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PLANTLIFE 
Kinabalu's plantlife has evolved from an interaction of 
climate (including past climates) and geology (soils, 
exposure, geological history): the result is a flora diverse 
and complex and in many ways unique. Even untrained 
observers can see many of the mountain's features as they 
travel from the Hot Springs to Park Headquarters and to the 
summit. One of the great values and attractions of the 
Kinabalu Park Is that it protects and preserves the 
complete spread of plantlife from lowland tropical forest to 
the limit of plant growth on the summit. 
Poring Hot Springs lies within the lowest zone of 
vegetation, the lowland Dipterocarp forest, part of the 
great tropical rain-forest extending from Thailand to New 
Guinea. It is characterised by huge trees, often supported 
by buttresses, several layers of foliage beneath the highest 
canopy, and hanging lianas. Contrary to popular opinion 
the forest floor Is usually too darx to support much ground 
cover. About half the trees belong to the Dipterocarp 
familv, that elsewhere in Sabah provides most of the 
St?^« timber. Notwithstanding this, diversity is the 
kcyivote of the tropical forest and some thousands of 
species can be found. An unusual component of the flora 
is the parasitic Rafflesla plants, which produces a fleshy 
red flower up to 45 cms in diameter. The dipterocarp forest 
extends up to about 912 metre elevation and comprises 
about V3 of the Park's area. 
Between 912 metres and 1824 metres elevation is the 
montane forest, occupying almost half of the Park's area. 
Trees are smaller and ground cover is much denser, 
because more light reaches the ground. The light and 
increased moisture from low clouds leads to an abundance 
of epiphytes, such as orchids and mosses, growing on the 
trunks and branches of trees. Species composition is 
almost wholly different from the lowland forest, and here 
consists of oaks, chestnuts, laurels, myrtels, etc. Many of 
these are representative of temperate families; the tropical 
groups are less evident. Park Headquarters is located 
within this zone. 
Most fascinating to visitors is the mossy or cloud forest, 
extending upwards from 1824 metres. Here gnarled, often 
stunted trees are covered ’:hick!y in mosses, lichen and 
orchids. Climbing bamboos, thorny rotans and shrubs 
make venturing off the cut paths almost impossible. The 
clouds that each day drift close to the ground and the cool 
temperatures are the primary factors in determining Its 
structure. Rhododendrons with their showy flowers, other 
Ericaceae and southern hemisphere conifers are typical 
groups found here. Orchids are common, and Kinabalu 
has up to 1,500 varieties growing on its slopes. The cloud 
forest Is also the favoured home of Nepenthes — the 
pitcher plants. These have certain leaves modified into 
liquid-containing pitchers that trap and digest Insects. 
Three types are common along the Kinabalu Mountain 
Trail viz. N. LowiI, N. Villosa and N. Tentaculata. 
In the summit zone plants survive in crevices or the lee 
of boulders. At these high altitudes only a limited number 
of types are adapted to withstand the intense sunlight, 
heavy rains and harsh winds of the upper mountain. The 
PaphiopedHum rothschidianum 
diversity of the lowlands is missing. Common are the 
bushy Leptospermum ("sayat-sayat"), with tiny leaves and 
white flowers; the dwarf Rhododendron ericoides with red, 
tube-shaped flowers; Schima with large white flowers and 
leaves often tinged purple; and several conifers. The 
delicate yellow flower of Low's buttercup can be seen in 
moister patches. 
Over half the plants species growing above 912 metres in 
the Park are endemic, found only on Mt. Kinabalu and 
nowhere else in the world. The closest relatives of many 
of these plants are found in the high mountains of Nev»/ 
Guinea or in Australia-New Zealand. Mt. Kinabalu is in 
effect a floral island, surrounded and isolated by hot 
lowland forest that has little in common with the higher 
zones. How the various groups first reached Kinabalu is 
still debated by plant geographers, but the importance of 
the mountain for the study of a "relict flora" and of 
ancient plant migrations between Australasia and Eurasia 
is undeniable. 
For the naturalist, the flora is, of course, a botanical and 
ecological paradise for observation and study. For the 
visitor, the enjoyment is no less, for here in this Park, 
assisted by a park guide book, tne amateur can easily 
enjoy the flora and fauna and experience the thrill of 
discovery and identification. 
