ROUTE 4: MAPPING SPECIAL PLANTS

During the Japanese occupation in Hong Kong, the Japanese army devastated much of Hong Kong's forests for fuel wood. After the war, the government started large scale planting of rapidly growing foreign tree species, to protect the countryside from soil erosion. The forest we now see originated from that period.

Paper-bark Tree (Melaleuca cajuputi) is one of the common species planted at that time. The trees, as they were planted around the same time, grow to somewhat similar heights. The whitish tree trunks and the green canopies comprise a unique landscape of orderly green and white!

As we ascend the mountain, the vegetation changes with altitude—tall trees gradually give way to smaller shrubs. During September and October each year, the small purple-red fruits of Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) can be seen across the hills. There is a story that goes with the fruit. During a war in ancient times, people fled from compulsory military service and came into the mountains. As food was running out, they fortunately found the sweet tasting fruit, and avoided starvation. After the war, the fruit was named – in Cantonese – as the homonym of “food for escaping military enlistment”.

Now that we no longer need the fruits for extra nutrition, let's leave them for the wild animals!

The noticeboard directs us to a small stream that has already dried up. Next to the stream, there was formerly a large marsh that was a dragonfly paradise. Today, the marsh has disappeared and wetland vegetation has been substituted by dryland vegetation. Here we can find an uncommon dryland plant, Emilia prenanthoidea, which is easily identified as there are purple-red spots on the underside of the leaves.

Nature is resilient—its regenerative power can restore it from damage by war and hill fires! Given enough time, grassland and shrubland will become forest again through succession. This kind of forest is called “secondary forest”.

Watch your hands when walking through the secondary forest here. There is a thorny tree – Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum avicennae), and it is jokingly said that even birds of prey will not perch on the tree for fear of the many spikes.

By the small path stands a lonely tree—Endospermum (Endospermum chinense), reminding people of the sad old days. During the Japanese occupation, shortages of raw resources were common. Endospermum, with its tall and straight quality, was highly sought after for wood. Most of the trees were logged. The native trees were saved thanks to the tradition of Fung Shui Woods.

A Fung Shui Wood is often cultivated at the back of villages. It is a traditional belief that the wood will bring good luck for the villagers, hence it is protected from careless logging. Fung Shui Woods in Hong Kong have indeed helped to save many native tree species.

People in the past often made good use of what they could get from nature. Villagers cultivated plants for daily use in the Fung Shui Wood. Chinese Rain Bell (Strobilanthes cusia) and Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) were two examples. The former contains rich indigotin in its stem and leaves, which can be extracted as blue dye; while the latter can be used as fibre to make rope and cloth.

As we come to the stream side, we can take a break in the shade. Look up a bit and you may find many “stars” hanging on the shrubs by the stream! They are Dunn's Star-anise (Illicium dunnianum), which is related to the star anise used in our cooking. Hence their fruits look much alike!

Only few plants can thrive in the dark and moist environment by the stream. Apart from Dunn's Staranise, Grass-leaved Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus) is another plant that grows well in wet mud, on waterfall cliffs and even in the middle of water! What an impressive ability to live, despite the ordinary “grass-like” appearance!

Everyone knows that Sunset Peak is the place to take photographs of Silvergrass. But there is in fact another photo spot for Silvergrass, in Plover Cove Reservoir water gathering ground.

From October to November each year, Silvergrass puts on its golden dress and shines under sunlight, attracting visitors. To modern day people, Silvergrass may only be good for the camera. However, its values go far beyond—in the past, Silvergrass was used to weave all kinds of daily articles including shoes, baskets and lamp shades, making use of its durable quality.