KAPUR TREE MASTING

ALONG RAWANG BYPASS

URBAN EXPLORING • MAY 2021 • RAWANG

The Kapur trees, or Dryobalanops aromatica as they are scientifically called, is a species of critically endangered plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. Sometimes affectionately referred to as the broccoli forest, the large collection of these trees along the Rawang Bypass is why the highway was built to shape like such, to snake its way around the trees and therefore minimizing the impact of construction. Once every few years, the phenomenon of mast seeding, also called masting, occurs. It refers to the synchronous production of large numbers of seeds or fruit by a population of plants. The resulting sea of yellow was quite a sight to behold, and I was lucky enough to have caught this beautiful sight with my drone before a fresh wave of COVID restrictions came into play.