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Home , Alocasia macrorrhizos, Bagan Datuk (town), Colocasia, Cyrtosperma merkusii, Kuala Kangsar (town), Lasia

Truyen and Mansor, 2015 The distribution of along the lower section of ... The distribution of Araceae along the lower section of River,

Duong Minh Truyen & Mashhor Mansor School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, 11800 , Malaysia

ABSTRACT extending from sea level. gigantea is Araceae is one of the biggest families of also recorded but not abundant. Besides the monocotyledonous , and is diverse in dominant species found, other species are both Old World and New World tropics and occasionally found in rice fields and canals some are found in north temperate regions. in the region surveyed. Most of Araceae The diversity of their species composition species obtain nutrient substances from the in the tropical Asian region is relatively rich area close to the river. Other surveys about and widely distributed in countries of South the social values of Araceae usages are also East . In researching Araceae, the conducted to supplement this work about investigation and conservation of species Araceae in the . are addressed accordingly. INTRODUCTION The survey of the distribution of Araceae along the lower section of Perak River, Perak River is located in the Northeast of Malaysia was conducted from April to May, Malaysia with 400km length, several towns 2013 on several sites in each of four areas, are observed on both sides of the river. It is namely , , Teluk Itan the second longest river in Peninsular and which were selected Malaysia. The State of Perak has a rich and based on the reviews about the main groups valuable collection of species in many of Perak River’s landscape. During the field regional sites. This provides information not assessments, 17 aroid species in 13 genera only for ecologists but also environmental were detected in this region. From the data planners and nature reserve designers. With collected, Colocasia and are most species, the Perak River ecosystem frequent in areas surveyed and Colocasia is gives a plant map for the biogeography to the most common . From Teluk Itan, provide value for the conservation. Perak Colocasia esculenta is the most common River also has been a range of biodiversity species because it grows in lowlands, system with unique species in both flora and fauna data (Figure 1).

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 65 Truyen and Mansor, 2015 The distribution of Araceae along the lower section of ...

Figure 1. Perak River and the flora.

The Araceae, the monocotyledonous flowering plants in which are collected on a fleshy spadix is commonly found in Perak. The family, with 107 genera and over 3700 species recognised so far, is the most noticably diverse family in the tropics. Besides the medicinal or food value, Figure 2. Hydrology values. a large number of species of Araceae are used as ornamental plants because of its adaptation to lower light conditions.. Many in different habitats along the Perak River of the species have a narrow distribution side, and estimates of the dominant and and with the number of individuals very rare species. small. Therefore, the investigation and conservation of species need to be studied in great details. METHODS

In addition, the diversity of aroid species Materials composition in Indochina is very rich. The following categories were used in this Probably, many species are new to science survey: and done more intensivelyfurther additions to the Araceae flora of this region will be The Malaysia Road map and Highway detected if surveying is conducted Guide of Malaysia (1 : 916 560) continuously. Therefore, researching about Araceae is necessary, which also includes the ecological distribution of Araceae family

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Figure 4 Figure 3

Figures 3-5. 17 aroid species found in lower section of Perak River.

The documents of classification and ecological description of Araceae and environmental factor of plants.

The materials to field survey : maps, measuring tap, notebook and camera.

Plants To compare the Araceae communities of the lower Perak River, the species of Figure 5 different plants a number of sites in four areas along the river were collected. Each survey was conducted to compare occurrence of species between each habitat of the sites.

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Water quality All of our sites were broadly humid ecosystems, so that we measured the evironmental factors to determine if the different habitats affected the species found. We used water quality measurements of pH, temperature and TDS as well as analysis of cores to determine the variability along the lower Perak River. Appropriate measuring equipment was used at each site: Kuala Kangsar, Parit, Teluk Itan and Bagan Datuk .

