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Yin Yin Kyi INTRODUCTION

til**. Of the numerous species that grow in the Union of Myanmar, some 7050 specWln 285 families are recorded in the "List of Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Principal Climbers" published and revised by the Forest Department In 1986. However, many more still remain un-identified throughout the country.

Becaup of ItsJlpgth f|O[n ihorth to sc uth, Myanmgr|raverses many climanp TOr^norn temperate thr<| ygh arid to tropical and consequently, the comppnents'of the flo Q are many and varied. 1

The Myanmar Poles'! Departmer1 t has endeavored to develop NationaLParks and Protected aeas in addition to the -, *%j"^Jlr ' " existing Wildlife sanctuaries. Since t early 1980s, it has succeeded in establishing three Nationa Parks including Hlawga wildlife Park, Popa Mountain Park an« Alaungdaw Kathapq National Park. Of the three parks, thei at Popa in central Myanmar was the firstto be established (jjhd contains a rich flora. especially of mediqnal pjantsl

llW |UIY i and found abundantly. Some notable medicinal plants are listed below The lowest slope and foothill is Khan-dauk riutlictrumfaholosum composed of Kyun (Tectona grandis Selet-wa 5' hefflera venulosa L.f.), Pyinkado (Xylia dolattriformis Beiberts asiatica Benth.), Dahat (Tectona hamiltoniana 'afiin Pittosporum nepauleiisis Wall.), Than (Term&alia oliveri Eikihaya-trs A-1'<>l\qonum tomentosum (Terrf"wlia chebula Rete.)» etc. Holaffhena retttenda Above 4000 feet, it is covered with. grassland aiid few hardy herbs. Desmodium spp Akyaw/Tawkhdn pir Camsa spirianum TOURIST ATTRACTION Shops in the Popa village area usually sell The crater of Mount Popa is about Mount Popa is still famous for her the roots and stem cuttings of some one mile wide and 2000 feet deep in the fragrant Sagawa flowers and some people f __ _ medicinal plant in a bundle with centre The vegetation in the crater is fey - used to call Mount Popa as Sagawa Myay accompanying leaflets, describing the luxuriant and includes trees, some' of- or Sagawa-lan'd, Mount Popa is an medicinal values of these plants and the which attain to aieight of 70 to 80 fe^t extremely wellknown and a very *" „** prescription for use. - _ _ The undergrowm is very moist and dense tnteresting-ferdtnafk iitMyanmar It is a with shrubs, herbs and cumbers. It seems very pleasant place for recreation and to The major forest t^pes of the to be an evergreen forest type ft is a very study the differing luxuriant plant centre of me dry zone include the Dry interesting area for plant study communities within a small area A Forest, Than-Dahat Forest and Thorn The preliminary survey work has pleasan; night-lodge, at about 2600 feet Forest. In addition, Mount Popa also been undertaken by the Forest Research above sea level, with full facilities supports hill forest, dry upper imxe Institute on the western part of Mount including range riding is provided by the deciduous forest, indaing low forest an Popa and the following types of species Forest Department for tourists who wish grassland on the summit were recorded: ' " to discover and enjoy the beauty of Mount Popa in all its splendour. 1 **£•*< Tree 1 O • ' 1 1 2 species ff^n. 2 $&? Small tree 67 species

H Herbs .10 srwrif^ 3. * Daw Yin Yin Kyi Shrubs 4.^ 43 species ;:• c.r, Assistant Director of the Forest Research Institute, Yezin, Climbers/ Straggling shrub 47 species ^•' Jfe? Pyinmaria Township; Myanmar. 6'. I Bamboo 1 species

Total number of species SOOspecies

MYANMttfORBTKV JUIY 1995 Panpromo of Mount Popd - an extinct volcano. (PHOTO 8V AUNG JXN)

MOUNT POPA situated in the most arid part of the central According-to the ancient legend, Myanmar, various kinds of flowers, the famous hero, "Ko Byatta" had to _ Mount popa is the plants and trees have cropped up and it is collect flowers at Mount Popa and offer only prominent volcano in noW known as an oasis of the dry zone. these to the Royal Palace at Pagan daily. Myanrnar, which rises out Within an area of 49.63 sq. miles He thus met the belle of Popa, called of the plains of the (12854.39 ha), various types of forest "Mai-Wunna" and got married. The Kyaukpadaung township such as Dry Than-Dahat Forest, Thorn couple had two brave sons "Shwebyin- in the middle of the dry Forest, Dry Mixed Deciduous Foa-p; i) inavjng" who were well-known in the 14 zone. It is one of the few Scrub Indaing Forest, Dry Hill Forest and history of Myanmar. .manifestations of an Hill Grassland can be studied. The extinct volcanic activity in remnants of the original Semi-ev<- ?-. »n Myanmar and an Flora such as sweet scented yellow , whiw outstanding physical and green blooms of the Sagawa iiee<- Icmchrrark. • , ' (Michelia champaca L,), Sagapyu in.:., The Myanmar Forest Department : vas endeavoured to develop Mount Popa Mount Popa is trees (Cananga odorata (Lamk) Hk, 1, as a protected area and has established it located about 34 miles south east of T) and Kanyin trees as Popa Mountain Parkin 1982,, Pagan, an ancient capital of Myanmar on alatus)eax abundant. It is a place The Park is one of the thebankoftheA- evawaddy. Even though religious and cultrual heritage are h?; ••if* hest in flora due fe" it is in the civ, ;oae area, it is almost ' well preserved and maintained. •is range of eleva- evergreen, due t.-> its elevation of 4981 > ion, its location feet above <«v <*vel 'and its fertile soil •nd its fertility of conditions. Mount Popa, which is the core THE LEGEND soil. Medicinal and crater of the extinct volcano exhibits nlantsfrom • a rich biodiversity vatft an unusual array Many Buddhists Mount Popa are of vegetations of many types. Mount Popa is the horn); of nats ai very famous and spirits. They also believe t hat once UMH well-known.Many Even though Mount Popa is a time, beautiful ogresses l|ye| on flows s species of medicinal and played bide and seek ii i groves

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