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These forests are mainly found in south Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, north and central Johore, central Pahang, south Kelantan and central Terengganu. They are characterised by a high percentage in the upper storey of species of the Red Meranti group of Shorea, of which S. acuminata, S. leprosula, S. macoptera, S. ovalis, S. parvifolia are the commonest species (S. curtisii is also locally common along ridge tops from 500-1000 feet a.s.l., and of Dipterocarpus of which D. baudii, D. cornutus, D. grandiflorus, D. kerrii, D. sublamellatus and D. verrucosus predominate. The species are often gregarious as several or as individual species; several of the above species may be completely absent in some tracts of forest. Other common large species of the upper storey are Anisoptera laevis, Canarium spp. (mainly C. littorale), Dyera costulata, Koompassia malaccensis, Myristica spp. (mainly M. iners), Palaquium maingayi, Santiria spp. (mainly S. laevigata), Scaphium affine and Tarrietia simplicifolia. The shrub and sapling layer is usually rather open with palms Eugeissona triste (mainly west of the main range), Licuala spp. (mainly east of the main range), and the shrub or woody scrambler Agrostistachys spp. Often being locally common. The ground flora is poorly represented and consists mainly of seedlings of the large trees. |
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A characteristic feature of the forests is the comparatively poor representation of the middle size-classes of the large, upper storey and important forestry species; this can be explained by the fact that these species are in general strong light demanders and that individuals pass rapidly from seedling stage through these middle size-classes whenever the opportunity arises as a result of a gap occurring in the upper and main canopies from a dead or wind-blown giant. These is usually an adequate reservoir of seedlings of these species, which is replenished every so many years, for several seedlings to take advantage of the increased light, to grow rapidly in height and for one or more to take over. Field observations indicate that the matter appears to be aided by most gaps being initially increased in size through wind action rather than being closed up by the expansion of the crowns of surrounding large trees. |
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