Greening city road with staghorn ferns

(From left) Ng, MPS member Shawnd Ang, Tan and Chandra Sagaran looking at the ferns transplanted onto trees along Jalan Masjid Negri, which is also known as Greenlane. — KT GOH/The Star

Antler-type plant worth RM7,000 donated for MBPP’s Greener Greenlane project

A TOTAL of 100 staghorn ferns have been attached to trees along Jalan Masjid Negri to give it a “garden in the city” feel under the Greener Greenlane initiative by Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan Hooi Peng said it was the first time this was being done along the 2km route.

“I hope the staghorn ferns will flourish well, complete with fronds supposedly resembling the forked antlers of male deer or stag,” she said.

She explained that the deep green ferns, also known as Platycerium coronarium, were chosen as they were hardy tropical ornamental plants that lived in harmony with their hosts.

Ng donated the 100 staghorn ferns, which were worth RM7,000.

“I want drivers to feel as if they are driving through a lush garden when making their way home from work or vice-versa,” she said at a press conference.

Tan expressed hope that the ferns, which were worth RM7,000 in total, would help absorb carbon dioxide.

“If this phase is successful, we will look into planting more such plants at other sections of the road,” she said, adding that the first batch of ferns were donated by businessman Dave Ng, who is a Malaysia Platycerium Society (MPS) member.

Ng and MBPP landscape department arborist V. Chandra Sagaran were present at the media conference.

On another matter, Tan said MBPP had scheduled lorries to collect recyclables from residents living in Island Glades and Island Park every Saturday.

“Residents can leave their recyclable items in front of their houses for collection from 8.30am to 4pm,” she said.