This species is
Flower Size 2.5cm found in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.
 EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS
Wild orchid families
Oberonia
Oberonia is a group of small to medium
sized epiphytic orchids. Occasional they
are terrestrial. The plants have short or
long slender stems, normally with flat
fleshy lanceolate leaves. The inflorescence
is borne terminally, covered with dense
small flowers often quite colourful and
bloom simultaneously. The flowers are
often arranged in regular whorls. Sepals
are usually broad, equal in size and
reflexed. Petals are usually narrower than
sepals and sometimes toothed. Lip is
always at the top of the flower. It is
usually tri-lobed, concave at the base with
the basal lobes embracing the column.
Column is very short with 4 pollinia. The
Oberonia
anceps
species of this genus are mainly found in
the wild, on branches and limbs of host
trees along riverbanks and valleys. They
are also seen on trees in inhabited areas.
The genus inhabits the lowland rainforest
and mountain forest at mid-elevation.
They are easy to recognize due to their
laterally compressed leaves and slender
terminal inflorescences with minute
flowers. About thirty species are recorded
in Peninsular Malaysia. There are around
330 species in this genus worldwide. They
are usually found in the tropical regions.
This orchid is one of our favourites, the
inflorescences look like beautiful bracelets
at close range.
Where have all the trees gone?
Is there still hope for the future?
CONSERVATION
Conservation of orchids
efforts of REACH
One of REACH’s maiden projects was
reintroducing Paphiopedilum barbatum into
the wild. This species used to be found in
abundance in the jungles of Cameron
Highlands. Resembling a carpet of flowers
in some areas! But no longer.
Paphiopedilum barbatum is very highly sought
after. As it is difficult to propagate this
plant in the nursery and the time taken for
it to flower is long, demand has exceeded
supply. This eventually led to a poaching
frenzy and within a couple of years one
could hardly find them in the jungles
anymore. In April 2003, a few of these
Lady’s Slippers were returned to the wild
at two designated plots. Unfortunately all
the plants in one plot have been removed
by unscrupulous individuals and the
success of this project is now dependent on
The ongoing REACH reforestation
project is highly successful. Here
members of the Japanese long-stay
clubs are going out to plant trees
(above and left).
the second site. All Paphiopedilum species are
listed on CITES.
REACH is currently attempting to estab-
lish the region as a National Park, as this
status would ensure stricter legislation and
enforcement, providing better protection
for the local rainforests. One of our
primary aims is to maintain the bio-
diversity of the local area and secure it for
future generations. In our efforts to prom-
ote sustainable management REACH is
also involved in encouraging re-cycling. To
facilitate transport of recyclables a com-
pactor site is being constructed.
Plans are now afoot to set up a wild orchid
sanctuary with the help of the local
forestry department. This is to house the
wild orchids confiscated from the poa-
chers.
CONSERVATION
Ecotourism plays a vital role
Ecotourism is defined by the International
Ecotourism Society (TIES) as “Res-
ponsible travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment and improves
the well-bring of local people.” To do this
several criteria should ideally be satisfied.
This includes conservation of biological
diversity and cultural diversity through
ecosystem protection, promotion of sus-
tainable use of biodiversity by the sharing
of socio-economics benefits with local
communities and minimizing the environ-
mental impact of tourism. In Cameron
Highlands where ecotourism is a major
source of income, these guiding principles
should be applied. By preserving the
remaining forests here the biological
diversity of the flora and fauna will be
conserved. This will draw ecologically
conscious visitors here and provide
Ecotourism can be a vital factor in
achieving sustainable development and
nature conservation.
in nature conservation
a constant, sustainable source of revenue
to the people of Cameron Highlands. On
the contrary if the forests are cleared for
its products e.g. timber this will provide
only a one-off source of revenue and
future generations will be deprived of its
benefits. Conserving the forests will also
serve to protect the cultures of our Orang
Asli (indigenous people). With their
extensive knowledge of the forests they can
be excellent ecotourism guides. From local
data available the influx of tourists has
exceeded the carrying capacity of Came-
ron Highlands. Water resources, sanit-
ation, traffic flow are now compromised
due to the uncontrolled development in
recent years. In conclusion it does not
make sense to our destroy forest, the very
thing that attracts tourists here.
CONSERVATION
REACH orchid team
and the orchid book
Documentation of any wildlife species
especially those nearing extinction is
important. It reminds us of the urgent
need for preservation of their natural
habitat. The orchid survey team led by En.
Embi Abdullah was formed in 2002 for
this purpose. Other members include
Amran Khan, Kaliyannan Karupiah, Liau
Tai Leong, Zulkifli Mohd Ariffin and
Ramakrishnan Ramasamy.
This enthusiastic group has sacrificed
numerous weekends traversing the forests
in search of wild beauties and naming
them. Their sojourns have always been
interesting and sometimes hilarious; from
crossing raging rivers, falling into ravines,
getting lost, chased by hornets, to
stumbling across new orchid species while
answering the call of nature! The task of
identification and verification of the
The REACH orchid survey team in
action! From left to right: Rama, Embi,
Liau and Amran (left). Antony, Amran
and Liau (above).
orchids has been done with due diligence
using published references and verification
by local experts. This book does not aim to
be a reference book. It is a pictorial book
and text has been intentionally kept
simple. Pictures of whole orchid plants
have been minimal to reduce the chances
of poachers identifying them in the forest.
REACH Orchid Survey:
Species of Wild Orchids 605
Newly recorded Genus 1
New recorded Species 25
New Forms 35
Probable new Species 3
 Cymbidium simulans Dendrobium aduncum

Dendrobium aloifolium Dendrobium anosmum (forma)

Dendrobium erosum Dendrobium hasseltii

WILD

Dendrobium mannii Dendrobium pachyphyllum