STUDY ON HABITAT AND POPULATION OF Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze IN THE SOUTHERN GARUT, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA
Edy N. Sambas,Wardah, and D. Ariani
Research Center for Biology & Research Unit for Natural Product Technology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
Abstract
Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze is known as a local food ingredient for wheat flour substitute in Southern Garut West Java, Indonesia. Study on habitat and population as well as environmental conditions of T. leontopetaloides was done from 2012-2015 by using plot method with an additional monitoring in November 2018. Six plots of 10 m x 25 m were established and were divided into sub-plots of 5 m x 5 m. Number of T. leontopetaloides was recorded from the sub-plots of 5 m x 5 m. Soil samples were taken from three of the six research plots. Number of Individuals varied from 11 to 35 individuals per 250 m2 with average height of 50 cm. Natural habitat of T. leontopetaloides was on sandy soil along shorelines partly tied by pandan tree ( Pandanus tectorius). Number of individuals tended to decrease sharply as elevation increased, and decreased gradually as distance from sea shoreline increased. Thirty nine species were recorded as neighboring plants that lived on the same habitat with T. leontopetaloides.
Keywords: distribution, habitat, population, T. leontopetaloides
Topic: International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture