JUNE Step out of your classroom for an exciting urban forest expedition located in the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. By Nur Raihan Binti Ahmad Ruzaini (S2166978) A Date with Nature
THE FOREST OF KNOWLEDGE 20/06/2023 #1 Rimba Ilmu means "The Forest of Knowledge" in the Malay language. The garden, established in 1974, occupies an area of 80 hectares. It is partly buffered by old rubber plantings and the living collections, mostly from Malaysia, are one of the most important biological conservatories in Malaysia. There are also plant species from other parts of tropical Asia, the Pacific islands, Australia, South America, Africa and Madagascar. source: Rimba Ilmu Botanical Garden https://rimba.um.edu.my/index.php Rimba Ilmu is a tropical botanical garden, set up in the University of Malaya campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is modelled after a rain forest garden concept rather than a formal flower garden. It emphasises the flora of the Malaysian and Indonesian region. Together with the living collections of over 1,600 species, the Rimba Ilmu also houses the University of Malaya herbarium (acronym KLU) and has its own Environmental Education Programme. The Rimba Ilmu is a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the South East Asia Botanic Gardens Network. #1
Guided by Miss Syuhada, our expedition was truly fruitful and I gained a lot of new knowledge about what's inside this forest and to be able visit The Herbarium —Malaysia's largest university collection really blow my mind upon seeing it in real life. -gigantic bamboo and in the middle of the forest, there is an office which according to Ms. Syuhada, the building was office long time ago before it relocated to new building. We also able to visit The Herbarium which stores part of specimen of the plants and we also learn on how parts of plants stored inside it. There is absolutely many floras and faunas found here in Rimba Ilmu located in University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. I also learnt a lot of new knowledge about the plants living there. The most remarkable plant that very much wow-ed me is Tiger orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum), Bird's-nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)- Grammatophyllum speciosum or known as Tiger orchid is the largest orchid species in the world. This plant known to be difficult to flower and will bloom only once every three to four years or may take even longer time as it requires certain condition to able to thrive. Bird's-nest fern (Asplenium nidus) is a large, leafy fern commonly found on wayside trees in Malaysia, particularly rain tree. The fern, which grows at the base of large branches, has an unique ability to trap water and develop its own store of humus. WITNESSING FLORAS AND FAUNAS
Bamboos Dendrocalamus sinicus, also known as "Giant Dragon Bamboo", is the largest bamboo in the world. This gigantic clumping bamboo has excellent characteristics and great potential for extensive development.
There is an entire forest full of the most incredible flowers, plants and trees inside you, and you are ignoring all of it to nurture a single tree that they planted inside your heart and abandoned. The people who left you this way don't deserve to become your favourite stories to tell. You are a massive forest full of beautiful and vibrant stories and every single one of them deserves you more than those that abandoned you to hell. -Nikita GillA Forest Story