MAGAZINE 01 Flora Fauna Fruit The richness of flora in Asia is not well represented enough. Did you know that each flowers have meanings? Let’s learn about them together! Fruit of Words. “Yout time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s........” What kind of animals are there in Asia? From the fierceful Malayan Tiger to the cutest RedPanda, Asia is a home for many different species of wild animals! 02 06 10 19 / 01 / 2023 stiv: 1043
THE ASIAN FLOWERS Asia is a large continent with varied geography. Although many Asian flowers are imported here, the vast majority of this continent’s diverse blooms are found growing in the wild. Believe it or not, there are many Asian flowers that have deep symbolic meaning in Chinese culture in addition to their stunning physical appearances. Taiwanese people often refer to Tung Blossoms as “April Snow” or “May Snow” (depending on when they are in full bloom) and their arrival attracts people from all over the country. The Tung Tree, a deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall and is endemic to south China and Burma was originally brought to Taiwan by the Japanese during the occupation period and was planted in mountainous areas in north-western Taiwan. The cultivation of the tree was important economically to the Hakka people who lived in the areas . 02 Flora of Asia
“ Although hibiscus flowers are most often associated with Hawaii, this beautiful flower is found in Asia, too. Known as roselle or chinese rose or Chinese hibiscus, these beautiful flowers can be found in all kind of shapes and colors. The hibiscus flower meaning is associated with fame, glory, and wealth. However, since the blossoms are short-lived, many also view this flower as representative of fleeting success or beauty. If you tend to a flower, it will bloom, no matter how many weeds surounds it -MAtshona shliwayoHibiscus Rosa Sinesis. The national flower of Malaysia. Vernicia Fordii, the Tung Tree is a species of flowering plant in Asia. 03 Flora of Asia
t Lotus, the simbol of purity and strength Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful. “ “ Lotus, Nelumbo Nucifera. 04
t Lotus flowers grow in Asia, renowned by Hindus and Buddhists alike. These flower buds bloom atop the water, sprouting from plants that look like water lilies. They are hardy to temperatures of 50 to 90 degrees, a vast range that makes this Asian flower incredibly hardy and easy to grow. Orchids are popular houseplants all over the world, but at one point in time, they all originated from Asia. They grow best in a porous medium, like bark, with excellent drainage. Frangipani or Plumeria is native to Thailand and other parts of Asia, these beautiful blooms are found in pink, white, and yellow flowers. It’s often used in spiritual rituals and has a sweet, cloying fragrance. The trees are believed by some to house ghosts and spirits—and are often associated with bad luck. In several Pacific islands, such as Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Cook Islands, Plumeria species are used for making leis.[15] In Hawaii, the flower is called melia. In modern Polynesian culture, the flower can be worn by women to indicate their re- lationship status—over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.[16] Plumeria alba is the nation- al flower of Laos, where it is known under the local name champa or dok champa. In Bengali culture, most white flowers, and in particular, plumeria, are associated with funerals and death. Also in the Philippines, Indone- sia, and Malaysia, the plumeria is often associated with ghosts and cemeteries.[17] Yangsze Choo in her novel The Night Tiger for example described it as is “the graveyard flower of the Malays.” Plumerias often are planted on burial grounds in all three nations. They are also common ornamental plants in houses, parks, parking lots, and other open-air establishments in the Philippines. Balinese Hindus use the flowers in their temple offerings. The plumeria’s fragrance is also associated with the Kuntilanak, an evil vampir- ic spirit of a dead mother in Malaysian-In- donesian folklores. Plumeria blossoms are infertile. Plants of the species may be propagated by cutting stem tips in spring, allowing them to dry at their bases, then planting in well-drained soil. These are particularly susceptible to rot in moist soil. Orchid is a symbol of beauty, love, strength, and luxury Frangpani, Plumeria. 05
06 TIGER There are two subspecies of tiger, each of which is the largest and most powerful of all the big cats found in Asia. Tigers rely primarily on sight and sound for hunting, stalking their prey before making an attack. A single tiger can eat up to 80 pounds of meat in one sitting, and on average, they give birth to two to four cubs every two years. If one of the cubs in a litter dies, a second litter may be born within five months. As tigers reach maturity, they are more likely to survive in the wild. Tigers can live up to 20 years in the wild. Tigers are usually solitary animals, but in the case of mother and offspring, they form close associations. Each tiger has a large territory, which is determined mostly by the availability of prey. They use different methods to mark their territory, such as urine, feces, rake scratches, and vocalizing. Tigers are under a lot of pressure, from poaching, retaliatory killings, and habitat loss. They have to compete for space with human populations, which can be dense and growing. Males of the larger subspecies, the continental tiger, can weigh up to 660 pounds. For males of the smaller subspecies—the Sunda tiger—the upper limit is at around 310 pounds. Within both subspecies, males are heavier than females. FAUNA OF ASIA
