BIODIVERSITAS ISSN: 1412-033X Volume 17, Number 1, April 2016 E-ISSN: 2085-4722 Pages: 384-400 DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d170152 Diversity of Selaginella across altitudinal gradient of the tropical region AHMAD DWI SETYAWAN1,2,♥, JATNA SUPRIATNA1, DEDY DARNAEDI3, ROKHMATULOH4, SUTARNO2, SUGIYARTO2 1Program of Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok 16424, West Java, Indonesia 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sebelas Maret University. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia. Phone/Fax. +62-271-663375, email: [email protected] 3Division of Botany, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong-Bogor 16911, Indonesia 4Department of Geography, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok 16424, West Java, Indonesia Manuscript received: 17 November 2015. Revision accepted: 28 April 2016. Abstract. Setyawan AD, Supriatna J, Darnaedi D, Rokhmatuloh, Sutarno, Sugiyarto. 2016. Diversity of Selaginella across altitudinal gradient of the tropical region. Biodiversitas 17: 384-400. Selaginella prefers moist environment for its growth and requires water for fertilization; therefore it is often found flourish in plateau and hilly mountains with high rainfall. The aim of this research was to know species diversity of Selaginella along altitudinal gradient in the southern part of Java, Indonesia. The research was conducted between July 2007 and January 2014across the altitudinal region of Java, Indonesia, which includes the districts of Wonosobo, Purworejo, Kebumen, Banjarnegara and its border areas, with altitudes between 0 and 2500 m. asl. The research found 12 selaginellas species, 10 species collected from field research, namely: S. aristata, S. ciliaris, S. intermedia, S. involvens, S. opaca, S. ornata, S. plana, S. repanda, S. remotifolia, and S. uncinata; and two species only known from herbarium collection of Herbarium Bogoriense (BO), namely S. singalanensis and S. willdenowii. This research was the first publication of the Selaginella flora along altitudinal gradient from the coastal area to the high mountains of Central Java, Indonesia. Keywords: diversity, Central Java, Selaginella, species, taxonomy INTRODUCTION there were 10 species of Selaginella distributed from the coastal area to the montane rain forest in the southern part Selaginellaceae Reinch. is a lycophyte family with only of Central Java. S. plana and S. ciliaris are important one genus namely Selaginella P. Beauv. (club moss, spike- species for the lowland area, while S. remotifolia and S. moss). There are about 700-750 species of Selaginella in opaca are important species for the highlands. Meanwhile, the world, which distributed cosmopolitan and pantropical S. ornata and S. aristata are important species for the in the tropics and sub-tropics regions (Tyron and Tyron ecotone area. The presence of other species such as S. 1982; Jermy 1990). In the islands of Southeast Asia (Malay involvens, S. intermedia, S. repanda and S. uncinata are Archipelago, Nusantara), there are more than 200 species very limited and the distribution can not certainty be of Selaginella (Camus 1997; Hassler and Swale 2002). known. S. uncinata is an invasive species, presumably Meanwhile, in Java, there are 25 species of Selaginella naturalized from ornamental plants. Setyawan et al. (2013) (Setyawan 2008). Selaginella is a difficult genus to be stated that the altitude of 1500 may be the upper limit for classified. A large number of Selaginella species are the distribution of S. aristata, S. ciliaris, S. involvens, S. morphologically polymorphic and have high morphological ornata, S. plana, S. singalanensis, and S. zollingeriana in similarity among them (Setyawan et al. 2012). This Java. Meanwhile, the altitude of 2100 m is probably the confusion led to almost every species having more than one upper limit for the distribution of S. opaca and S. name, such as S. ornata and S. involvens, which have high remotifolia. morphological variation and with more than 25 synonyms Selaginella is useful for traditional medicine, especially each (Hassler and Swale 2002). for treating wounds, postpartum, menstrual disorders and Selaginella is a plant genus that prefers moist habitat body fit improvement (tonics). Biomedical research shows and need water for fertilization. The southern part of that this plant has potential as an anti-oxidant, anti- Central Java has a diverse ecosystem which dominated by inflammatory, anti-cancer, antibacterial, etc (Setyawan hilly area, ranging from the coastal areas to the middle and 2011). Selaginella is also useful as an ornamental plant, high mountains. Mountainous region with humid climate handicraft materials, and