Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci. 44 (2): 369 - 387 (2021) TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE Journal homepage: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/ The Orchid Flora of Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir), Malaysia - 120 Years after Ridley Farah Alia Nordin1, Ahmad Sofiman Othman1*, Nur Asyikin Zainudin1, Nur ‘Atiqah Khalil2, Najidah Asi1, Afifah Azmi1, Khairul Nasirudin Abu Mangsor1, Mohd Sukor Harun1 and Khairul Faizee Mohd Zin3 1School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 2Medical Transfusion Unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia 3Johor National Park Corporation, Level 1, Bangunan Dato’ Mohamed Salleh Perang, Kota Iskandar, 79100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia ABSTRACT A comprehensive assessment on the orchid flora of Gunung Ledang, Johor, Malaysia was carried out from 2012 to 2018 with the aim to re-evaluate the presence of orchid species listed by Ridley in his “Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 35:1–28”, published in 1901, after more than 100 years. The relevant account for comparison is also listed, noting that Ridley’s historical collections were for the isolated group of hills commonly known as Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir), while the collated item in Orchidaceae is part of catalogues for the whole of Peninsular Malaysia. After Ridley, no account on the orchid flora of Gunung Ledang has been properly given, particularly from the uppermost peak of the mountain, where many interesting plants and orchids are to be found there. This study identified 26 species or 67% were the same as those recorded by Ridley (1901), and 65 species or 83% of Turner ARTICLE INFO (1995) checklist of 270 species of orchids Article history: Received: 19 November 2020 for the state of Malacca and Johor, including Accepted: 15 February 2021 Published: 28 May 2021 the common and widespread species to Peninsular Malaysia. By contribution, this DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.44.2.07 E-mail addresses: paper provides an updated account on the [email protected] (Farah Alia Nordin) diversity of orchids in Gunung Ledang, [email protected] (Ahmad Sofiman Othman) [email protected] (Nur Asyikin Zainudin) listing 122 species of orchids, of which [email protected] (Nur ‘Atiqah Khalil) [email protected] (Najidah Asi) eight are endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, [email protected] (Afifah Azmi) [email protected] (Khairul Nasirudin Abu Mangsor) two are hyper-endemic known only from [email protected] (Mohd Sukor Harun) [email protected] (Khairul Faizee Mohd Zin) Gunung Ledang, and 30 were recognised * Corresponding author as new records. A comparison table of the ISSN: 1511-3701 e-ISSN: 2231-8542 © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press Farah Alia Nordin, Ahmad Sofiman Othman, Nur Asyikin Zainudin, Nur ‘Atiqah Khalil, Najidah Asi, Afifah Azmi, Khairul Nasirudin Abu Mangsor, Mohd Sukor Harun and Khairul Faizee Mohd Zin current findings against Ridley (1901) and Gunung Ledang from Malacca via Bukit Turner (1995) is provided which shows only Besar and Lubuk Kedondong, where the 16 species were the same in all three studies. mountain is accessible with safety in the early days. Keywords: Diversity, Gunung Ledang, H. N. Ridley, I. M. Turner, Mount Ophir, Orchidaceae Ridley explored and ascended to the main peak of Gunung Ledang from Malacca via two routes. The first route started from INTRODUCTION the densely wooded Bukit Besar where Gunung Ledang, or historically known the ascent commences steeply towards as the fabled Mount Ophir is an isolated Padang Batu at about 823 m elevation, a mountain range consisted of several main large sloping rock-face covered in part with peaks, with the highest is Puncak Gunung thick grass and sedges, among which grow Ledang that stands at 1267 m above sea gnarled montane trees such as Baeckia, level. The mountain range is accessible both Leptospermum, and Podocarpus, with from Asahan to the north and from Tangkak orchids such as Arundina graminifolia, to the east, as Gunung Ledang is located Spathoglottis aurea, and Paphiopedilum within the border of Malacca and Johor. barbatum heavily populated the damp spots. Knowledge on the orchids of Gunung However, the population of S. aurea in Ledang was first published by Ridley in Gunung Ledang seems to be rare nowadays. 