418 
The Philippine Journal of Science 
1914 
it readily forms groves of trees. It is not usually exclusive, and 
tends to become one of a number of dominant trees in a parang 
area. As it is fairly tolerant it can drive out less tolerant 
species and with its heavy crops of seeds is rapidly pushing into 
and superseding the grass areas. 
The Pithecolobium consocies. — The parang consocies dominated 
by Pithecolobium dulce is fairly abundant and widespread on 
the island, occurring especially on the crests of ridges. It is 
most abundant in the northeastern region, developing as small, 
often bushy trees up to about 4 meters high. In April, 1914, 
the seed crop was very heavy. Many birds were noticed eating 
the sweetish, white, popcorn like arillus surrounding the seeds. 
Pithecolobium mixes with Acacia to a considerable extent, but 
the Acacia is a pioneer in more different places and particularly 
at higher elevations. The shade from Pithecolobium readily 
eliminates any grass which is present. This consocies starts 
most frequently in rather open grassland but later may mix with 
the other consocies in a general parang and persist in the more 
xerophytic places. 
As indicated above, the parang association is made up of a 
number of shrubs and small trees, forming very mixed vegetation 
which may be one of the stages leading up to the development 
of forest. The association is present on Taal in its distributional 
stages. Wherever shrubs or small trees occur they form units 
in parang. As certain species appear in one place and others 
in another the result is the development of consocies, the sub- 
sequent mingling of which brings about the existence of the 
general parang. In addition to those species which may charac- 
terize separate consocies are certain shrubs, which on Taal at 
least always occur as individuals in the general parang, but do 
not characterize consocies. The following list includes all such 
species and in addition many invading species of the Bambusa- 
Parkia association, which have not yet come to dominate : 
GENERAL PARANG 
Species of plants in the parang association. 
DOMINANT SPECIES. 
Acacia f arnesiana. 
Antidesma bunius. 
Breynia rhamnoides. 
Bridelia stipularis. 
Buddleia asiatica. 
Callicarpa blancoi. 
Casearia cinerea. 
Breynia cernua. 
Antidesma ghesaembilla. 
Antidesma rostratum. 
Atalantia disticha. 
Blumea balsamifera. 