Figure 6. Total number of species found in Soil sites surveyed. We collected soil cores at the four sites for comparison, using an Eijkelkamp piston sampler. We used a Munsell Color Book to layer of dark, organic matter, submerged by identify the color and made note of the water was observed. This soil exhibited an texture, moisture, biological activity, land odor, that could be identified as H2S, from use, elevation, depth and any other the highly reduced conditions. distinguishing features. We did not test for the presence of pyrite using H2O2, but we From the results, we can see that textures did take note of Jarosite present, which is along this section of the Perak River are also an indicator of pyrite. We were only mostly sand. Some soil profiles found near able to take a soil core to 20 cm. We cut a the river are wet while other found in palm portion of the outside of the core away to field or in mountain are dry. view the core in section where less mixing in the profile may have occurred as a result of the coring process. Hydrology The bar graphs illustrate the hydrology RESULTS values of four places surveyed in the lower section of Perak River. The first chart Soil compares the pH values between locations. In Parit, the pH value recorded was lower Araceae plants prefer the humus (at pH 5.7), than in Kuala Kangsar and ecosystem . Additionally, at four surveyed Teluk Itan, which were similar, with figures locations, we observed the surface . Soil cores were not collected, but a 20 cm deep

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 68 Truyen and Mansor, 2015 The distribution of Araceae along the lower section of ... range around 6.0. Bagan Datuk had the occurring species, namely Colocasia esculenta, highest pH of nearly 7.0. spinosa and Typhonium trilobatum.

Temperatures reported were high in all In Kuala Kangsar, the soil and water are places, fluctuating between 250 and 320C. also favorable for a number of species. Temperatures are warm, the highest is There are dramatical differences between 29.40C and pH is not too low, ranging TDS of locations surveyed. Bagan Datuk between 4.97 and 6.68. Nine species were was well over 150 mg/l, much higher than found here. Most of species are natural, the other three places. such as (in other places, Alocasia macrorrhizos is an ethnobotanically essential plant, and a tropical indoor plant Plants cultivated for its tubers and , used as With the exceptions noted, the four animal fodder ), Amorphophallus prainii and locations were similar in their overall Colocasia esculenta. were characteristics, favoring a limited group of found, but the frequent plant encountered aroids, and lacked the edaphic and was Amorphophallus prainii. Worthy of note is topographic conditions that give much that sagittifolium was only found greater aroid variety in areas higher up the in Kuala Kangsar. river system and further from the actual river itself. Bagan Datuk is located near the river mouth where reaches the sea. The pH With 13 species, the ecosystem in Parit was values were higher than that of recorded in observed as the most suitable for species of other places, as was the TDS (212 and 160 Araceae. Temperatures are warm, mg/l). Bagan Datuk has not many Araceae fluctuating between 28.30C and 32.40C. species, but all are naturally occurring, Some aroid species are most suited by namely Alocasia longiloba, Alocasia macrorrhizos tropical regions where it is warm and humid and Colocasia esculenta, except that one such as Colocasia esculenta , and in Parit, bicolor was found. Four species Colocasia esculenta is one of the most were found in Teluk Itan (Colocasia esculenta, common plants found with a large natural Colocasia gigantea, Lasia spinosa, Dieffenbachia population. Some ornamental species like maculata), all probably of natural occurrence. Caladium bicolor and Lasia spinosa was the rare species there with bipinnatifidum are cultivated but in only small only very small populations found. The soils numbers. Species observed in Parit are in these two places are not much different, ornamentals of genera like , being clay and sand. Water quality is similar Dieffenbachia, Epipremnum, Syngonium, with figures of pH in Bagan Datuk, being Caladium, together with three naturally higher slightly. TDS in Bagan Datuk follow the trend with 212 mg/l and 160 mg/l. It

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 69 Truyen and Mansor, 2015 The distribution of Araceae along the lower section of ... can be seen that the closer the locations are distribution in the lower section of the to the sea, the higher the TDS values are. Perak River. Alocasia macrorrhizos, Colocasia gigantea and Dieffenbachia maculata occurred in Of the 17 species found (Figures 3-5), three areas, Syngonium podophyllum and Lasia there were native and endemic species, spinosa were found in two locations. Most ornamental species, common species and species were found in only one area weedy species. surveyed,

