There is a wealth of ferns here, above photos are some of the choice specimens. To my untrained eye, at least 7 species along the waterside. Unfortunately, ferns are not a group I know well. The big fronds are from a tree-fern (Cyathea/Alsophila sp.), this is the common large species out here.

middle: other large fern species; the Elephant Fern, Angiopteris evecta. This one is really uncommon, Ive only seen 2 across the whole forest. Both individuals are probably quite young, the species gets much bigger. It may be a different species in said genus, but current taxonomy for that group is nebulous, so who knows really?

right: Another really striking looking fern, very thick glossy fronds. Prob some Blechnum relative.

Small clustering palm ~3m tall. It was bearing a few small orange fruits so this is an adult. Leaflet shape changes across the stalk, starting out pointed at the base but becoming rectangular (and saw-toothed) toward the tip. This genus is uncommon to see outside of primary forests. Only one I've seen in the entire area. Pinanga sp.

A strange understory tree, distinct in having very large (~60cm long) and dark coloured leaves. Was about 8-10m tall, no flowers/fruits; might be a juvenile form of something. A friend suggested False Mango, I agree even though it doesn't strictly match. Young trees often look different, with juvenile shade leaves being large relative to adult foliage. Anacardiaceae indet. (Bouea sp?).

right: Leaf closeup

A small unassuming tree, this is a species of rainforest Holly Ive been on the lookout for. Leaves are glossy with surprising thickness, occasionally with very tiny teeth (not really visible in photo). Common to natural forests, but less so in secondary woodland. Apparently has a bias for wet/swampy soil. Ilex cymosa.

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A relic of the orchards, Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola, Oxalidaceae). No fruit to be seen, but lots of saplings near the adults, so population might be self sustaining but of limited dispersal.

left: Large adult, relatively speaking. As a tree species it is quite small, >15m. right: seedling at ground level.

In this area, the most common tree at canopy level is Terentang (Campnosperma auriculatum, Anacardiaceae). Likely seeded in from wild populations, as the species isn't grown commercially (though it is opportunistically harvested for timber). Most individuals I saw were in the 25-30m range. Ferns (especially Staghorns, Platycerium sp.) common on major limbs.

Mystery climbers. Both are likely wild Figs with a vine-only growth habit.

left: very interesting segmented pattern on the large woody stem. right: small species that seems to cast a fine red mesh of roots as it grows up other trees.

A fearsome creature, Oncosperma horridum, Arecaceae. Clustering palm with distinct black spines up the trunk and even on the leaf sheaths. Proportionally quite stout for a palm in this habitat, also apparently an indicator of wetness in soil (natural habitat favours swamps).

The massive climbing palm, Plectocomia elongata, Arecaceae. It is very striking in apperance, with leaves changing colour down the stem with the youngest having red stalks, aging into a metallic moss-green with white leaf bases. As with all climbing palms, it acends using hooks along the underside of the petioles and is generally a very spiking creature. Though it is unusual for the group in being solitary stemmed (suckering is standard condition) and also just in sheer size (leaves in photo are 4m+, and can get much bigger).

Common in the wild, but very rare to see in young regenerating woodland. As you can imagine, it needs large prexisting trees to clamber up. This individual did not have such support, and so it has fallen to the height where I could get a close photo of the shoot end.

Understory red flush, both are tree seedlings. left: Elaeocarpus ferrugineus. At this age, the whole stem bears fuzzy red hair. Can confirm it is pleasantly velvety to touch. right: Unknown sapling, but likely one of the endless numbers of Myrtle family things (Syzygium sp.?).

Another relic of agriculture, a very large specimen of Mango (Mangifera indica). Height is in the ~25m, much larger than is common in orchards and approaching the maximum wild size. Was likely once a village tree.

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