1901, and his records have served as a He then marched through Gunung Tunduk, prominent reference on orchid species a large bare rock area which a good view diversity of that high isolated mountain. of Malacca is obtainable, before not far off Before Ridley, Gunung Ledang has been descended into a damp valley, and continued visited and explored by Cuming and Lobb by a stiff steep climb to reach the extreme (Ridley, 1901) who have made extensive peak of Gunung Ledang. The second route orchid collections and brought down a taken by Ridley was via a lower peak of number of dried specimens as well, yet the range known as Gunung Mering, where no account of their collections nor indeed he ascended with Mr. Hervey in 1892 from of their expeditions appear to be ever Lubuk Kedondong. Ridley reported that published. Gunung Mering is a less visited peak which Ridley identified 39 species mostly claimed by local people as inaccessible, even collected from the uppermost part of the though the ascent proved to be just merely range at the elevation of about 900–1200 m, stiff climbs that in parts require one to cross and only referring to a few of rarer species some smooth steep rocks. About halfway at the lower levels. Most of Ridley’s account up Gunung Mering, they arrived at a point consisted of species he collected from the across Padang Batu, a stone field with a northwest part of the mountain, ascending to cascading stream and were surrounded by the top of the highest peak which is Puncak cliffs which were covered with forest. At 370 Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci. 44 (2): 369 - 387 (2021) The Orchid Flora of Gunung Ledang present day, both Ridley’s historical routes through several lower peaks such as from he ascended from Malacca via Lubuk Puncak Jementah (945 m above sea level) Kedondong are now known as the ‘Asahan to Gunung Mahligai (1236 m above sea Trail’, named after a small town in Jasin level) before summiting Gunung Ledang. that is located within the border of three Water supply is also scarce; a stream with states. Thus, from now onwards throughout small running water is only accessible at this manuscript, Ridley’s historical routes the first 2 km from the trail entrance, and will be consistently cited as Asahan Trail, next possible water sources will come from referring to the same routes taken but with small creeks running through rocks. Most new designation. part of the trail is covered in dense lowland During Ridley’s day, large part of and hill forest canopy, untouched, and a Gunung Ledang was left unvisited, best place for the botanical study of many particularly to the east and south parts of the plant groups. No account on the orchid flora mountain range that lies within the state of from this part of Gunung Ledang has ever Johor, very likely due to inaccessibility and been published, thus the accomplishment safety reasons. Nowadays, Gunung Ledang in preparing the updates will augment the is accessible from Tangkak in the southeast fundamental knowledge that has been firmly and Jementah in the northwest. The route set up by Ridley. from Tangkak via Sagil is popular among The relevant account for comparison avid hikers, as ascending the Lagenda Trail by Turner (1995) is also listed, noting that to the top of Gunung Ledang is challenging Ridley’s historical collections were for the but less arduous in comparison to Asahan. isolated group of hills commonly known At the beginning of the trail, the route as Gunung Ledang, while Turner’s item is quite treacherous with protruding tree in Orchidaceae is part of his catalogues roots, huge rocky boulders, and dense for the whole of Peninsular Malaysia. In forest canopy. The ascensions commence 1995, Turner published his checklist “A starting from Batu Orkid towards Bukit Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Malaya” Botak, where at some points, requiring one (in The Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 47:2), to scale up using ladders and ropes. From an encyclopaedic compilation from his Bukit Botak towards Anjung Mahligai assiduous examination on the herbarium (1061 m above sea level), there is a clearing specimens holding of the Singapore where intermittently covered in mist during Botanical Garden’s Herbarium (SING), the day, the surrounding is beautiful and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (K), the summit of Gunung Ledang is within and local herbaria in the Forest Research sight. In contrast, the route from Jementah Institute of Malaysia (KEP), University over Ulu Jementah Trail is seldom visited of Malaya (KLU), Biology Department, due to the long-winded mountain ridge Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and and extremely steep ascent along the way Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKMB). Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci. 44 (2): 369 - 387 (2021) 371 Farah Alia Nordin, Ahmad Sofiman Othman, Nur Asyikin Zainudin, Nur ‘Atiqah Khalil, Najidah Asi, Afifah Azmi, Khairul Nasirudin Abu Mangsor, Mohd Sukor Harun and Khairul Faizee Mohd Zin In his checklist, Turner listed 129 species of Trail via Dataran Damai Waterfall (Gunung orchids specifically known from Malacca Mering), (iii) Lagenda Trail via Batu Orkid, and Johor, with an additional of 141 species (iv) Ayer Panas Trail via Kolam Gajah, recognized as common and widespread (v) Ulu Jementah Trail via Jeram Tinggi, throughout Peninsular Malaysia. He (vi) Gunung Mahligai, and (vii) Gunung mentioned two hyper-endemic species Ledang. The collections were made based known only from Gunung Ledang, Hetaeria on convenient sampling method along the elegans Ridl., which Ridley discovered from seven forest trails from base of the foothill Gunung Tunduk and described it in 1908; ascent to the peak of Gunung Ledang and and Anoectochilus burmannicus Rolfe, vice versa.