 Native species: Alocasia longiloba, Notes on each genus: Amorphophallus prainii, merkusii, Lasia spinosa, Typhonium trilobatum. Alocasia: The most frequent species is Alocasia macrorrhizos, which was found along  Introduced, ornamental plants: the mountain slopes or near the drain, while Alocasia macrorrhizos, Dieffenbachia maculata, Alocasia longiloba was found commonly in the Epipremnum aureum, Epipremnum giganteum, river habitat of Bagan Datuk, but in small Epipremnum pinnatum, Philodendron populations. bipinnatifidum, Syngonium podophyllum, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Amorphophallus: We discovered a large population in the mountain and some places  Introduced crop: around the mountain slope, Amorphophallus Colocasia esculenta, . prainii grew in humid environment and shade. The bar chart shows the significantly different number of Araceae species found Caladium: Caladium bicolor, usually having in the places surveyed. The plant specimens pink spots in the was found around collected from the lower section of Perak housing sites. can be identified to 17 species. With 12 species of the 17 found, Parit takes the first Colocasia: The most frequently found place considered as the most diverse species is Colocasia esculenta living in the location. Kuala Kangsar follows closely by stable aqua-system, mostly be found near with 9 species recorded, The diversity in the drains or dump ground. Because the Teluk tan is low as same as in Bagan Datuk, tuber of this species can be used as with figures having only 4 species recorded. provision, it also is found in the housing sites. The percentage of species occurrence varies considerably. Colocasia esculenta was Cyrtosperma: was found 100% from Kuala Kangsar to Bagan recorded in the palm plantations, where it Datuk. This species has the largest was abundant in large sizes in the fields.

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Dieffenbachia: Only Dieffenbachia maculata In this study, 17 species of plant were was found in the areas surveyed, but with a collected from Kuala Kangsar, Parit, Teluk large population. Intan and Bagan Datuk along the Perak River. Based on 125 genera and about 3750 Epipremnum: Epipremnum pinnatum was species including the Lemnaceae, some of surveyed in the palm field with a big size, specimen from this study is recorded for the growing in shade and dry conditions. The distribution along four places surveyed, other species were less common. including climbing species Philodendron sp. and the mountainous species Amorphophallus Lasia: Lasia spinosa was found near the prainii were collected from Kula Kangsar. sewers or stagnant ponds. Some populations Moist, ever wet or per humid lowland to hill live in the basalt soil and have bigger size dipterocarp forest is the suitable habitats for than the others Araceae species with the most diversity and abundance species occurring in forest on Philodendron: The most frequent species of steep slopes above streams and close to the genus is Philodendron bipinnatifidum. This small rivers . Some genera occur in the genus is considered to be climbers, so that lower slope zone or some be found at the the species were found in the palm field or valley bottom with cooler, wetter or the mountain; sometimes be found in the consistently humid niches such as housing areas but near the ancient trees. Homalonema and Schismatoglottis while the other like Alocasia and Amorphophallus prefer the lighter and warmer conditions with Syngonium: Syngonium podophyllum was found atmospheric humidity and drainage . Most near the river, bridges or the canals but next species found in the lower section of Perak to the ancient trees. River survive with the warm temperature from 24.30C up to 33.90C and usually close Typhonium: The Typhonium community to the small rivers with humid condition. needs humid condition and occurs next to river or channel Perak River habitat comprises several kinds of landforms, such as, meandering river Xanthosoma: only Xanthosoma sagittifolium scar, hill, mountain, etc. Therefore, Kuala was found and be found in drier locations Kangsar and Parit are more mountainous near the streets or housing places. and far from the river mouth than the others. The species found in Parit reach the Zamioculcas: Zamioculcas zamiifolia occurred peak with 12/17 species. Kuala Kangsar is around houses. Usually just several followed closely with 9/17 species. Because individuals found. of the thick river – network with many canals and branches help to manage the water level, Araceae species can be found

