Warta Kebun Raya 19 (1), Mei 2021

THE EXPEDITION OF AN ENDANGERED GIANT titanum IN SUMATRA

Angga Yudaputra, Izu Andry Fijridiyanto, Joko Ridho Witono, Inggit Puji Astuti Research Center for Plant Conservation and Botanic Gardens, Indonesian Institute of Sciences *Email: [email protected]

Occurrence records gained from direct field survey ABSTRAK

Bunga Bangkai Raksasa Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc., tidak pernah luput dari perhatian banyak orang karena bentuknya yang sangat unik dan merupakan tumbuhan endemik Sumatra. Saat ini, kondisi populasinya di alam sangat mengkhawatirkan akibat aktivitas pengambilan umbi secara besar-besaran untuk dijual sebagai komoditi ekspor dan tanaman hias. Aktivitas pengambilan umbi dibuktikan dengan ditemukannya lubang bekas galian pada saat survei lapangan. Berdasarkan hasil survei pada 5 - 31 Oktober 2020 di wilayah Sumatra, ditemukan 162 individu A.titanum salah satunya ditemukan dalam fase generatif dalam bentuk bunga di Sumatra Barat dan bentuk buah di Aceh. Sebagian besar individu ditemukan pada fase anakan yang berasal dari bekas cacahan umbi yang ditinggalkan oleh pengumpul. Selain itu, juga ditemukan beberapa lokasi baru bunga bangkai raksasa di di kawasan Lampung, Sumatra Barat, Sumatra Utara dan Aceh. Upaya konservasi terhadap bunga bangkai raksasa dan habitatnya sangat diperlukan untuk mencegah terjadinya penurunan populasi yang akan berujung pada kepunahan.

INTRODUCTION Regulation no. 7 of 1999 concerning the Preservation of Plant and Animal Species, and Amorphophallus is one of a large genus that the IUCN red list criteria designated consists of as many as 230 plant species. It is A. titanum as Endangered (Yuzammi & widely distributed in large areas, ranging Hadiah, 2018), a species that faces a high risk from Madagascar to Southeast Asia, and of extinction in the wild. The research Malaysia to North Australia (Yuzammi et al., entitled "Habitat Characteristic, Population 2017; POWO, 2021). There are 66 species of Assessment, and Predicting Potential Amorphophallus found in Malaysia, whereas Distribution of Endangered Giant Flower 26 species are recorded in Indonesia (Amorphophallus titanum) in Sumatra" aims (Yuzammi et al., 2014; Yuzammi et al., 2017). to determine the characteristics of the Sumatra is an endemic hot spots area of habitat, current population conditions, Amorphophallus distribution compared to potential threats to the population and other regions in Indonesia (Yuzammi et al., habitat, and to determine the effect of 2017). Amorphophallus titanum is endemic climate change on the spatial distribution of species commonly known as Titan Arum, Titan Arum in its natural habitat in Sumatra. distributed across several fragmented forests in Sumatra. However, the Sumatra’s forests CURRENT-SURVEYED HABITAT recently face serious threats due to massive illegal logging, land use conversion and forest This survey was conducted for 27 days, from fires. Those threats cause Sumatra to lose 5 October to 31 October 2020 as part of around 3000 km2 of forest areas annually research fully granted by Mohamed Bin (Loucks & Whitten, 2015). The Government Zayed Species Conservation Fund. The

23 Warta Kebun Raya 19 (1), Mei 2021 ecological survey was conducted by Angga river, Danau Tes Nature Tourism Park, Danau Yudaputra and Izu Andry Fijridiyanto from Liang Village, Tambang Sawah Village, Labuah the Research Center for Plant Conservation Gunuang Village, Gunung Sago Nature and Botanic Gardens, Indonesian Institute of Reserve, Lareh Sago Halaban, Sibolangit Sciences (LIPI). Some of the surveyed habitat Nature Reserve, Sibolangit Nature Tourism were selected including Bukit Barisan Selatan Park, Dolok Sipirok Nature Reserve, Namo National Park (Pemerihan Resort, Sukaraja Suro Baru Village, Batu Katak Nature Tourism Resort and Kubu Perahu Resort), Rimbo Park, Tangga Besi Village, Longkib District, Pengadang Village, upstream of the Uram Subulussalam City and some of Aceh areas.

Figure 1. Occurrence records gained from direct field survey

Before entering the research sites, several BKSDA) while searching for further relevant research permits (SIMAKSI) were sent to the information that was very important forest authority institutions (TN, BBKSDA, regarding the existence of Titan Arum.

