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Lauraceae is a group of tropical plants with a wide distribution. The abundance and species richness of the Lauraceae family includes the under to the upper canopy of the forest. The Lauraceae family can be utilized in various sectors, especially economically. Limiting characters as a significance in the Lauraceae classification was needed to provide additional information regarding taxon grouping. This research aimed to study epidermal characteristics, leaf venation variations, and the diversity of Lauraceae species under different forest environmental conditions. The research procedure involved: collecting ecological field data and morphological identification using a purposive sampling method based on the presence of species. Soil sampling and environmental microclimate were measured on each plot. The anatomical process was carried out by recording characters. Correlation between environmental factors and plant targets used canonical correspondence analysis. The kinship between members of Lauraceae was expressed in a dendrogram. The result of this study showed that Lauraceae could live at various elevations. The analysis data indicated differences in environmental factors that affect the existence of Lauraceae species. Leaf venation studies support clustering in the family using characters such as primary, secondary, tertiary veins, and areola. Observation of leaf venation can be used as a taxonomic significance in the family Lauraceae. Epidermal cell walls in leaf samples are straight, curved shallow, deep, and sharp. Other characters that can be found are anomocytic, laterocytic, and brachyparasitic types of stomata, with stellate and glandless trichomes The anatomical dendrogram separated Lauraceae into clusters on a similarity coefficient scale.

Oil palm has been widely studied regarding growth and development, water use, productivity, and other economically relevant functions. However, not much is known about the hydraulic conductivity of oil palm root systems and how xylem vessels perform their function to transport water from roots to shoots so far. This information is needed to describe oil palm strategies to maintain water status, especially in oil palms that grow under various soil hydrological regimes. To investigate the root hydraulic performance, we measured mean xylem vessel diameter (D), vessel density (VD), vessel lumen area (Alumen), and potential hydraulic conductivity (Kp) for oil palm root samples in seasonally flooded riparian and well-drained sites at Harapan Jambi Forest. The result showed that D, Alumen, and Kp increased with increasing root diameter at both plantation types. On the contrary, VD significantly decreased with increasing root diameter. Potential hydraulic conductivity (Kp) in riparian sites was smaller than in well-drained sites and significantly different in root diameter >2-5 and >5-10 mm and related to both plantation types. The low potential hydraulic conductivity of root xylem vessels and the narrowing of xylem vessel lumen that occurs in oil palm roots in the seasonally flooded riparian sites were presumed as adaptation mechanisms to maintain water supply from the roots to the shoot in oil palm plants in these sites.

The abundance of water strider Ptilomera dromas Breddin (Hemiptera: Gerridae) in Ciliwung River related to water quality. Water-strider Ptilomera dromas Breddin (Gerridae: Hemiptera) is an aquatic insect that is commonly found in various waters, such as rivers, ponds, and lakes. The purpose of this research was to study the abundance of P. dromas in Ciliwung river in relation to its water quality. The abundance of P. dromas was surveyed at five stations, i.e. Cilember, Cijulang, Gadog, Katulampa, and Sempur stations. Environmental parameters measured were water temperature, air temperature, pH, water flow, biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), free CO2 level, nitrogen total, water hardness, and total suspended solid (TSS). The relationship of P. dromas abundance with environment parameters was analyzed by using general linear model (GLM). Results showed that the highest abundance of P. dromas was found in Gadog station, followed by Cilember, Katulampa, and Cijulang stations. The population of P. dromas was not found in Sempur station, which might be related to the presence of Katulampa weir that acts as physical barrier and due to high BOD and TSS values. Based on GLM analysis, water hardness and pH were correlated positively with abundance of P. dromas. The existence of P. dromas in the upstream stations is linked to the high water quality and low pollution of waters.

Hoya is a tropical flowering plant that has great potential as an export commodity. It needs to be cultivated to ensure its sustainability in nature. Information about the suitable habitat of Hoya was not widely known yet. This study aimed to compare the habitat characteristics of several species of Hoya. The research was conducted by exploring the sample plots determined by purposive sampling based on the differences of habitat characteristics. The biotic components observed were phorophyte species type and the number of individual of each Hoya species. The abiotic components measured in each plot were altitude and geographical position, air temperature, humidity, light intensity, wind speed, and canopy cover. Hoya ‘s diversity was analyzed using the Shannon Winner Index. Environmental factor data and biotic factors were analyzed with Canoco for Windows 4.5 software. There were 6 species of Hoya namely Hoya multiflora, Hoya imperialis, Hoya vitellinoides, Hoya hasseltii, Hoya campanulata and Hoya lacunosa found in this study. The highest biodiversity index was obtained in an altitude of 700-800 m.a.s.l (H’=1.41) and in hillsides area (H’=1.3). Hoya ‘s most frequent phorophyte was Schima wallichii. Factors affecting the presence of Hoya in the phorophytes were the position of attachment to the main stem and the rough surface characteristics of the tree. Hoya ‘s preference place was on the bark fracture. Abiotic factors that most influencing the existence of Hoya were air humidity and canopy cover. The data of this research can be used as basic information for carried out the conservation efforts and cultivation strategy in the future.