vegetables (Winter and Jansen and abundant water sources throughout the year is a 2003; Setyawan 2009). Selaginella has a very diverse hotspot for its diversity. This species is likely to be the phytochemical content, such as: alkaloids, phenols object of global climate change. Selaginella is widely (flavonoids, tannins, saponins), and terpenoids (triterpene, distributed in shaded and moist places, although the steroid) (Setyawan 2011; Chikmawati et al. 2012). These distribution of each species can be limited depending on herbs also contain lignin, lignans, lignanosides, alkaloids, location and seasons. According to Setyawan et al. (2012), selaginellin, glycosides, glucosides, glycosyl flavones, and SETYAWAN et al. – Altitudinal diversity of Selaginella in the tropical region 385 others. Some species contain certain natural products, such banks, edges of roads and irrigation canal, and fill in the as ecdysteroid, essential oils and trehalose (Setyawan sidelines of agricultural land, residential, grave and other 2011). built areas (Setyawan et al. 2012). Research on the flora of Selaginella along altitudinal The field work was carried out of more than six years, gradient in the southern Central Java, Indonesia has never between July 2007 and January 2014. Several massive been done. However, it has been previously reported the surveys of Selaginella had been conducted, with altitude altitudinal distribution of Selaginella in this region between 0 and 2500 m. asl., both in wet and dry seasons. In (Setyawan 2012). Meanwhile, previous research on the this study, most of the studied area has been developed, taxonomy of Selaginella in all over Java by Alston (1934a) viz. paddy and dry fields, agroforestry (community forests), has not been updated. This research aims to determine the plantation and production forest, home garden, settlements, flora of Selaginella along altitudinal gradient in the roads, water bodies and drainages, etc. Natural forest is southern part of Central Java, Indonesia. only found in a limited size in the slope of Dieng Mountains, Mt. Sindoro and Mt. Sumbing, which periodically burned. This research is mainly conducted in MATERIALS AND METHODS shaded and humid places, especially in the hilly areas of Wonosobo which have higher annual rainfall (>4000 mm Study areas in 2011), one of the rainiest district in Java, but also along This research was conducted along altitudinal gradient drier area in the southern coastal area. in southern Central Java, Indonesia, known as historic area of Bagelen and surrounding areas. Administratively, the Procedures studied area mainly includes Wonosobo, Purworejo, Almost all sites in the southern Central Java are Kebumen and Banjarnegara districts; since distribution of anthropogenic area and influenced by human activities. wildlife can not be restricted by administrative boundaries, Selaginella is generally found in abandoned places that are the border region of neighboring district is also observed, moist and shady, such as roadside cliffs, footpaths, i.e. part of Temanggung, Magelang, Kulonprogo, Banyumas, tributaries cliffs, moist cliffs of forest, agroforests, and Purbalingga, and Pekalongan districts. All districts belong agricultural lands, etc. Some species can also grow in to Central Java Province, except for Kulonprogo that relatively open sites, such as pine forest (Pinus merkusii), belongs to Yogyakarta Special Region (Figure 1). the settlements and agricultural land. Selaginella rarely Geographically, this area is located between -7.1046° and - grows under a dense clump of herbs or shrubs; that place 7.9033° (S) and between 109.3341° and 110.2298° (E), the does not provide space and light for growth. All Selaginella total area of more than 4200 km2, with a population of species were recorded and collected as herbarium more than 4.5 million people. The altitude varies from 0 m specimens and living collection for the experimental in the southern coastal area to 3371 m. asl. at the top of Mt. garden in Kejiwan, Wonosobo, Central Java (768 m. asl.). Sumbing; the temperature is ranging between 24-34oC, but Both living plants and herbarium specimens were observed. in the Dieng Plateau and surrounding area it ranged from Specimens of field collection were deposited at Herbarium 12-20oC; relative humidity is 70-94%, the average rainfall Soloense (SO), Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, in the southern part is around 2300 mm, and in the northern Indonesia and some selected specimens were sent to hilly part is more than 4200 mm, with the highest rainfall is Herbarium Bogoriense (BO), Indonesian Institute of in the Garung sub-district, Wonosobo approximately 4802 Sciences, Cibinong-Bogor, Indonesia. A total of