JN.

RAISAL HAQ
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TUGAS TAKSONOMI TUMBUHAN

STUDY OF PITCHER PLANT

(NEPENTHES)
In my opinion,

pitcher plant genus Nepenthes (Nepentheceae) become popular

ornamental plant because its unique behaviour for being the carnivorous plant. That can trapping
and disgesting insect and other small animals in their pitcher as the food. Nepenthes, locally
known as kantong semar was distributed from Madagascar, South East Asia, Sourthen China,
Quesland
in the world, 53 species

and New Guinea. And Indonesia has the highest diversity of Nepenthes
of Nepenthes occur in Indonesia. Therefore as Indonesian

people I am interested to learn more about Nephentes. More over research of Nepenthes in the
field of genetics, phytochemicals and horticulture has not been done, this is a good opportunity
for researchers, lecturers, students and especially for myself.
To complete my assignment of taxonomy, I grow pitcher plant Nepenthes reindwardtiana
in my house for 6 month and try to see detail every part of this plant in order to find something
new to contribute for knowledge. Not only studying about Nepenthes that I planted but also
compare with many references from books and journals. The goal is to get deep understanding
about Nepenthes and start to create topic for research. Based on my observation, I have no idea
to find something new on my Nepenthes reindwardtiana, because I only have one and still very
young species. The plant has single leaf and growing along the stem and consisting of leaf blade,
tendril, pitcher and spur. Lamina is up to 20 cm long and 20 cm wide and is exceptional in that it
is ovate to almost entirely circular in shape. The leaf is strongly peltate, with the tendril emerging
from the underside of the leaf at a distance of approximately one third from the leaf apex. The
base of the leaf is petiolate and the petiole is canaliculate, up to 10 cm long and clasps the stem,
pitcher is green with two eyes inside of pitcther wall. For this case the data that I get from my
observation almost same as the references. Nevertheless, I found new thing from references that I
studied and will try to explain in this article.

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A. Discover New Spesies

In 1996, there were 80 species noted in the world. Nowadays, the number has increased
up to 139 species and 68 species (48.9%) of whom live and grow on various islands in Indonesia,
such as Sumatra (34 species), Kalimantan (22 species), Java (3 species),Sulawesi (11 species),
Maluku (3 species) and Papua (11 species). Herbarium Bogoriense-Research Center for BiologyThe Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), as the central storage plant specimens in Indonesia,
currently holds 2135 sheets of 72 species of Nepenthes are collected from various islands in
Indonesia and from other countries.
Based on references and after discuss with Mr. Muhammad Mansur (researcher of LIPI
especially for Nepenthes), I guess that number of species is still possible could increase if done
exploration to various islands, especially small islands. Exploration Nepenthes in small islands
scattered in the archipelago necessary done, considering that Indonesia has thousands of small
islands and potential discovery of the type the new species that has not been revealed.
The problem is that many foreign researchers who conduct exploration of Nepenthes in
Indonesia more than Indonesian researcher, even in 2015 they discovered four new species in
Sulawesi and Papua. This proves that the chance of getting a new species still wide open for
Indonesian researchers only if we want to go into the field and focus on this plants.
B. Genetic and Biology Molecular
Normally, these plants are characterized by their insect-catching pitchers. Delimitation
of species is usually difficult as the pitchers exhibit high variation within species and
populations. coupled with many natural hybrid that arise because of all the species of the genus
Nepenthes can do cross. Consequently, characteristics based upon the vegetative parts of these
plants are of limited use for taxonomy. Recently, various molecular approaches have been
devised to overcome these constraints. Today we can use Amplified Fragment Length
Polymorphisms (AFLP), as well as a rapid, effective and reproducible isolation of genomic DNA
extracted from leaf of Nepenthes. Of course I believe that genetic approach can be our
opportunity to do research based on genetic and biology molecular because not many researcher
work with this one.

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For example, N. xhookeriana was hypothesised to be a natural hybrid between N.

