Leaf anatomical and micromorphological systematic significance of Schoutenia Korth. in Peninsular Malaysia

An anatomical and micromorphological study of the leaf epidermis was conducted on the Schoutenia from the Tiliaceae family in Peninsular Malaysia. This genus is also classified in the subfamily Dombeyoideae according to classification based on plastid atpB analysis and rbcL DNA sequence. The objective of the study is to identify similarities and variations in the anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of the Schoutenia taxon studied to overcome identification problems, especially for species that are difficult to distinguish due to similar morphological characteristics. Anatomical study methods involve specimen collection, sliding microtome slices, epidermal peels, tissue clarification, staining, and observation under a light microscope. The method of studying the micromorphology of the leaf epidermis involves critical point drying, gold coating, and observation under a scanning electron microscope. The results of the study show some significant characteristics for the differentiation of Schoutenia species studied, namely wax on the leaf epidermis, adaxial epidermal cuticle ornamentation, the external shape of midrib and leaf margins, the presence of intraxilary phloem and sclerenchyma phloem. Several identified features can be used as diagnostic features to identify the species of Schoutenia studied directly. Therefore, the results of the study clearly show the taxonomic value of the anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of the Schoutenia genus from the Malay Peninsular

Comparative leaf anatomy and micromorphology of thunbergia erecta (benth.) t. anderson and thunbergia laurifolia lindl. in peninsular Malaysia

Comparative leaf anatomy and micromorphology study was carried out on two selected species from the genus Thunbergia Retz. of Acanthaceae subfamily Thunbergioideae. These two investigated species were T. erecta and T. laurifolia from Peninsular Malaysia. The leaf anatomical study involve several methods such as cross- section using sliding microtome on the petioles, midribs, lamina and marginal, leaf epidermal peeling, leaf clearing and observation under a light microscope. The leaf micromorphology method involve the observation under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This study aimed to investigate the taxonomic value of leaf anatomy and micromorphology characteristics of genus Thunbergia. The results have shown that there were five common characteristics present in both species studied and several variable characters that might be useful for species differentiation of T. erecta and T. laurifolia. The five common characteristics recorded were the presence of raphide, sinuous anticlinal walls, diacytic stomata, majority opened and minority closed venation in lamina and the presence of peltate glandular (unicellular terminal) trichome. The variable characteristics included were petiole, and marginal outlines, types of vascular bundles, the presence of druse, marginal venation, stomata occurrence, types of wax, cuticular sculpturing and types of trichomes. In conclusion, findings in this study showed that leaf anatomical micromorphological characteristics possessed taxonomic value that can be used in the species identification for the genus Thunbergia specifically for T. erecta and T. laurifolia

NOTE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PTEROSPERMUM PECTENIFORME KOSTERM. (DOMBEYOIDEAE : MALVACEAE S .L.) IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

The rare species Pterospermum pecteniforme previously is only known from two herbarium collections in the late 1960 and early 1970 in Perlis and Kedah (Langkawi Islands; Pulau Timun), respectively. In this paper, we have added two additional localities from two islands of Langkawi Archipelago namely, Pulau Dayang Bunting and Pulau Singa Besar. This species is locally quite common on both islands. All fertile collections of this species are only from the fruits while the flower is still unknown

Ciri adaptasi anatomi daun bougainvillea spectabilis w. yang dijangkiti virus bougainvillea chlorotic vein-banding

Kajian anatomi daun telah dijalankan ke atas Bougainvillea spectabilis yang dijangkiti virus Bougainvillea chlorotic vein-banding (BCVB). Objektif kajian ialah untuk mengenal pasti ciri adaptasi anatomi daun B. spectabilis yang dijangkiti virus BCVB melalui perbandingan dengan ciri anatomi daun sihat dan mengenalpasti sel dan tisu yang beradaptasi terhadap kehadiran virus. Kaedah kajian melibatkan hirisan dengan mikrotom gelongsor pada lamina, petiol dan tulang daun, siatan epidermis adaksial dan abaksial daun, penjernihan peruratan, pewarnaan, pelekapan dan cerapan di bawah mikroskop cahaya. Hasil kajian menunjukkan, kandungan klorofil sangat rendah pada lamina dan tepi daun, pertambahan bilangan berkas vaskular, tisu vaskular, dan sel kolenkima, serta kerosakan dinding sel pada daun yang dijangkiti. Hasil cerapan ciri anatomi epidermis abaksial daun menunjukkan daun dijangkiti virus mempunyai bilangan, indeks dan saiz stomata yang rendah berbanding daun sihat. Hasil kajian juga membuktikan perubahan pada bentuk dinding epidermis abaksial dan penebalan dinding sel epidermis adaksial daun yang dijangkiti virus BCVB. Kehadiran hablur dan peruratan tertier kelihatan kurang jelas dicerap pada daun yang dijangkiti virus. Perubahan pada sel dan tisu pada daun yang dijangkiti virus BCVB merupakan tindak balas terhadap jangkitan dan adaptasi daun terhadap jangkitan virus. Hasil kajian ini boleh digunakan sebagai rujukan untuk mengesan jangkitan BCVB dan kaedah kawalan yang boleh dilakukan kepada sel dan tisu yang dijangkiti

Taxonomic significance of pollen, anatomical and morphological characteristics of red and green leaves Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh. f. (FABACEAE)