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a b

c d

Figure 2. A Field work coordination with Forest Authority and local people: a). Bukit Barisan National Park Staff, b). Kerinci Seblat National Park, c). BKSDA Bengkulu, d). Local people in TWA Danau Tes

Research equipment was well prepared so stretched out from Lampung to Aceh while that the field work can run smoothly. The still applying health protocols during the field work was quite long, covering vast areas Covid-19 pandemic period.

a b

c

Figure 3. Some preparations for field work: a). Preparation of research equipment, b). Ship transportation, c).Trip to North Sumatra

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HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS AND fairly large diameter. The flowering HABITUS OF A. titanum IN SUMATRA (generative phase) of Titan Arum was found in the area of Lareh Sago Halaban (West The Titan Arum was mostly found in areas Sumatra) and Batu Katak Nature Tourism with sloping topography (slopes), rocky soil, Park (North Sumatra). The fruiting and close to river flows. The observed habitat (generative phase) was found in was aligned to the previous research findings Subulussalam City of Aceh. According to the that stated this species was mostly found in unverified information from local people, 25 – 45 % slope (Nursanti et al., 2019). It was horn bill (Buceros sp.) and short tailed sometimes found in soil with thick layer of monkey were thought to be dispersal agents litter up to 10 cm (Hidayat & Yuzammi, 2008). of titan arum. The fruit of titan arum has a There was three life phases of titan arum light coloured and relatively large in size, it including vegetative, generative and was likely eaten by birds (Hetterscheid & dormancy phase. The vegetative phase of Ittenbach, 1996). Titan Arum can reach up to 4 m high, with a

a b

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Figure 4. The morphological appearances of Titan Arum: a) Petiole, b). Flower, c). Fruits

There were some unique features of Titan new layers formed from its oldest part and Arum found during the field work. The new presumed to be correspond with the growth seedlings grew from chopped tubers left by stage of the vegetative phase. It was the collectors, and the roots emerged from assumed that every time a new leaf petiole the cutting petioles. The unique growth appeared, there would be a new tuber pattern was also observed on tuber where growth.

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a b

Figure 5. Unique features of Titan Arum: a). Growing roots in cutting petiole, b).The layering growth of tuber

THREAT AND CONSERVATION OF With the high demand for these tubers, it is A. titanum feared that the massive harvesting of Titan Arum’s tubers will continue both inside and The tubers of A. titanum currently have high outside of conservation areas. This activity economic value because they contain causes a drastic population decline if serious glucomannan which is good for dietary food. actions are not taken.

a b

Figure 6. a). The flower of Titan Arum was displayed in the side of the road for sale (photo credit: Samuel Siahaan), b) The tubers of Titan Arum that were collected by local buyers (photo credit: Supriatna)

Conserving rare Indonesian is not only Bengkulu, a group of people have founded a the government’s responsibility, local conservation garden for and community can also play a role according to Amorphophallus species. Tourism awareness each capacity. In Kapahiyang regency, group has also been initiated by young

27 Warta Kebun Raya 19 (1), Mei 2021 generation in Tiga Namo Pecawir Village, government should be given to encourage North Sumatra to introduce conservation many people to be involved in conservation aspect of Titan Arum that growing in their activities particularly to save these iconic areas and make the flower as a tourist species attraction.. Support and appreciation by

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Figure 7. The dissemination by forest authority: a). Forest authority staff in North Sumatra, b). Banner as conservation awareness media

Identifying the threats to Titan Arum Loucks, C. & Whitten, T. 2015. Southern Asia: population in its natural habitat is critical due Island of Sumatra in Indonesia. to over exploitation of its tubers and land https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecore conversion. With the increasing demand of gions/im0158. Accessed April 20, ornamental plants at the recent time, Titan 2021. Arum plant is also sold as ornamental plant in Nursanti, N., Wulan, C., & Felicia, M.R. 2019. a certain place. Therefore, it is important to Bioecology of titan arum (Amorphophallus carry out dissemination and counselling titanium (Becc.) Becc.) In Muara efforts for confirming that this species is Hemat Village, South Kerinci Resort, protected by law. Social media, posters, Kerinci Seblat National Park. Jurnal banners, outreach and discussion at the Silva Tropika, 3(2): 162-174. village level are powerful tools to send POWO. 2021. Amorphophallus Blume ex conservation messages. This report is Decne. http://www.plantsoftheworld expected to provide a conservation picture online.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:na about Titan Arum in its natural habitat in mes:331135-2. Accessed 24 April Sumatra. 2021. Whitmore, T.C. 1998. An Introduction to REFERENCE Tropical Rainforest. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Hetterscheid, W. & Ittenbach, S. 1996. Yuzammi, Witono, J.R. & Hetterscheid, W. Everything you always wanted to 2014. Conservation status of know about Amorphophallus, but Amorphophallus discophorus Backer & were afraid to stick your nose into. Alderw. () in Jawa, Indonesia. Aroideana, 19: 7-131. Reinwardtia, 14(1): 27-33. Hidayat, S. & Yuzammi. 2008. Kajian populasi Yuzammi, Kurniawan, A., Asih, N.P.S., alami bunga bangkai (Amorphophallus Erlinawati, I., & Hetterscheid, W. titanum (Becc.) Becc.) : Studi kasus di 2017. The Amorphophallus of kawasan hutan Bengkulu. Buletin Indonesia. Center for Plant Kebun Raya Indonesia, 1(1): 9-15. Conservation Botanic Gardens, LIPI. Bogor.

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Yuzammi & Hadiah, J.T. 2018. Amorphophallus 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T1180 titanum. The IUCN Red List of 42834A118043213.en. Downloaded Threatened Species 2018: e.T11804 on April 20, 2021. 2834A118043213. https://dx.doi.org/

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