07 FAUNA OF ASIA The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. It is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres, and weighing up to 70 kilograms. Speed: 20 km/h (Maximum, On Land, Sprint)V Mass: 79 – 91 kg (Male, Adult), 68 – 73 kg (Female, Adult) Scientific name: Varanus komodoensis Length: 2.6 m (Male, Adult), 2.3 m (Female, Adult) Clutch size: 20 Family: Varanidae Kingdom: Animalia KOMODO DRAGON
08 As the largest land mammal on the Asian continent, the Asian elephant is an impressive species. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including dry to wet forests and grasslands, in 13 range countries spanning South and Southeast Asia. While they have specific forage plants, Asian elephants have adapted to surviving on a variety of resources, depending on the area. This makes them a versatile and effective species, able to thrive in a variety of environments. ELEPHANT RED PANDA Asian elephants are highly social animals that form groups of six to seven related females. These groups are led by the oldest female, the matriarch. Asian elephant herd sizes are much smaller than those of African elephants, and these herds occasionally join others to form larger herds. Elephants are creatures that spend a large majority of their day eating grasses, but they also consume a lot of other plant matter, including tree bark, roots, leaves, and small stems. Some of these crops, like bananas, rice, and sugarcane, are eaten regularly by elephants because they are nutritious and provide them with sustenance. Elephants are always close to a source of fresh water, as they need to drink at least once a day. FAUNA OF ASIA The red panda, also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail Scientific name: Ailurus fulgens Family: Ailuridae Kingdom: Animalia
09 VV SUN BEAR The reclusive sun bear, smallest member of the bear family, lives an insular life in the dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. Characteristics Found from southern China to eastern India and as far south as Indonesia, sun bears, also called Malayan sun bears, take their name from the bib-shaped golden or white patch on their chest, which legend says represents the rising sun. They have a stocky, muscular build, small ears, and a short muzzle, which has earned them the nickname “dog bear.” Their sleek, black coat is short to avoid overheating in the tropical weather but thick and coarse to provide protection from twigs, branches, and rain. Sun bears grow to only about half the size of an American black bear. Males, slightly larger than females, are about 5 feet in length and weigh up to 150 pounds, a stature which suits their arboreal lifestyle and allows them to move easily through the trees. They have even been observed making sleeping platforms high above the ground out of branches and leaves. Diet and Feed- ing Ironically, sun bears are nocturnal. They lumber through the forests by night, snacking on fruits, berries, roots, insects, small birds, lizards, and rodents. They have an excellent sense of smell and ex- tremely long claws, exceeding four inches in length, which they use to rip open trees and termite nests. They also have an almost comically long tongue for extract- ing honey from bee nests, giving them their other nickname, “honey bear.” Reproduction Little is known about the social life of these bears, but there is some evidence that suggests they may be monogamous. Mother bears, called sows, make ground nests and give birth to one or two blind, helpless babies that weigh about 11 ounces. Mothers have actually been observed cradling a cub in their arms while walking on their hind legs, a rare trait among bears. Cubs can move about after two months and are weaned by four months, but they remain with their moth- ers for two years or more. Conservation Because of their remote habitat and shy personality, gathering conservation data on sun bears is difficult, but scientists fear the worst. Their homelands are being lost rapidly to deforestation, poachers hunt them mercilessly for body parts and fur, and some farmers kill them on site because they often eat crops such as oil palm, coconuts, and bananas. Adult females are also frequently killed so their cubs can be taken and raised as pets. FAUNA OF ASIA
EchoLife Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. -Steve Jobs Fruit of Words Prepared by: SHAHRUL ARIF SAFWAN BIN SHAHRUL NIZAM (295390) WAN AHMAD IQHMAL BIN WAN AHMAD AKBAR (295324)