Endemic Plants of Klang Gates Quartz Ridge

The Klang Gates quartz ridge system just outside the north-eastern part of the city of Kuala Lumpur and within the state of Selangor in Malaya, is over 14 km long and reaches up to about 380 m high. The narrow wall-like formation of this quartz reef is due to crystallisation of the quartz solution that infilled a large fault in the Main Range granite, with the present feature revealed when the surrounding  weathered material eroded away. This ridge is the most prominent of a series of such ridges in this part of Malaya. 

Current collecting indicates that inventory of the plant life on this ridge remains incomplete since the earlier listings by Ridley (1922) (21 species) and Henderson (1928) (265 species), and a later enumeration by Kiew (1982) (175 species). Many records do not distinguish between an occurrence on the quartz ridge proper and one on the abutting (nonquartz) slopes. Five plant species are known only from the quartz ridge (Reid 1951, 1959; Kiew 1982): Aleisanthia rupestris (Ridl.) Ridl. (Rubiaceae) , Borreria pilulifera Ridl. (Rubiaceae), Eulalia milsumii Ridl. (Poaceae) , Henckelia primulina (Ridl.) A. Weber (Gesneriaceae), and Ilex praetermissa Kiew (Aquifoliaceae).

Ecological aspects of endemic plant populations on Klang Gates quartz ridge,  a habitat island in Peninsular Malaysia, 2008,  K. M. Wong · M. Sugumaran · D. K. P. Lee · M. S. Zahid.,  Biodivers Conserv DOI 10.1007/s10531-008-9522-1

Expedition to Klang Gates Quartz Ridge

Klang Gates Quartz Ridge is the home to 5 endemic plant species :

Eulalia milsumi, Aleisanthia rupestris, Ilex praetermissa, Borreria pilulifera, and Henckelia primulina.

 

This is Aleisanthia rupestris. 
The flower seems yet to fully bloom, later in the day perhaps.

This elegant tree dominates the top of the ridge.

This pine-look tree even have needle-like leaves,

if not of its tiny white flowers, I would have mistakenly them as a pine or a pine-allied.
Its a Baeckea frutescens

These pink flowered trees grow abundantly at the top.

Nice, isn't it ?

a lone ferm struggling on a rock

a Poaceae spikelets

a tiny Arachis sp. / Zornia sp. ???

Jewels of Klang Gates Quartz Ridge

Klang Gates Quartz Ridge ( KGQR ) is the longest quartz ridge in the world spanning 14km and soars to 380m at its highest point.   It is also the single largest pure dyke in the world

Survey indicated at least 265 plant species thrive at its surrounding and at the ridge what botanist called an island habitat of which 5 are endemic.  Isolated, vegetation at the ridge top differs from those of surrounding areas.  

 A tree with needle-like leaves grow abundantly at the rocky mountain top.   Found only in Peninsular Malaya and Sumatra, the tree can also be found on sandy coasts.

The grass-looking Eulalia milsumi  ( Poaceae ) is a rare plant that grows only on the ridge and nowhere else in the world.

Other endemics plants are small woody shrub, Aleisanthia rupestris ( Rubiaceae ), the small tree Ilex praetermissa ( Aquifoliaceae ), the wiry herb Borreria pilulifera ( Rubiaceae ), and the ground herb Henckelia primulina ( Gesneriaceae ).

A National Parks & Wildlife Department survey carried out in 1985 found the tracks of  5 serows ( kambing gurun - Naemorhedus sumatraensis ), but it’s anyone guess how many are still around today.

The proposed KL Outer Ring Road ( KLORR ) from Selayang to Cheras, cutting though KGQR, Selangor State Park, the forest reserves of Hulu Gombak, Ampang and Hulu Langat, will surely disturb the unique ecosystem. 



Sign the Petition to Stop the KLORR.

Copied from :

1. Malaysian Nature Society – Selangor Greenbook.

My Reference :

1 Tan Cheng Li, Plants in Peril, the star online, 4 May 2010.

2. Wong K.M., et al, 2008, Ecological Aspects of Endemic Plant Population on Klang Gates Quartz Ridge, a Habitat Island in Peninsular Malaysia, Biodivers Conserv (2010) 19:435-447.

3. Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums, Vol II, 1909, pg249.
4. http://www.wwf.org..my/