Chien C. Lee

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  • Nectar-feeding bats play an essential role in the pollination of many rainforest trees. Here, a Long-tongued Nectar Bat (Macroglossus minimus) arrives at the night-blooming blossoms of a durian tree (Durio zibethinus). Prized for its delectable aromatic fruit, the productivity of many durian plantations is under threat where the native bat populations have been killed off by hunters. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The nocturnal blossoms of a wild durian (Durio kutejensis) are visited by a Cave Nectar Bat (Eonycteris spelaea). Although also attracting bees, birds, and other small pollinators during the day, the flowers of this tree open fully at dusk whereupon they begin to produce copious amounts of rich mango-scented nectar – an enticing draw for a bat with a keen sense of smell and an irresistible sweet tooth. With their ability to travel great distances and visit countless flowers in a single night, nectar-feeding bats play a vital role in the pollination of many rainforest plants. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although the blooms of this rare mangrove tree (Pelliciera rhizophorae) are visited by hummingbirds in the day, the flowers remain open at night and exude a strong musty odor to attract an entirely different animal. Captured by an infrared camera trigger, a Leaf-nosed Bat (Glossophaga soricina) approaches an open flower to partake of the rich source of nectar. Nectar-feeding bats are common in the tropics and are responsible for the pollination of a great number of tree species. Choco, Colombia.
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  • The Long-tongued Nectar Bat (Macroglossus minimus) is an important pollinator of many rainforest trees. Here it is feeding on the nectar of banana flowers. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Undoubtedly one of the world's most remarkable plants, the parasitic Rafflesia holds the record for having the largest flower, sometimes reching over one meter across. Their macabre beauty belies a clever deception: the dark reddish coloration and putrid stench of the bloom mimic the rotting carcass of an animal, which thus lures carrion flies into the interior chamber where they will pollinate it. There are around 30 species in the genus, with variable flower sizes, this being R. tuan-mudae from Borneo, one of the largest. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With its large stiff flower bracts and copious amounts of sucrose-laded nectar, Madagascar’s Traveler’s Palms (Ravenala spp.) have evolved to be pollinated almost exclusively by several species of lemurs. Here, a Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) feeds at the infloresence of Ravenala hladikorum. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Bulbophyllum patens with a visiting fruit fly (Bactrocera sp.) with a pollinarium attached to its back. Attracted by the floral scent, the flies act as pollinators but also benefit by acquiring specific chemicals which aid in the attraction of mates. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The stinking Rhizanthes flower (Rhizanthes lowii) mimics a rotting carcass so well that carrion flies swarm around it to lay their eggs (visible as white flecks near the center of the flower).  In so doing the flies act as pollinating agents for this strange plant. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Long-tongued Nectar Bat (Macroglossus minimus) visits the flowers of a durian tree (Durio zibethinus) which open to release their nectar only at night. This bat, which is one of the smallest fruit bats, is an important pollinator of not only durian but many other forest trees. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Blooming only once every three years, a corpse lily (Amorphophallus hewittii) opens its enormous inflorescence in the lowland rainforest of Borneo. The white spadix generates its own heat which helps to disperse its rotting stench to attract flies and beetles as pollinators. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Borneo's orchid flora is estimated to comprise as many as 3000 species. Many remain unnamed and undescribed by science, including this tiny species (Bulbophyllum sp.). Although many Bulbophyllum flowers entice pollinators by unusual, often foul-smelling, odors, the bug-like appearance of this species' flowers may play a role in luring insects, a case of Pouyannian mimicry. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Goodman's Mouse Lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara), feeding on the nectar of night-blooming Dombeya flowers. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Closeup of the colorful inflorescence of Amorphophallus julaihii. Like other aroids, the small male flower (visible) are located above the female flowers (hidden inside the spathe). This species is endemic to limestone forest in northern Borneo. Sarawak, Malaysia.
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  • Dark-eared Myza (Myza celebensis) feeding at a ginger inflorescence (Alpinia cf. monopleura). Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Weevil (Cholus ellipsifer) on palm inflorescence. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Malagasy Green Sunbird (Cinnyris notatus) feeding at flowers of Ravenala grandis. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Water trumpet (Cryptocoryne ferruginea). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • After emerging from a Rafflesia flower (Rafflesia tuan-mudae), this carrion fly carries a load of pollen stuck to its back. If it manages to visit another Rafflesia within a week it will inadvertently transfer the pollen to the receptive flower. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala). Ngamiland, Botwsana.
