DEFOLIATION DURING THE VIETNAM WAR

Abstract

The rain forests of Vietnam are deep and dark. The dense foliage overhead blocks out the sun. At the base of gigantic tropical trees are colonies of ferns and vines. There is no breeze and the stagnant air is sweltering. The forests become infested with leeches during the monsoon: leaves harbor insidious green leeches while on the laterite earth are ones of limpid amber. In swamps these bloodsuckers are often black.