Mosses are common in moist area such as the forest but they are often overlooked due to their miniature size and inconspicuous appearance. Collectively, large colonies appeared as patch of greenish patch on different types of surfaces. The life cycle of mosses is quite similar to that of ferns. With the mini-size, visualizing the structures of mosses is tough. The erected stalk-like structures with an enlarge head on top are the sporophytes that contain the spores.

After comparing the pictures in the guide book of mosses in Singapore published by the Science Centre, the one that I saw seemed to be Pelekium velatum in view of the feather-like pinnate branches of the fronds (leaves). According to the book (page 88), the only known locality of this moss in Singapore is at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. This might be a rare moss if my deduction of its identity was correct.

Besides the moss above, the only other plant sighting that worth highlighting was the flowers from the Bamboo Ginger (Costus stenophyllus) although the flowers had already fallen to the ground. I had been eyeing for the flowers of this Costus species for some years at a large plot at another location but they had refused to bear a single flower up till today.

This nature park was full of all sorts of creatures. However, most people might have missed them because the minibeasts were relatively small in size and scramble for cover as soon as they felt any disturbance in the surrounding. Below were 7 creatures that I had seen for the first time. They consisted of a snake (Striped Bronzeback; Dendrelaphis caudolineatus), a butterfly (Malayan Bush Brown; Mycalesis fusca fusca) and 5 beetles (2 Leaf Beetles, a green Tiger Beetle, a Soldier Beetle, and a Firefly). Now I had a much better appreciate of the vast diversity of beetles in our forested area.

Overall, the most amazing picture was this one with 2 wasps in mid-air appraching a huge rock. By pure luck, I managed to bring my camera close enough to snap just one picture before the 2 fellas dashed off. It turned out that this one-and-only picture looked pretty cool. One of them was a lighter in colour which made me suspect that they might be a pair of male and female.

It was a really fruitful outing with all the nice pictures taken and the wonder of nature surrounding me all the while while I was there. I just hope that these natural places will be left alone as long as possible. The steep increase in human population over the last few years in this small island is quite worrisome especially the pressure that they are exerting on the little remaining natural areas that we have are left with.