ampullaria and N. rafflesiana on the basis morphological characters. Several variants of each
species were also known. This present study aimed to detect occurrence of hybrid within N. x
hookeriana spotted and green variant using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and
inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). Results from cluster analyses suggested that N. x
hookeriana was indeed a hybrid between N. ampullaria and N. Rafflesiana, however it was
genetically more similar to N. raflessiana. We know that there are so many natural hybrid of
Nepenthes and mostly not yet identified. I think this topic still has a big chances to investigated
and has great opportunity to contribute something new. Not only natural hybrid but also we can
compare between two species by genetic and biology molecular approach.
Genetic approach is one solution when there is a debate between the two species are
very similar in terms of morphology. Like Nepenthes adrianii (Found in java) and Nepenthes
spatullata (Found in Sumatra) is still being debated today because their morphology very similar.
Some people think that both are one of the same species, but others suggest that there are two
different species. I think this problem will finish if we see not only based on morphological but
at a molecular level. This topic, can also be project research in taxonomy to reveal of the truth.
The objective was to describe morphology, structure of anatomy, and cytology
characters necessary to determine their differences each other. With modern technology should
we have done the research to the level of chromosomes and even genes. I see the current research
in international journals more focused on the study of genetics and molecular with advanced
tools, and I think this becomes a factor of low interest in conventional taxonomic research. To
catch up with other countries, research taxonomy based on genetic and molecular lever has to be
done in order to produce research which received international level.
C. Bio-Chemical of Pitcher Plant
Carnivorous pitcher plants, has fascinated biologists for centuries because of their unique
characteristics. The pitchers contain fluid to drown insects and other small invertebrates, which
are then digested by the action of secreted enzymes. The pitcher fluid of Nepenthes is acidic,
generally ranging from pH 2 to 6 depending on the species. The fluid contains high

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concentrations of digestive enzymes derived from the plant as well as debris from prey, which
may result in anaerobic conditions at the bottom of the pitcher and determine nutrient
availability. Thus, the fluid appears to be a complex and extreme habitat, which has also been
reported to harbor a high density of bacteria (up to10 8 cells mL1) in mature pitchers. It is
suggested that the microbes present in the fluid could contribute significantly to the quantities of
enzymes produced and might play a role in prey digestion and nutrient mineralization.
For taxonomy, the diversity of fluid within the living bacteria in a pitcher can be used
as supporting taxonomy data of Nepenthes, In addition to morphology, anatomy, or genetic.
Although it should involve people who are experts in the fields of chemistry and microbiology. I
think this will be an interesting topics to do because it is likely that each species has a fluid
content that is different in their pitcher.
D. Ecological Studies
The area of forest damaged or destroyed in Indonesia is increasing, especially in the last five
to ten years. This damage leads to Nepenthes habitats being disturbed and some species of
Nepenthes (especially the rarer species) may become easily lost. In Indonesia, all species of
Nepenthes are protected. important, especially to attempt ex-situ conservation action, that
endangered species of Nepenthes can be conserved. So, research in this topic is indispensable.
I Believe that Carnivorous plants are ideal bioindicators of ecosystem quality. Plant carnivory
has captivated the curiosity of biologists. Having evolved independently several times in poor
soil habitats, it is characterised by high soil hydric demands due to the mucilage in their glands to
trap insects. But, My hypothesis, based on data observations and a few foreign country's articles,
is that the occurence of carnivorous plants indicate a healthy (with no or little impacts)
environment, as
they need very delicate and specific microhabitats. Reseach of Nepenthes based on ecological
aspect also necessary due to of increasing habitat fragmentation, understanding the dynamics of
subdivided populations and communities and incorporating variation in habitat size, edge effects,
and spatial structure are crucial to the development of effective conservation strategies.

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For taxonomy, diversity of species in a region must be influenced by several factors, so the
ecological aspect is also very supportive in the research field of taxonomy because science is
basically interconnected.
E. Ethnobotany of Nepenthes
Making use of plants for humans lifeis studied in a branch of discipline known as
Ethnobotany. It studies the relationship between plants and man. One of plants species which is
commonly exploited by Indonesian is Nepenthes genus. It has various shape, size. colorful pouch
so that as decorative exotic plant which has high economic value, and the protein content in its
pouch is potential for developing molecular farming. Stem of Nepenthes reindwardtiana can be
used to replace ropes for tying goods and replace the function of rattan for tying fence and
bearing burden due to its plasticity and long lasting, The mature pouch is used for bowl/food
plates as lamang, godah.Nepenthes is also benefit for traditional medicines. The liquid from the
closed pouch of Nepenthes kasiana is useful medicine for cough, spot eyes, cataract, irritation,
and digestive inflammation.
The problem occurs that the villagers keep harvesting them intentionally in the wild world.
Based on the above description and due to unavailability of research on ethnobotany Nepenthes.
we need to study of nepenthes based on ethnobotanical aspect. it is aimed at uncovering the
value of ethnobotany Nepenthes and other plants species in its community, including the
knowledge on useful potency as well as having villagers view on Nepenthes conservation. The
finding of this research is expected to be a scientific base for biodiversity conservation strategic
of nepenthes.
In the end of my article, i saw that we have low international publication of pitcher
plant, although the highest diversity of this plant occur Indonesia. Many factors that influence it,
especially language. But I remain optimistic that we can still catch up. therefore support from all
stakeholders is crucial to succes in this taksonomy research.

JN. RAISAL HAQ

BOT/G353160191
TUGAS TAKSONOMI TUMBUHAN