Anatomy, morphology and palynology studies were conducted on green and red Christia vespertilionis (L.f.) Bakh.f. The objective of this study is to identify the common, variation and diagnostic features and to construct key identification of species. Anatomy study involves sectioning using sliding microtome on the petiole, lamina, midrib and leaf margin, epidermal mechanical scrapping to observe epidermis, leaf clearing for type of venation, for observation under light microscope, images are captured using Olympus DP25 camera and images analyzed using Docu Analysis software. Leaf and flower morphological features are measured for morphology study. Pollen study involves sample preparation, acetolysis techniques and observation under a light microscope. Common features obtained from this study such are the presence of crystals and muscilaginous cells, presence of additional vascular bundles in the petiole and midrib, the presence of air spaces between the cells, pattern of anticlinal cells wall, presence of glandular and papillae trichomes, number of leaf veins, pedicel characteristics, number of petals, pollen class, aperture type, pollen size, and exine pattern. Variation than can be used to distinguish green and red leaf C. vespertilionis are outline shape of leaf lamina, presence of swollen tracheid, type of trichome, vascular tissue arrangement in the midrib and petiole, presence and type of stomata, leaf colour, petiole characteristics, terminal leaf characteristics, abaxial and adaxial leaf surface, main leaf and calyx feature, pollen shape and exine thickness. The results have shown high variation between green and red C. vespertilionis. In conclusion, this study proves that green and red leafy C. vespertilionis are likely different species, subspecies or varieties and accordingly a status study should be done on both green and red leafy to see their taxonomic position

Taxonomic implications of pollen of some species of the genus Pterospermum Schreb. (Malvaceae s.l. subfam. Dombeyoideae)

A palynological study of six species of Pterospermum was conducted to investigate variation in pollen micromorphological characteristics. The studied species were P. diversifolium, P. elongatum, P. jackianum, P. javanicum, P. lanceifolium and P. subpeltatum. Pollen was subjected to acetolysis, single-grain techniques and dehydration series, and observed using light and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal some common characters shared by all the studied species, namely: echinate-granulate exine ornamentation; porate pollen class; and circular amb. Variation was found in the ratio of exine thickness, pollen size, and average spine length, outline, shape, measurements, spine size and the presence of an annulus. These characters proved to be valuable for identifying and differentiating the studied species. This study shows that morphological characteristics of Pterospermum pollen have taxonomic value, especially for the identification and differentiation of species of the subfamily Dombeyoideae and even other Malvaceae s.l

Taxonomic implications of pollen of some species of the genus Pterospermum Schreb. (Malvaceae s.l. subfam. Dombeyoideae)

A palynological study of six species of Pterospermum was conducted to investigate variation in pollen micromorphological characteristics. The studied species were P. diversifolium, P. elongatum, P. jackianum, P. javanicum, P. lanceifolium and P. subpeltatum. Pollen was subjected to acetolysis, single-grain techniques and dehydration series, and observed using light and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal some common characters shared by all the studied species, namely: echinate-granulate exine ornamentation; porate pollen class; and circular amb. Variation was found in the ratio of exine thickness, pollen size, and average spine length, outline, shape, measurements, spine size and the presence of an annulus. These characters proved to be valuable for identifying and differentiating the studied species. This study shows that morphological characteristics of Pterospermum pollen have taxonomic value, especially for the identification and differentiation of species of the subfamily Dombeyoideae and even other Malvaceae s.l

A preliminary checklist of mangrove species and its associates in Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang

This study aims to provide a preliminary checklist of mangrove species and their associates in Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang. The findings provided in this study were obtained at the designated sampling location in Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang. The samples were pressed, dried and mounted on herbarium sheet before being processed into herbarium voucher specimens. All specimens were deposited in the Herbarium Department of Plant Science, International Islamic University Malaysia. A significant outcome of this research was the identification and documentation of a diverse range of mangrove species in the Cherating region. This study successfully recorded 20 species that are classified as true mangroves and an additional 16 species that are recognised as associates of mangroves. This comprehensive list of species represents a crucial step forward in understanding the mangrove ecosystem in Cherating. The implications of these findings are substantial, particularly in terms of their potential utility for future scientific inquiries and environmental conservation efforts of the vital mangrove ecosystem

Assessing the Productivity of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve: Review of One of the Best-Managed Mangrove Forests

Mangrove ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity and coastal protection but face threats from climate change and human activities. This review assesses the productivity of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) in Malaysia, which is recognised as one of the best-managed mangrove forests, while also addressing challenges such as deforestation and climate change-induced factors. This review explores the concept of productivity in mangrove forests, highlighting their role in carbon sequestration and discussing litterfall measurements as fundamental metrics for assessing primary productivity. An analysis of historical changes in MMFR’s biomass and productivity revealed fluctuations influenced by logging, reforestation, and climatic conditions. Trends in MMFR productivity indicate a concerning decline attributed to anthropogenic activities such as aquaculture and industrial projects. A regression analysis conducted on Rhizophora apiculata data with age as the predictor and AGB as the response variable indicated a positive trend (slope = 3.61, R-squared = 0.686), suggesting a quantitative increase in AGB with age. Further analysis revealed a significant negative trend in MMFR’s overall productivity over years (coefficient = −3.974, p p < 0.05), indicating declining AGB trends. Despite these challenges, this review underscores the significance of sustainable management practices, effective conservation efforts, and community engagement in maintaining mangrove ecosystem health and productivity. In conclusion, sharing management lessons from MMFR can contribute to global conservation and sustainable mangrove forest management efforts, fostering resilience in these vital ecosystems