Byttneria aspera（刺果藤 ● Spiny-fruited vine)

Byttneria aspera is a large climber commonly found all over Hong Kong. It could be easily identified by its cordate leave base. It usually occupies forest margins and places that are covered by large boulders. The plant is relatively uncommon in heavily shaded areas. In spring to summer, large amount of small white/red flowers will emerge. After the flowers, spiny fruits is produced by the plant in summer. These round and spiny fruits are capsules that will break open when ripe, exposing the seeds. I suspect the the seeds might depend on wind dispersal (anemochory) since the spines on the fruit seems unfavorable to mammals and the color of the fruits seems unfavorable to birds. The photos below show the fruits of the plant found in July. I originally have some photos of the flowers of the plant but it is kind of lost in my computer so that's the best I could do.

Impatiens hongkongensis（香港鳳仙 ● Hong Kong balsam）

Impatiens hongkongensis is a perennial herb usually found near streams. According to official sources, the distribution of the species is only restricted to Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The restricted distribution prompts botanists to list is as an endangered species (EN) in China. In Hong Kong, populations of I. hongkongensis could be found in some forest streams in the New Territories. The plant bears bright yellowish flowers in late summer to autumn. Like many other species in the family, the plant has a prominent spur containing nectar. Originally the design is used to limit the pollinating agents of the flower, but interestingly for I. hongkongensis, the shape of the flower creates a large space in the middle of the flower which doesn't seem to favor butterflies or moths like Macroglossum spp.. The space fits middle sized insects such as bees perfectly, personally I suspect that the structure is an evolutionary relic. The seeds of the plant depends on ballistic dispersal which means the seed will shoot out when the fruits are ripe.The genus name Impatiens is probably related to the process when the seeds burst out.The plant lives near wet environments and when the stems of the plant have contact with the water surface of the stream, roots emerge. The following pictures are taken in October showing flowering of the species.

Flowers yellow with reddish spots

Flowers

Flowers

Flowers, not mature yet, showing spur and a large central space

Flowering population

Population near a stream in the NT

Roots emerging from stem in contact with water

Lilium brownii（野百合/淡紫百合 ● Chinese lily）

Lilium brownii is a perennial herb that closely resembles the species Lilium longiflorum used for ornamental purposes. According to Flora of Hong Kong, the two species differ in the fact that L. longiflorum has glabrous filaments and not papillose nectaries. The scales of bulbs of certain Lilium spp., probably including Lilium brownii, are added to certain dishes in China. The scales have a unique sweet taste. L. brownii could be found in open shrublands and sunny hillslopes within Hong Kong. The plant species is listed in government documents as one of the protected plant species in Hong Kong. I originally expected that the plants found in the nature would bear smaller flowers when compared with L. longiflorum sold in the flower market, but I was wrong, the flowers of the naturally occurring plants are actually gigantic, very easily spotted even if it is mixed with the shrubs. Some of the plants found in Hong Kong have a purplish color on the external surface of the corolla tube. Flowers are found in summer and here are some photos I took while hiking in the NT in June.

Flowers without purplish color

Leaves and stem

Purplish flowers

Buds

Plant growing on sunny slope

Gelsemium elegans（鈎吻/胡蔓藤/斷腸草 ● Graceful jesamine）

Gelsemium elegans is a climber widely distributed in Hong Kong. Large populations could be found in thickens or anywhere where sunlight is ample. The plant is very poisonous and many people might have heard of its Chinese common name 斷腸草. The name describes the pain people feel after an intake of the plant which is a fatal stomach ache. The plant bears large amount of yellowish flowers in summer or autumn. In Sai Kung, I have seen a population covering up a whole valley forming a very striking view full of yellowish flowers. The large amounts of capsules containing winged seeds are formed in the winter, using anemochory as a seed dispersal method. The first six photos are taken in different parts of the Ti Mo Shan（大帽山）area in the NT, the last three pictures are taken in Sai Kung.

Capsules

Capsules

Adaxial surface of leaf

Abaxial surface of leaf

Yellowish flowers

Yellowish flowers

Population in Sai Kung, dried fruits on the left

Population in Sai Kung, very large

A 'sea' of yellowish flowers ( also Sai Kung)

Tetragonia tetragonioides （番杏 ● New Zealand spinach）

Tetragonia tetragonioides is an annual herb found in seashores. The distribution of the plant in Hong Kong is quite restricted but quite common in some areas such as the western part of Lantau Island. The plant is eaten as a vegetable but personally I haven't tried it yet so I don't know what it tastes like. The species has some common xerophytic properties and seems to occupy relatively dry environments in the seashore. The plant has thick leaves and a thick cuticle layer with round crystal-like projections, both features could help the plant to save water. Furthermore, the curved leave margin might also be a feature related to water saving. The official flowering and fruiting period stated in Flora of Hong Kong is Aug.-Oct.. However, the photos below, taken in Lantau Island during mid-February, show flowers and fruits already. Probably wrong information again.

Yellowish flowers

Abaxial surface

Cropped image showing crystal-like projections on leave surface

Fruits

Population....seashore with a lot of garbage

Drosera peltata（光萼茅膏菜 ● Crescent-leaved sundew）

Drosera peltata is a carnivorous plant within the family Doroseracea. It is characterized by its long erect stem and the peltate shaped basal and cauline leaves. In Hong Kong, it is quite rare and only found in a few ridges in northeastern New Territories. The plant is perennial but the leaves and stem will wither in the winter and regenerate when the weather becomes warmer. Although the plant is listed some books as wetland plants, the species can endue relatively dry habitats such as shrublands and hill fire maintained habitats. The population I found does not extend down the slope to lower altitudes even though the vegetation is the same. The following photos are taken on in April, flower and fruits were observed. The flowering and fruiting period is outside that stated in Flora of Hong Kong.

cauline leaves with insect

fruit

flowers observed in late afternoon

basal leaves