With a mean temperature of 23¢J and an annual rainfall of 2,200 mm, Kenting National Park enjoys a tropical climate of long summers and mild winters. The wet season is from May to October and the dry season from October to April. The northeast monsoon, also known as "fallen-wind", prevails every year from October through March. Due to its unique climate and various landforms, Kenting National Park is able to support a rich variety of botanic life. The flora of Kenting National Park consists of coastal and terrestrial plants.
Coastal plants: 1. Coral reef zone: The largest area of coral reef plants in Taiwan, typified by the shrubby reef pemphis (Pemphis acidula).
2. Herbaceous zone: Distributed on sand or sand dunes, usually adjacent to coral reefs. Typified by beach morning glory (Ipomoea pescaprae) and simple-leaf chaste tree (Vitex rotundifolia).
3. Shrub Zone: This area has small shrubs with prostrate branches, forming a natural windbreak behind herbaceous plants. Typified by Pandanus odoratissimus and Scaevola sericea. Trees such as Messerschmidia argentea and Hibiscus tiliaceus are also common here.
4. Coastal forest zone: Once distributed along the shore stretching from Nanwan to Eluanbi. However, only the area around Chuanfanshih and Siangjiaowan remains today after this zone was cultivated by humans.
Typified by Barringtonia asiatica and Hernandia Sonora, the seeds or fruits of which can travel with the ocean current to the land close to the shore where they grow into forests.
Terrestrial plants: 1. Aquatic and riparian zone: Distributed in irrigation ponds, ditches and disused farms. Typified by Scirpus juncoides, Eleocharis dulcis and Leersia hexandra.
2. Grassland zone: This zone was shaped mainly as a result of activities such as burning or herding. Typified by Ischaemum indicum distributed on foothills around the Nanrenshan Basin.
3. Bush zone: Distributed in the upwind eastward or northeastward slopes, which are generally fairly steep. Typified by Gordonia axillaries, Myrica adenophora, Daphniphyllum oldhamii and Rhaphiolepis indica.
4. Forest zone: This zone has the most complicated and primitive botanic life, typified by plants belonging to the family Fagaceae that can only be found in this part of the island. Other rare species such as Schizaea digitata and Phalaenopsis Aphrodite also flourish here.
Kenting National Park is like a museum of nature, supporting a number of biotopes featuring rare and precious plants representative of Taiwan's flora, which are in urgent need of proper conservation.
They include: 1. The monsoon forest in Nanrenshan area: Formed by the seasonal monsoon and rainfall in this area, this unique forest is the only remaining low-altitude primeval forest in Taiwan. It supports 1,238 indigenous species of vascular plants, accounting for 30% of vascular plants around the island.
2. The littoral forest in Chuanfanshih and Siangjiaowan areas: It is Taiwan's only remaining littoral forest kept intact, in which a wide spectrum of coastal vegetations can be found. This forest has been designated as a nature preserve for proper conservation.
3. The primeval forest in Kenting Forest Recreation Area: It is Taiwan's only forest composed of uplifted coral reef forest, tropical rainforest and monsoon forest, in which plants belonging to the genus Ficus sprawl on coral reefs, creating a unique sight. The rich flora in Kenting National Park constitutes a treasure-throve of botanic life, and conservation efforts are needed to ensure the stability and diversity of specifies supported under such ecosystem, so that they can continue to be studied and appreciated by future generations.
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