Lithocarpus sericobalanos: Drift Seed, Papar beach, West Sabah

Lithocarpus  sericobalanos is one of approximately 61 Lithcarpus oak species native to Borneo.

Drift seed collections from Papar beach  (about one hour drive south of Kota Kinabalu) indicate that L. sericobalanus is the most common lithocarpus oak with hard nuts growing in the hill forests of the Crocker Range.

The Crocker Range Park encompases  approximaely 1,400 km2 of virgin hill forest  running from Mount Kinabalu in the north south to the Padas River on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The headwaters of the Papar river extend right up into forested  steep slopes of the Crocker Range so it appears that the ripe nuts fall into the Papar river which carries them downstream to the sea. The seeds of at least 10 different species of Lithocarpus oaks have been found on Papar beach with L. sericobalanos being the most common.

Papar beach is a public beach and easily accessible from Kota Kinabalu.

Thanks to Anthea Phillipps for help  with collections and botanical information.