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These forests, characterized by the presence of Dryobalanops aromatica (kapur), are found in the east of Peninsular Malaysia, usually never farther then about fifteen to twenty miles inland expect in Johore, on low hills and undulating land with a yellow-orange, well drained, sandy clay loam soil. They stretch in the north from just south of the Marang river in Terngganu to the Cerating River in north Pahang, and then from just north (Mentas and Petoh Forest Reserves) of the Rompin river in south Pahang to east Johore where they extend to the south east of Panti Forest Reserve and the eastern half of Kluang Forest Reserve. Inn addition there are two small pockets north of Kuala Lumpur, one in Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve and the other, which is well known, about two to three miles away in Kanching Forest Reserve; and local villagers report that a pocket also existed in part of what is now Waterfalls Rubber Estate. These are the only occurrences of Dryobalanops aromatica west of the main range. And it is the author belief that they were probably introduced there by aborigines several centuries ago. Aboriginal settlements occur in the area. There are used to be an extensive crystalline camphor trade between Peninsular Malaysia and Europe in the eighth century; and two of the main natural passes across the central range lie to the south and to the north of the area. It has to be admitted, however, no trees of this species have been found further south to the west of the main pass from the east coast to Malacca, the principle trading centre to the era. The forest structure is typically three tree layered, but the individuals forming the emergent or upper storey are generally taller than usually found in lowland dipterocarp forests. Dryobalanop aromatica is a gregarious species and often over small areas forms a pure crop of tall 'emergent' trees with coalescing crowns. The species flowers and fruits more regularly than is general in the family Dipterocarpaceae, and in its seedling and sapling stages it is shade tolerant. It has been recorded, however, that fruiting frequently occurs in one watershed though not in the next. Representation in the smaller (seedlings and saplings) and midddle-sized classes is therefore very much better than with Shorea and Dipterocarpus species and most other emergent layer species of lowland dipterocarp forest. Dryobalanops aromatica on the other hand is usually found mixed with other dipterocarps, both Shorea spp. And Dipterocarpus spp. and, but for its presence and predominance, the forest would be classified as either Red Meranti-keruing or Balau Forest. The leaf of Dryobalanops aromatica is very coriaceous and there is in consequence more leaf litter in Kapur forests than in other lowland dipterocarp forest types. |
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