What are dipterocarp forests?
To my surprise, dipterocarp forests refer to any forest in which the dominant species of trees are members of the family Dipterocarpaceae. Its members can be found throughout the tropical regions of the world, though they hit their greatest numbers in the forests of southeast Asia and specifically Borneo.
What are the 14 genera of the family dipterocarpaceae?
The species of this family are of major importance in the timber trade….Classification.
| Dipterocarpoideae | Dipterocarpeae Anisoptera Cotylelobium Dipterocarpus Stemonoporus Upuna Vateria Vateriopsis Vatica Shoreae Dryobalanops Hopea Neobalanocarpus Parashorea Shorea |
|---|---|
| Monotoideae | Marquesia Monotes Pseudomonotes |
Why dipterocarp is the most important family of economic trees in Southeast Asia?
Currently the dipterocarps dominate the international tropical timber market, and therefore play an important role in the economy of many Southeast Asian countries. In addition to timber, this family of trees also produces other non-timber products like resins and oleoresins.
What is Molave forest?
Molave Type. This type of forest is more open than the dipterocarp type and the volume of timber per unit is much less, averaging 30 m3 per hectare. It occurs in regions where there are distinct wet and dry seasons, each of several months’ duration.
What is dipterocarp forest in the Philippines?
Philippine dipterocarp forest is quite tall (45-65 m) and dense, with three canopy layers. Lianas and bamboo are rare in mature forest but common in poorly developed evergreen forest. Ferns, orchids, and other epiphytic plants are found on the larger trees.
What is lowland dipterocarp?
Dipterocarp forests carpet the Borneo lowlands forming a green expanse composed of a high number of plant species. As many as 240 different tree species can grow within 1 hectare. These plants typically wind themselves around their host tree, eventually covering and killing it.
Where is dipterocarp forest in the Philippines?
The dominant forest type in the Mindanao lowlands and the rest of the Philippines was dipterocarp forest. This group of trees is known as Philippine mahogany in the timber trade. This forest type occurred from sea level to elevations of 400 m or higher. Individual dipterocarps occur to 1,500 m.
What is lowland dipterocarp forest?
Dipterocarp forests carpet the Borneo lowlands forming a green expanse composed of a high number of plant species. As many as 240 different tree species can grow within 1 hectare. The fruit from these trees are a major food source for many animals.
Where can we find dipterocarp forest in the Philippines?
What is forest over limestone?
Forests over limestone are usually a mosaic of rich and poor growth due to free-draining, steep slopes, water stress, high concentrations of calcium and magnesium, richer soils between jagged peaks and pinnacles. The tree species diversity is usually less prominent, but the herb flora can be rich with many endemics.
What is a dipterocarp forest like in Borneo?
Dipterocarp forests are far from uniform across Borneo. Depending on altitude, the diversity of plants varies and so does their overall appearance. In areas below 150 metres, lowland dipterocarp forests often contain many trees from the legume family and massive strangler fig plants.
What is the difference between lowlands and dipterocarp forests?
As we move beyond 150 metres, the dipterocarp forests in some parts of Borneo contain a greater diversity of plants than the extreme lowlands, in addition to large timber trees and wild fruit trees. Above 500 metres, it is possible to encounter one of the 17 species of Rafflesia.
What are the best dipterocarp trees in Malaysia?
Shorea leprosula is one of the most common dipterocarps in Malaysia, a light demanding tree that can attain good size relatively quickly. Heights of 60+ meters have been recorded. It has a wide buttressed base, and the leaves have a coppery hue to them. A very common tree in the (remaining) lowland and hill dipterocarp forests – Shorea parvifolia.
How high can a dipterocarp tree grow?
Heights of 60+ meters have been recorded. It has a wide buttressed base, and the leaves have a coppery hue to them. A very common tree in the (remaining) lowland and hill dipterocarp forests – Shorea parvifolia. The winged seeds/fruits of dipterocarps which lends the family their generic name. Two different species are shown here.