Dry semi-deciduous forest on heavy-metal rich soils
This stunted pole forest grew on ultrabasic deposits c. 25 (fig. 7, locality 39) and 30 km north of Puerto Princesa On level areas the trees reached 15 m, but on undulating terrain about 5 m was normal. In the latter habitat, soil occurred only in pockets in the exposed rock, which dominated the forest floor. Of the twenty-nine trees and shrubs collected (table 10) one was a possibly new species of Planchonella related to P. foxworthyi. Such forests on flat ground occurred only in small patches and had been severely degraded by fuel-wood collectors.
Stunted pole forest on heavy-metal rich soils
This very characteristic 2 - 3 m high forest was found on Mt. Bloomfield (fig. 8, locality 31). There was an abrupt transition over 100 m asl from the 10 - 20 m high 'plain's forest' to this sclerophyllous vegetation type. Leaf litter was scant and the red soil was exposed in many places.
The heavy-metal indicators, Scaevola micrantha, Brackenridgea palustris var. foxworthyi and Exocarpus latifolius occurred here some 500 m below their normal altitude". Collections of Terminalia, Gymnostoma, Syzygium, Chionanthus and Guloa do not appear to resemble any known species. Further details are given in table 11. This vegetation-type is an extreme form of the ultrabasic forests of Palawan.
