Moonriver Lodge, Sigar Highlands
FOR OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDRENArchive for Moonriver Permaculture Species Lists
Turkey Origins
Our turkeys have a new turkey house up on the hill. Unfortunately, the foxes managed to get a few of them and we’re currently left with 4 majestic birds.
Did you know that the turkey is native to North America and acquired its English name by a series of confusions?
Firstly, the name Turkey cock was applied in England to the guinea fowl, which DID not originate from Turkey but from the Guinea coast of West Africa. Portuguese traders who introduced them to Europe apparently sailed via Turkey (the country) and hence the name Turkey cock.
When early English settlers and explorers came across a large edible bird in North America, they named it Turkey cock or turkey for short, even though the similarity between the two birds in fairly limited.
(Source: What’s In A Word? By John Kane)
A Little About Flowers
Hydrangea
Many plants take their names from the shape of their leaves or different objects.
In Moonriver Lodge we have some examples to share
a) From Greek source words:
- Orchid for “a testicle” with reference to its bulbous roots.
- Antirrhinum for a nose – Hydrangea for a water vessel
b) From Latin source words:
- Palm for the palm of the hand
c) From the colour of the flower:
- Carnation for “flesh-coloured” in French
- Chrysanthemum for “golden” in Greek – Iris for “all colours of the rainbow” in Greek
(Source: What’s In A Word? By John Kane)
Our Welcome Drink
A close and good friend of ours has helped us design our Welcome Drink – Iced Green tea with Mentha Arvensis (common mint).
Mint originates from the genus mentha and is cultivated locally where it is widely used as a culinary herb, traditional medicines and herb tea. It is grown commercially in Cameron Highlands and is not found in the wild. It flourishes in deep soils, rich in humus and retentive of moisture. You can find them growing in abundance alongside parsley underneath the strawberry pots/rows of white plastic bags when you visit strawberry farms in Cameron Highlands.
Oh, the welcome drink taste good when served warm at night too!
(Source: Herbs- The Green Pharmacy of Malaysis by Indu Bala Jaganath & Ng Lean Teik)
Solar Panel Leaf
This fern (Dipteris conjugata) extends its solar-panel leaf to intercept the insolation of the sun. Chlorophyll, the green pigment of land-plant tissue, is the life-blood of plants, for without it, they would be unable to harness the energy of sunlight for growth and repair. Surplus energy is carried from leaves to other needy parts of the plant in the form of atomic bonds in sugar molecules.
(Source : Rain Forests & Cloud Forests by Sandved & Emsley)
Malayan Horned Frog
We have been hearing the persistent “honking” sounds from the stream and water area, and could not quite figure out which animal that was. Our resident staff finally caught this interesting species in a bucket from the stream – a Malayan Horned Frog (Megophrys Nasuta)
A forest specialist, the Malayan Horned Frog has remarkable camouflage; its colour and form mimicking the leaf litter to be found on the forest floor. Unless the frog moves to snatch some unwary prey, it is unlikely to be seen. Its distinctive shape includes a large head and wide mouth, and sharply pointed protuberances above each eye. Its call is a toad-like ‘honk’ and it feeds on forest floor invertebrates.
(Source : www.ecologyasia.com)
Red Palm Weevil
Th Weevils (Curculionidae) are the most numerous of all beetles and over 40,000 species have received names. Their distinguishing mark is the long snout, which has jaws at the end of it and is used for boring holes in the seeds, fruits, buds etc. in which weevils will lay their eggs.
The Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) lays its eggs on palm trees of various kinds. The larva tunnels in the trunk and crown of the palm and often kills the tree. This little weevil is a well-known pest amongst palm farmers and there have been many research and discussions on how to prevent and control this little “evil”!
(Source: Malayan Animal Life by Tweedie & Harrison & Wikipedia)
Baby Fern
The unopened leaves of this fern (could be the Etlingera littoralis) resemble the hairspring of a watch. Once uncurled, they will open to their mature size. The small bright green pods are densely covered with stomatal pores for rapid exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, a feature that allows the leaves to grow rapidly while they are opening.
Learn more about ferns in our Wild Asia@Moonriver Rainforest Conservation & Restoration programme.
(Source : Rain Forests & Cloud Forests by Sandved & Emsley)
Mad about Petai (Parkia speciosa)
The next time you purchase a bunch of Petai from the Orang Asli, think twice before you ask for a discount. In most cases the pods are gathered from the wild and sometimes they have to risk their lives to climb up the tree to do so. The petai tree can grow to about 90 feet (30 metres).
Petai contains three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose. Be sure to have your petai before your next workout in the gym. Not only will you get a good boost of energy, the smell might just drive the unwanted crowd at the gym elsewhere.
Seed of Life
The merbau (Instsia Palembanica) seedling has sprouted life. The merbau is a heavy hardwood with high growth potential and one of Malaysia’s popular timber. It is slow growing, a large tree with a dark colour. Its fruit is in the form of a woody pod.
Rosemary at the top
The short-needle like leaves of the Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) gives off a distinctive aroma which would go well in a roast or stew; its dried leaves for culinary or to scent rooms or linens. This is one of the herbs on the Herb Spiral, placed on top to benefit from the best sunlight and well-drained soil.
