Diversity of potential flora and vegetation composition in Mount Marapi, West Sumatra

Abstract

Nasution T, Iskandar EAP, Ismaini L. 2015. Diversity of potential flora and vegetation composition in Mount Marapi, West Sumatra. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 1334-1340. Mount Marapi is located in West Sumatra Province, one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra Island. Marapi eruptions have been predicted to influence on vegetation composition. A study had been conducted to collect potential plants and to analysis vegetation composition in the area. We used survey method to collect potential flora by exploring the mount from altitude 1420 m to 2260 m above sea level. Belt transect method was conducted to analysis vegetation composition on sub-montane zone. We determined sampling plot using purposive sampling method. Around 151 species of plants had been collected, including 112 potential plants. We collected potential ornamental plants, including Rhododendron spp., Begonia spp., and Impatiens spp. It had also been collected potential plants for timber including Lithocarpus spp., Exbucklandia populnea, and Syzygium spp. Medicinal plants were recorded including Gaultheria spp., Gunnera macrophylla, dan Piperaceae. We also identified potential plants as food including Rubus spp., Zingiberaceae dan Smilax sp. Vegetation analysis on sub montane zone of Mount Marapi indicated that understorey plants were dominated by Ophiorriza sp., Elatostema sp., and Syzygium sp; and tree compositions were dominated by Macropanax dispermum, Villebrunea rubescens, and Castanopsis javanica.