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Country Life

Country life In the second part of our series on the best of Hong Kong's natural world, we look at some of the rare and unique insects and plant life you might find during your winter hikes. Hong Kong camellia Camellia hongkongensis A small evergreen tree first discovered in 1849 in a ravine on The Peak, it can now be found flowering between December and February in forests around Pok Fu Lam, Mount Nicholson and Mount Parker. It is a protected species in Hong Kong Web is fine and irregular, not symmetrical Hong Kong orchid tree Bauhinia blakeana Discovered near Pok Fu Lam in 1880. this flower now forms the emblem of the Hong Kong SAR flag and coat of arms. It grows to around 10 or 15 centimetres across, and blooms from November to March Golden orb-web spider Nephila pilipes With females growing to a length of up to 20 centimetres, this is one of the largest spiders in the world. It can be found in forests across Hong Kong, as well as in other parts of Asia Candle-like cones which turn brown at maturity Fortune's keteleeria Keteleeria fortunei Incense tree Aquilaria sinensis Protected under forestry regulations, this coniferous evergreen tree is native to Hong Kong and southern Chinese provinces and grows up to The resin produced from the wood of this plant forms the Chinese medicine chen xiang, and its fragrant wood has previously been used to make joss sticks and incense. Although threatened by habitat loss elsewhere, it is common in Hong Kong inside protected country parks o 30 metres tall in forests around Cape D'Aguilar and the A common fly Stanley Peninsula Wingspan 15-18cm Lantern bug Pyrops candelarius A species of planthopper, they feed on the sap from longan and lychee trees. Their long slender mouth is adapted for piercing tree bark and sucking out the sap Hong Kong azalea Rhododendron hongkongense Hutch - Mouth These shrubs, measuring 1 to 3 metres in height, flower in April and produce an egg-shaped fruit which ripens in October. They were first discovered on Hong Kong Island in 1850, and can now be found on hillsides in Happy Valley, Mount Nicholson, Ma On Shan and Lantau Island Common birdwing Troides helena This butterfly, along with the golden birdwing (Troides aeacus), is the largest in Hong Kong. It can be found at Po Lo Che in Sai Kung and Shan Liu Road in Tai Po, as well as at Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Garden and spots on Hong Kong and Lantau islands. It is classified as vulnerable and is Actual size Hong Kong beilschmiedia Beilschmiedia glandulosa protected in Hong Kong under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Part of the laurel family of flowering plants that was thought to dominate the first forests in Hong Kong, this species produces an oil with an aromatic scent which becomes noticeable when the leaves are crushed Fruiting period from July to December Maud's michelia Michelia maudiae Dunn Essential oil can be extracted from its large striking white flowers, which bloom in February. The flowers make it a candidate as an ornamental plant, but it is mostly found in protected parks on Lantau Island Rhodoleia Rhodoleia championii Hook Discovered in woodland near Aberdeen in 1849, this medium-sized evergreen tree flowers in late winter to early spring. It grows naturally only in Aberdeen, but has been propagated in Country parks First discovered in Hong Kong Shiuying bamboo Arundinaria shiuyingiana First discovered at Eagle's Nest in 1981, this bamboo is found only in Hong Kong, on partially shaded hillslopes at heights below 90 metres. It was named after Dr Hu Shiu-ying a botanist who died earlier this year - in honour of her contributions to the study of local flora Large transparent area in the wings Scarlet dwarf Nannophya pygmaea Hong Kong tuskail Fukienogomphus choifongae Often seen in Tai Lam Country Park, this is one of the smallest dragonflies in the world A rare dragonfly first discovered at Wu Kau Tang in the northeastern New Territories in 2004, when it was identified as a new species to science. It been spotted at this one location Rear is white on females and black on males Actual size s only White dragontail Lamproptera curius A species of swallowtail butterfly. it can be spotted throughout Hong Kong between February and December. The best places to find it are Fung Yuen in Tai Po and Po Lo Che in Sai Kung Sources: Hong Kong Herbarium; Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; Hong Kong Lepidopterists Society: Shing Mun Arboretum SCMP Graphic: Adolfo Arranz

Country Life

shared by adolfux on May 25
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Infographic piece with some rare and unique insects and plant life in Hong Kong.

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