THE PHILIPPINE 
Journal of Science 
C. Botany 
VOL. IX SEPTEMBER, 1914 No. 5 
THE PIONEER VEGETATION OF TAAL VOLCANO 
By Frank C. Gates 
{From the College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines, 
Los Banos, P. I.) 
Eight plates 
INTRODUCTION 
The classic illustration of the redevelopment of vegetation on 
volcanic islands is of course Krakatoa. This island has been 
visited by various botanists during the thirty years since its last 
eruption, so that the history of its vegetation is well known. 
While Taal may offer less of interest than does Krakatoa, it is 
important because of the short lapse of time since its latest erup- 
tion and because of its ready accessibility. 
Taal Volcano is a low mountain, rising from the middle of 
Bombon Lake in longitude 120° 59' east and latitude 14° 2' north. 
Bombon Lake, frequently called Taal Lake, occupies a basin 
about 22 kilometers long and 14 kilometers wide, in Batangas 
Province, Luzon, and is some 63 kilometers south of the city of 
Manila. Near the middle of the lake are a few islands, mostly 
of very small size. The largest of these islands, known as Vol- 
cano Island or Taal Island, is about 7 kilometers long and 5.5 
kilometers wide. It is the location of the active crater of the 
volcano. The surface of the island is very rugged and the active 
erosion is rapidly making it more so. In addition to the large 
crater in the center of the island smaller craters are present 
around it. 
The latest eruption of Taal culminated on January 30, 1911, 
and resulted in the entire destruction of the villages on the 
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