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 71 Truyen and Mansor, 2015 The distribution of Araceae along the lower section of ... easily near the canals or branches such as 80% moisture, 27% dietary fiber, , Colocasia esculenta. The condition from the protein, some vitamins such as vitamin C, E topography, soil, and water control the and B6, sugar. . . . Colocasia esculenta was vegetation on each area. From the result of found very common in Perak naturally. It is this study, it might be concluded that high considerable abundance species in the habitat diversity cause high diversity of lowlands, extending from sea level to lower Araceae species. Approximately 100% and also to mid-zones . From the results, Colocasia esculenta was occurred and 75% Colocasia esculenta can survive in acidic water Colocasia gigantea found. Therefore, Colocasia and fresh water (from 4.92 to 6.76); in some community is singled out to be the places, be found in polluted water. Colocasia dominant submerge species in the lower esculenta L. was recorded as a removal arsenic section of Perak. They were found in plant with the largest and fastest arsenic almost humid habitats ranging from rivers, removal rate (68 mg As/m2/day in compare canals, small ponds to sewers. Evidently, the with Canna glauca L. (61 mg As/m2/day), number of Colocasia was found embedded in Cyperus papyrus L. (56 mg As/m2/day) and the organic soil. Some populations grow Typha angustifolia L. (61 mg As/m2/day). Its faster when their roots is embedded in the arsenic removal rate was recognized in silt soil. It can also survive in the polluted submerged soil polluted research by water, not highly polluted. For example, in arsenic . Colocasia gigantea was recorded with the Kuala Kangsar 6 (pH 4.97), Colocasia the distribution from Kuala Kangsar to esculenta was occurred, but the leaf was small Teluk Itan, occurring in seasonally dry and deformed. Generally, only Colocasia forest , withstanding pH from 4.97 to 6.13 esculenta was found in the low pH while and warm temperature. Colocasia esculenta and other communities were found in higher pH also Alocasia macrorrhizos usually maintain and fresh habitats. They can be grown in naturalized, adventives and large habitats with pH ranging from 4.97 to 7.04 populations seasonally. The former has and TDS values ranging between 13.05 considered as a carbohydrate crop and mg/l and 212 mg/l. It can be postulated minor vegetable and be cultivated more that this species could survive in acidic. popular since antiquity while the latter was They were also dominant in the canals along recorded in the history as a medicinal plant . the Perak River, even near the river mouth Alocasia genus was the second community where the TDS value was so high. The high found. Mostly, Alocasia odora was discovered reading may be due to the effect of the in the housing place while Alocasia seawater, especially during the high tide. We macrorrhizos was found in wild from can see that Colocasia esculenta has the largest mountain slope to hills. They can survive in distribution from Kuala Kangsar to the end the aluminum soil based on the soil profile of Perak River. It is widely diverse expended which contained jarosite in 20 cm depth. In most humid tropical and subtropical areas . Alocasia group, Alocasia longiloba was seldom Being known as an edible root, having 70 – found near the canals, they grow in the

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 72 Truyen and Mansor, 2015 The distribution of Araceae along the lower section of ... mountainous places. Caladium community has the strongest survival and can survive in found in Kuala Kangsar, Parit, and Bagan acidic and polluted habitats. Besides the Datuk has different colors and spots on the dominant species, other species are leaf’s surface. Caladium seldom produces occasionally found in rice fields and canals, and seeds while flower are found in and palm fields in the region surveyed, or in Alocasia commonly. Besides, there were association with present or former several communities of Araceae, which dwellings. were found during the survey. Amorphophallus prainii occurred in Kuala Kangsar and sometimes with large ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS populations. Some were found in the palm First, we would like to express our deep field, namely Dieffenbachia maculata, appreciation to Universiti Sains Malaysia for Epipremnum pinnatum, Zamioculcas zamiifolia. their generous support and for their Among the climbing group Philodendron, sponsorship and for funding the publication Philodendron bipinnatifidum was considered the fee under the Individual Research Grant most common species found. (1001/PBiologi/816217). Second, we would like to thank all friends for their invaluable In 4 places recorded, Araceae species are assistance. found; including ornamental species, natural species or weedy species in different land uses between mountain, river band and REFERENCES housing or palm fields from the middle of Perak River to the river mouth, extending to Jomjun, N., T.Siripen, S.Maliwan, N. the sea and reaches the brackish water. Jintapat, T.Prasak, C.Somporn & P.Petch 2011. Phytoremediation of arsenic in submerged soil by wetland CONCLUSION plants. [Research Support, Non-U.S. It can be noted that out of the 17 Gov't]. Int J Phytoremediation, 13(1): surveyed species, two species are from the 35–46. genus Colocasia, two are from Alocasia and three are from Epipremnum. The rest were Kreike, C. M., H. J.Van Eck & V. Lebot. from nine other genera (Amorphophallus, 2004. Genetic diversity of , Caladium, Dieffenbachia, Lasia, Philodendron, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, in Syngonium, Typhonium, Xanthosoma, and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Zamioculcas). [Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]. Theor Appl Colocasia and Alocasia are dominants in Genet, 109(4): 761–768. doi: areas surveyed and Colocasia is the 10.1007/s00122–004–1691-z commonest found with large populations. It

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