Ecological study of titan arum [Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. Ex arcang] in BOVEN LAIS protected forest, north Bengkulu regency

Abstract

Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. Ex Arcang), known as Titan Arum, is the only plant that has the highest inflorescence (1.6 m – 2.5 m) in the world. This species is classified as an endemic plant since it only found in forest areas on the island of Sumatra. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants the 2021 edition, A. titanum is Endangered (EN). The problem faced by A. titanum at this time is the habitat destruction, due to area conversion. The research on the ecological aspects of A. titanum includes population conditions, plant structure and composition, distribution patterns, soil, and climate data. was conducted in the Boven Lais Protected Forest, North Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province. The vegetation analysis method were used to obtain data on the plant structure and composition of the vegetation (importance index) of A. titanum, and the habitat's abiotic (physical conditions). Determining the plant's distribution (spatial distribution) using the Morisita Spread Index method. The results showed that the population of A. titanum in the research area was 20 individuals, dominated by tillers with petiole diameters ranging from 0-5 cm. The entire population was found in the vegetative phase. The distribution pattern of A. titanum was clustered. The structure and composition of the vegetation in the A titanum habitat comprises 25 species belonging to 18 families. The tree-level vegetation was dominated by Elateriospermum tapos, the pole level was dominated by Ficus hispida L.f., and the seedling-level vegetation was dominated by Selaginella plana (Desv. ex Poir.) The soil type in the A. titanum habitat was red-yellow podzolic with sandy clay loam texture, acid soil with a pH of 4.79, medium N (nitrogen) content (0.33%), high C (carbon) content (3.7%) and very low P (phosphorus) content and high CEC.. The habitat was at an altitude of 433 m asl -459 m above sea level, with a slope of 45-60 degrees. Generally, the location where the A. titanum grew twas in a steep area. The average humidity in the habitat was 92.87%, the average light intensity was 647.19 lux, and the average temperature was 23.09oC