Vegetation of Southeast Asia Studies of Forest Types 1963-1965

favorable for the establishment of bamboo brakes. This appears to
be the case in the development of brakes of Oxytenan thera albo-ciliata
along the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers, in western and -northwestern
Thailand. Here scattered solitary trees of the tall 'yang' (Dipterocarpus
alatus) and 'inthanin 1 (Laserstroemia. flos-x-egiane) still romain
as remnants and indicators of the original Moist Livergreen
forest, which prevailed in such sites.
Bamboos are ready colonisers, and when not wanted they are difficult
to eradicate although, as indicated, they can be controlled to
some extent by chemicals. Many bamboos, also, are fire resistant.
Following clear cuhting of Teak forest, for example, or by burning,
the land is soon restocked by bamboo which produces new culms from
the perennial subsurface rhizomes. Certain bamboo species also invade
clearings which have remained fallow following shifting cultivation,
or the 'rai' system, widely practiced in Southeast Asia. Because
of the vigorous growth of their rhizomes, they discourage or
suppress other species of bamboo, even some of the more common hardy
weeds, including the ubiquitous Eupatorium odoratum or Imperatu cy_-
lindrica, as well as tree species.
The growth of a bamboo formation is generally uniform, and usually
reaches its maximum height in a very short period. Pejuvenatior.
of the formation is continuous, year after year, by means of seedlings
or young culras from the sane plant. A typical bamboo in tne dry forest
blossoms after a vegetative growth of 20 to 30 years. Soon after
flowering and seeding old culms of most species wither, then break off
and fall as a result of decay. This usually occurs in the wet reason.
The stand may regenerate from seedlings vhich develop in the succeeding
rainy season, or sometimes from new culms sprouting from underground
rhizomes. Thus, a rhythm of death and regrowth characterizes the
bamboo formation.
In the local economy of Southeast Asia bamboo is considered,
next to rice, the staff of life. In many areas it is one plant material
that is sufficiently cheap and plentiful to fill the tre-nendous
daily requirements. It figures so prominently that the majority of
the people would be destitute without it. The almost infinite uses
of this versatile plant range from providing shelter, in the -form of
cncap, rapidly built homes, to numerous articles in daily use, including
food such as fresh or preserved young shoots, and materials
for fishing, or for the manufacture of paper pulp.
Once establishes under favorable environmental conditions, bamboo
requires little '-v M attention beyond occasional thinning to keep
the clumps in vigorous condition. It requires no elaborate or costly
machinery to harvest, transport, or to manufacture the many objects
that fill the endless needs of the natives. Living bamboo, such aii
ThyrsoGtac hys siamensls, with suitable growth and it; small clumps,
is planted for fences around corrals, and for fishing poles. Almost
every farmhouse, hamlet or village in the great central plain of •