Myrmecophytes or locally known as simbagh utak are common medicinal plants used by locals in Bengkulu, especially in South Bengkulu, for treating various diseases. Despite their potential as medicines, there is no report on biotic factors can be used to indicate of Myrmecophytes species’ richness and habitat suitability. The objectives of this research were to analyze the Myrmecophytes’ species richness and habitat suitability. This study used the purposive sampling method by exploring the area where Myrmecophytes were commonly found. The biotic factors of Myrmecophytes were analyzed by identifying the tree host, the other epiphyte plant grew around them, and animal occupants on the tuber of the Myrmecophytes. The Myrmecophytes distribution was analyzed by using ArcGIS10.1. The results showed that there were two species of Myrmecophytes, namely Hydnophytum formicarum and Myrmecodia tuberosa in the study area. The Myrmecophytes attached and hung in 9 species of host trees. The characteristics of host trees are high trees with large diameter, mostly rough-barked; some were cracked and mossy. The highest frequency of host trees included Hevea brasiliensis and Durio zibethinus. Myrmecophytes coexisted with 12 species of epiphytes. Epiphyte plants like Dendrobium sp. and Drymoglossum piloselloides can be used to indicate the presence of Myrmecophytes. Ants made up the most predominantly animal found living inside the tubers of Myrmecophytes, with some cockroaches and termites found at the tuber of Hydnophytum. Information on species' richness and habitat suitability of Myrmecophytes can serve as supporting data for conservation efforts in Bengkulu to prevent the extinction of this species.

Myrmecophyte is a common medicinal plant used by local people in Indonesia for treating various diseases especially in Papua. Bengkulu province is one of the Myrmecophyte habitats, but there has no report on its identity and distribution. The objectives of this research were to identify the diversity and analyze the Myrmecophytes distribution as well as factor affecting its presence. This study used purposive sampling method by exploring the area where Myrmecophytes commonly found. The Myrmecophyte distribution based on host tree was analyzed using Morishita index and the autecological analysis of abiotic factors was performed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) generated from Minitab 16. The results of this research showed that there were two species of Myrmecophytes in Bengkulu province, namely Hydnophytum formicarum and Myrmecodia tuberosa, as well as two variants of M. tuberosa i.e. M. tuberosa ‘armata’ and M. tuberosa ‘siberutensis’. The distribution of Myrmecophytes based on host tree was mostly randomly scattered in Central Bengkulu regency, Seluma, North Bengkulu, South Bengkulu, and Kaur. Their distributions were affected by light intensity and temperature. The data of this research can be used as basic information for carried out conservation efforts in Bengkulu province. The abundance of Myrmecophytes is also used as a source of additional income for local people in Bengkulu province.

Genus BaccaureaLour. adalah salah satu anggota dari famili Phyllanthaceae, merupakan genus yang cukup besar dengan anggota mencapai 43 spesies. Pada pengobatan tradisional genus Baccaurea telah dimanfaatkan masyarakat untuk mengobati sembelit, pembengkakan pada mata, radang sendi, abses, sakit perut, memperlancar haid serta buang air kecil. Beberapa anggota genus Baccaureamemiliki potensi sebagai tumbuhan obat karena mengandung metabolit sekunder seperti alkaloid, flavonoid, karotenoid, antosianin, tanin, asam rosmarinik dan fenolik. Kandungan metabolit sekunder tersebut berpotensi sebagai antioksidan, antikanker, antimikroba, antidiabetes, antiinflamasi, antitripanosoma. B. ramiflora, B. lanceolata, B. macrocarpa, B. angulata, B. motleyana, B. brevipes, B. hookeri, B.recemosa, B. sapida, B. polyneura, B.parviflora dan B.dulcis adalah anggota genus Baccaurea yang berpotensi sebagai tumbuhan obat.

Motor vehicles release carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matters to the air as pollutants. Vegetation can absorb these pollutants through gas exchange processes. The objective of this study was to examine the combination of the relative growth rate (RGR) and physiological responses in determining tolerance levels of plant species to air pollutants. Physiological responses were calculated as air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Eight roadside tree species were placed at polluted (Jagorawi highway) and unpolluted (Sindangbarang field) area. Growth and physiological parameters of the trees were recorded, including plant height, leaf area, total ascorbate, total chlorophyll, leaf-extract pH, and relative water content. Scoring criteria for the combination of RGR and APTI method was given based on means of the two areas based on two-sample t test. Based on the total score of RGR and APTI, Lagerstroemia speciosa was categorized as a tolerant species; and Pterocarpus indicus, Delonix regia, Swietenia macrophylla were categorized as moderately tolerant species. Gmelina arborea, Cinnamomum burmanii, and Mimusops elengi were categorized as intermediate tolerant species. Lagerstroemia speciosa could be potentially used as roadside tree. The combination of RGR and APTI value was better to determinate tolerance level of plant to air pollutant than merely APTI method.

Traditional games are using simple tools and materials, such as plants. The aim of this study is to count the percentage of traditional games using plants that still exist in Central Java Province, to analyze the role of plants on traditional game, and to reveal the children's knowledges about plants from traditional games. The data were collected by interviewing the respondents, including the parents (>50 y.o), the adults (15-30 y.o), the childrens (5-14 y.o) in 4 study areas: the hillside of Lawu, the hinterlands of Karangpandan, the ruralside of Karanganyar, and the city of Surakarta. The results showed that the precentage of traditional games that still exist are: in the hillside (39%), the hinterland (28%), the rural (19%), the city (14%). Plant usage in traditional games by the children has a tendency to use cultivated plants, which grow in home gardens and the parts of plants that are often used are leaves. Plant availaibility could strongly influence the existence of traditional games in society. Childrens have knowledge about plantsthat are obtained or developed through playing traditional games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]