Research on structural characteristics and relationship between Hainan homalium (Homalium ceylanicum (Gardner) Benth) and other species in natural forests of Nam Dong and Phu Loc districts, Thua Thien Hue province

Abstract

Hainan homalium (Homalium ceylanicum (Gardner) Benth) is a large tree species of the Flacourtiaceae family. Research results in Nam Dong and Phu Loc districts show that Hainan homalium has mean diameter and especially mean height higher than that of the forest stand. The fomulation of tall trees ranges from 29 to 56 species including some dominant species such as Castanopsis chapaensis,
Syzygium cuminii, Canarium album, Artocarpus asperula, Gironniera subaequalis, Parashorea stellata, Memecylon umbellatum, Knema globularia and Paranephelium spirei. Hainan homalium is not an ecologically dominant species and have little role in the creation of forest situation. The forest floor structure consists of 3 layers (A1, A2, A3), in which Hainan homalium concentrated mainly in A2 layer. Difference in mean height of its compared to the forest stand is
significant. Research on relationship between Hainan homalium and other species in natural forests, used survey methods are “6 tree plot” and appearing frequency index. The results also show that Hainan homalium has low population density, often distributed scattered of mixed evergreen broadleaf forest; Number of species appearing with Hainan homalium are 25 species. This species often appears three
other native tree species with very high frequence, including Canarium album, Parashorea chinensis, Castanopsis chapaensis. Hainan homalium can plant mixed forests with Canarium album and Castanopsis chapaensis.