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  • Producing the largest flowers in the world, the parasitic Rafflesia plant has no leaves or roots and lives entirely upon its host Tetrastigma vine. Each flower, which can take over 6 months to develop, is open for less than a week, during which it emits a fetid odor and attracts masses of flies for pollination. This species, Rafflesia pricei, is endemic to Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Fruit and nectar bats (family Pteropodidae) play an important role in the dispersal and pollination of many rainforest trees including figs, bananas, and durian. Over 17 species occur in Borneo, including the widespread Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis, pictured here). Unlike insectivorous bats, most Pteropodids do not echolocate and instead rely on their large eyes and keen sense of smell for nocturnal navigation. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A deceptive beauty: this tiny epiphytic orchid (Dendrobium cuthbertsonii), which bears flowers that last for up to nine months and are larger than the entire plant itself, offers no nectar reward for visiting pollinators. However, it appears remarkably similar in appearance to nectar-rich Rhododendrons which have flowers the same color and size and grow nearby. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • With some of the largest leaves of all orchids, this bizarre species (Bulbophyllum beccarii) spirals its way up a tree trunk in the lowland rainforest of Borneo. The leaves are designed to trap falling leaf litter which serves as a supply of nutrients for this entirely epiphytic plant. The blooms smell of rotting fish which attract swarms of flies as pollinators. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Undoubtedly one of the world's most remarkable plants, the parasitic Rafflesia holds the record for having the largest flower, sometimes reching over one meter across. Their macabre beauty belies a clever deception: the dark reddish coloration and putrid stench of the bloom mimic the rotting carcass of an animal, which thus lures carrion flies into the interior chamber where they will pollinate it. There are around 30 species in the genus, with variable flower sizes, this being R. tuan-mudae from Borneo, one of the largest. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Undoubtedly one of the world's most remarkable plants, the parasitic Rafflesia holds the record for having the largest flower, sometimes reching over one meter across. Their macabre beauty belies a clever deception: the dark reddish coloration and putrid stench of the bloom mimic the rotting carcass of an animal, which thus lures carrion flies into the interior chamber where they will pollinate it. There are around 30 species in the genus, with variable flower sizes, this being R. tuan-mudae from Borneo, one of the largest. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Long-tongued Nectar Bat (Macroglossus minimus) is an important pollinator of many rainforest trees including mangroves and bananas. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With some of the largest leaves of all orchids, this bizarre species (Bulbophyllum beccarii) spirals its way up a tree trunk in the lowland rainforest of Borneo. The leaves are designed to trap falling leaf litter which serves as a supply of nutrients for this entirely epiphytic plant. The blooms smell of rotting fish which attract swarms of flies as pollinators. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Unlike New World Heliconia which are famous for their colorful bracts, this  species (Heliconia papuana) from New Guinea and the South Pacific are distinguished by their predominantly green inflorescences. Most are pollinated by nectar-feeding bats. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Dendrobium cuthbertsonii. This tiny epiphytic orchid sports flowers which are much larger than the entire plant itself. It offers no nectar and is theorized to attract pollinating birds by its mimicry of similarly-sized and colored Rhododendron flowers which occur in the same habitat in the montane forests of New Guinea. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Endemic only to the higher slopes of a few mountains in northern Borneo, this showy and fragrant Rhododendron R. retivenium) is pollinated by large carpenter bees. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Goniothalamus ridleyi. Cauliflory (flowering and fruiting along the trunk) is a common phenomenon among many rainforest tree species, and is an adaptation to reach pollinating and dispersing animals in the understory. East Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo).
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  • Blooming high in a moss-laden tree of Ranomafana’s montane forest, this epiphytic orchid (Aerangis fastuosa) exhales an alluring perfume at night to attract its desired pollinator: hawk moths. Madagascar has many such night-active orchids, most of which sport long tapered nectaries that can only be reached by the long tongues of their associated moths. With over a thousand species, the orchids of Madagascar are exceptionally diverse. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Dimorphorchis lowii. The genus Dimorphorchis contains 5 species, all of which are endemic to Borneo. They are unique in having two different types of flowers on the same inflorescence, each targeting a different species of pollinator. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Sometimes referred to as 'durian kura-kura' (tortoise durian), Durio testudinarum is one of the rarest of edible durian species. It flowers near the base of the tree and produces clusters of small fruits that bear a musky odor. Like other durians, the blooms of D. testudinarum are open at night, though the pollinator of this species remains unknown. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The bizarre bloom of a Rhizanthes (R. lowii) unfurls its odorous and sinister-looking petals. A member of the Rafflesia family, this rare plant is also completely parasitic, living within its host vine and possessing no leaves, stems, or roots of its own. Like the more well-known Rafflesia, the flowers mimic a rotting animal carcass to attract carrion flies as pollinators. Measuring perhaps 30cm across, the bloom is only open for a few days before dying. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Polyalthia cauliflora. Cauliflory (flowering and fruiting along the trunk) is a common phenomenon among many rainforest tree species and is an adaptation to reach pollinating and dispersing animals in the understory. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Wild torch ginger (Etlingera velutina longipedunculata), pollinated by spiderhunter birds. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The large red fruits of this Kelumpang Sarawak (Sterculia megistophylla) tree have split open revealing the shiny seeds within. Cauliflory (flowering and fruiting along the trunk) is a common phenomenon among many rainforest tree species, and is an adaptation to reach pollinating and dispersing animals in the understory. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The interior of a giant Rafflesia flower (R. tuan-mudae). With petals sometimes spanning over a meter in diameter, Rafflesia are the world's largest flowers. Flies, which act as pollinators, are attracted to the color and stench of the bloom, which mimics rotting meat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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