Nestled in the hills of the far northeastern corner of Hong Kong. Lai Chi Wo houses the largest mangrove trees, Heritiera littoralis, in the territory. These trees also support numerous gigantic climbers, Derris trifoliata, which cross and climb from one tree to another. Together with the huge interweaving buttress roots, it forms a magnificent patch of primitive coastal forest, which cannot be found elsewhere in Hong Kong. Just beyond this mangrove forest, there is a highly biodiverse mudflat. Of the 5 known seagrass species in Hong Kong, Zostera japonica and Halophila ovalis can be found in the mudflat and are ecologically important in playing a key role in providing food and shelter for many juvenile coastal creatures, including fish fry and crab and shrimp larvae. |
