Eco-Classroom - Star of the Month

Hong Kong Camellia is the only local Theaceae that bears red flowers. Blooming in winter, the highly ornamental flowers give an uplifting sense of warmness to beat the dreary weather.

Small to medium size freshwater fish. Easily identified by the five to six black vertical bands on the pale yellow body. In Hong Kong, the fish is only distributed in streams on Hong Kong Island and Lantau. The best time to observe them is in winter time when the water level is lower.

A close relative of Chinese Banyan in the fig family, Japanese Superb Fig also develops aerial roots albeit in a smaller scale. Also different from the evergreen Chinese Banyan, it is a deciduous tree that sheds leaves in winter.

Beginning in February, Japanese Superb Fig produces fruits densely on its branches, attracting different birds to forage.

Large waterfowl which stays in Hong Kong over the winter. It has a brightly contrasting body in black, grey and white. The juvenile is mainly pale grey in colour.

The bird often stands by the coast or in shallow water to hunt for prey.

In the past, Incense Trees were widely cultivated in Hong Kong to make joss sticks for export. Hence the species is known as Hong Kong’s namesake tree.

March is the flowering season, when Incense Tree presents tiny yellowish green blossoms elegantly!

Shy and docile, Red Muntjac often hides among bushes or forest during the day and is only active after dark. According to literature from the early days more than a century ago, the courting bark of Red Muntjac was frequently heard in the Peak area in spring time!

In Spring, the finch-like flowers are in full bloom. Growing in cluster and hanging on the vine, the flowers look so vividly alike a row of little birds perching on the branch.

The largest skipper butterfly in Hong Kong. The species is distinguished by its red eyes, and a large yellow band on the bottom of the brown forewings. The larvae feed on banana leaves. Hence the adults are mostly found in the shade of banana trees. They are active starting in April.

Don’t be misled by its Chinese name 「蘭」 (orchid) and its resemblance to the flower. The Dianella is actually a member of the Lily family. In May, this plant bears fruits that ripen to a striking shade of purple-blue, resembling blueberries at first glance. In fact, they are poisonous.

The entire Dianella plant is poisonous, with the roots and rhizomes being the most potent. In the past, this plant was used as rat poison and was known as “rat arsenic”.

The male crab boasts a conspicuously large and strikingly orange-red claw adorned with intricate raised patterns. In contrast, the female crab has two small claws. When the weather warms up, male fiddler crabs start waving their large claw to attract mates. To onlookers, this gesture resembles a musician playing the fiddle, hence their name.

In June, this tree bears fruit that takes on the unmistakable shape of a strawberry. It’s no wonder it is called the “Strawberry Tree”in English!

According to records dating back to the Song Dynasty, the Strawberry Tree was considered a speciality of southern China. Its fruit tastes bittersweet, and its tree bark contains tannic acid, which oxidises to a reddish-brown colour upon contact with air. Hence, it is used as a natural dye.

Spot some cotton-like fluff on the underside of leaves in early summer? Go closer, and you might be surprised to see a flurry of rapid movement! They are none other than the nymphs of the Ricanid Planthopper. The nymph’s body produces waxy filaments, which defend it against predators. They are regarded as pests because they feed on the sap of crops.

This plant grows rapidly and is highly tolerant to salt, drought, and waterlogging. It is often found in the hinterland of mangrove forests some distance away from the sea. It has heart-shaped leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers with a dark inky purple centre that come into full bloom during summer.

The bark can be used for weaving, and the leaves make excellent can be used as food wraps.

The adult birds have almost pure white plumage except for a black patch on the nape. They are a common summer visitor and one of the three tern species that breed in Hong Kong. They love to nest on small islands and rocky shores. July is the prime time for these graceful creatures to fish and nurture their offspring!

Common native tree. In summer, the tree bears unique star-shaped fruits in clusters of four to six fruits.

The fruit of the plant resembles that of the Common Sterculia, also known as the “Phoenix Eye Fruit”, but it has more seeds that are smaller and inedible to humans. Therefore, it is also called the “Fake Sterculia”. Though inedible to humans, the fruit is widely enjoyed by wild animals.

The beetle is easily identified. It has a hemispherical body with a green or yellow-green metallic sheen for its shell; the shell has transparent edges, and there are three black stripes that form a [山] (mountain)!

This dazzling creature is commonly spotted on the Cairo Morning Glory or Ipomoea nil in summer.

The flowers are slender and bright yellow; the fruits are small and pink. In early autumn, you can see its flowers and fruits at the same time on the rocks by the stream, which is very pleasing to the eyes! I didn't know that they are insectivorous plants that live by eating microorganisms in the water.

A dragonfly that remains active until late autumn. The wings of the male are predominantly black with white patches, while the females are pale brown with white patches, again distinctive and easy to recognise! They are weak fliers and can usually only fly short distances.

It is very similar to the Hong Kong Orchid Tree and the Camel's Foot Tree. It is the earliest to bloom and its pale pink flowers can be seen in October. The flowers of the Camel's Foot Tree and the Hong Kong Orchid Tree are bright pink and purple respectively. You can tell them apart by the time of blooming and the colour of the flowers.

The largest resident bird in Hong Kong, which starts to court and nest in October. More than 10 breeding pairs are steadily recorded each year in Hong Kong, the only place in China where a regular population can be found.

Shale is formed by the accumulation of debris such as sediment, earth and rocks in layers and compaction by external forces, with distinctive layering that resembles the pages of a book. The shale on Tung Ping Chau was formed about 65 million years ago and is the youngest rock formation in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's largest Danaids is a rare butterfly found mainly in winter and early spring. Chestnut Tiger in Japan begins to migrate in late autumn. In the winter of 2011, one individual was found in Hong Kong that had flown 2,500 kilometres from Wakayama in Japan to spend the winter!

Late autumn is the most beautiful season for the plant to grow, with light brown flower bunches swaying in the wind and glistening in the sunlight! You can see the continuous beauty of Chinese Silvergrass in the highlands such as Sunset Peak and Tai Mo Shan.

Black-faced spoonbills can be found in the wetlands in the north-west of Hong Kong in winter. They will reach into the watercourses with their unique spoon-shaped black beak and swing it from side to side, sensing the fish in the water through their inner sensory organs, and then quickly hunt for food.