Borneo rainforest garden plants
Sabah Malaysia orchids, pitcher plant, ginger, rattan, hibiscus
Here are some pictures of Borneo rainforest garden plants -- orchids of various colors, pitcher plant, wild ginger, rattan vines, hibiscus --in Gunung Kinabalu (Kinabalu Park), Sabah Malaysia. Borneo Island is the oldest tropical rainnforest on the planet, with 1500 species of orchids and 10,000 species of plants.
It's always a thrill to see plants in their natural surroundings, especially the tropical plants that for most gardeners are hothouse or indoor plants only. Some plants we didn't see, like the kerosene plant which may be a type of nightshade with berries that will burn the skin -- and the rafflesia, that giant blossomed plant with a stench of rotting meat. The many varieties of rhododendrons were not in bloom at this time. More Borneo pictures bottom of page!
Kinabalu Market Flower Stall
Down the mountain from the Kinabalu Lodge, the market straddles the highway from Poring Hot Springs to Kota Kinabalu.
Along with fruit and vegetable stalls, honey and Royal Jelly vendors and grilled chicken stands, this flower stall
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Burgundy Orchid
Seen at the Mountain Garden Nursery, Kinabalu Park.
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Tibouchina shrub in flower
Photographed in late April, outside the Kinablau Mountain Lodge, this shrub called tibouchina, in the family Melastomataceae - Melastoma. The shrub was in full bloom, with deep lavender pansy- like blossoms.
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Heliconia (Lobster Claw plant)
Heliconia Lobster claw plant at Poring Hot Springs in Kinabalu Park.
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Low growing ferns
at Mt. Kinabalu Park trail side.
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Medinilla berries and blossom
At Kinabalu Park near the Mountain Garden.
When the pink medinilla berries turn purple, they are edible.
Medinilla grows at 1500 feet elevation, so it is outside the typical rainforest plants.
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Medinilla blossoms and berries
Photographed at Kinabalu Park, this picture shows the medinilla plant in bloom.
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Rattan Vine beside small yellow orchid
Along the Mempening Trail, in the gloom of the rainforest canopy, many rattan vines were crawling along the ground, here past a small yellow orchid
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Pink Orchid bloom 
Also photographed at Kinabalu Park near the nursery
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Pitcher plant flower
Photo of Pitcher Plant taken at Kinabalu Park nursery gardens area in Gunung Kinabalu
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Red Hibiscus in Bloom
I took this picture of the hibiscus in bloom at Poring Hot Springs. The red hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia.
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White Orchid in bloom
Slender leaves form a fan to frame these small white orchids.
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Stick Insect in Borneo rainforest
Borneo stick insects are the longest in the world.
This white one was along the Kinabalu Mountain trail.
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