BIOTROPIA (2) 1988/1989: 18-24

THE DISTRIBUTION AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS OF

MIMOSA PIGRA L. IN INDONESIA

SRI S. TJITROSOEDIRDJO

Tropical Agricultural Pest Biology Program, BIOTROP, Bogor, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Mimosa pigra L. (Mimosa asperata L.) of the family Mimosaceae is an introduced species from South

America which is locally naturalized in Indonesia.
The present known distribution sites are still restricted to Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. It is found in

almost all provinces of Java and many heavily infested areas have been noted in Jakarta and West Java. The

introduction of the plant to other islands has not been reported yet. The separation of the islands by sea is

preventing the further spread of the plant in Indonesia.
Control is basically occasional and on an individual basis. There is no sustained effort yet to control the

plant. The urgency of controlling and restricting its spread cannot be over emphasized.

INTRODUCTION

Mimosa pigra L. is an introduced species in Indonesia from South America which

has been locally naturalized for a long time (Backer and van den Brink 1963). Soerjani

(1979) included this species as one of the ten serious aquatic weeds in Indonesia. The

plant is very difficult to control because its spiny and woody character makes it very

difficult to penetrate when growing very densely.

Recently, there is a large number of areas in Jakarta and its vicinity, as well as

some areas in West Java infested with M. pigra.

In Thailand, M. pigra was introduced from Indonesia in 1947. It was first planted

in Amphus Mae Taeng where it was used as a ground cover to improve soil quality and

to help prevent bank erosion. Within 30 years, it has infested large areas of Northern

Thailand (Lamar Robert 1982).

Among the Institutes working on M. Pigra in Indonesia are: the Central Research

Institute for Plantation which conducted the study on its biology and ecology

(Sumaryono and Soedarsan 1983); the Biological Research and Development Center,

Indonesian Institute of Sciences, which conducted studies on its ecology, biological

control and taxonomic aspects (Uji 1988, Partomihardjo 1988, and Kahono 1988);

and BIOTROP which studied its potential problems at Bening and Saradan Reservoir,

East Java (Anonymous 1983). Research on the biology, distribution, ecological role in the

environment and control methods in Indonesia should be intensified and the problem must

be dealt with before it expands to larger areas and become more serious.

The distribution and potential problems of Mimosa pigra L. -Sri S. Tjitrosoedirdjo

In this paper, the present distribution of M. pigra at the known sites and the
potential problems in the future are discussed and evaluated.

DISTRIBUTION OF MIMOSA PIGRA IN INDONESIA

The distribution of M. pigra in Indonesia was obtained from the examination of

herbarium specimens at the Herbarium Bogoriense, Bogor, Indonesia and information

from several other sources (Soedarsan 1980, Sumaryono and Soedarsan 1983).

Mimosa pigra was first introduced to Indonesia by the Bogor Botanical Garden

from Mexico (Thysmann and Binnendijk 1866). The earliest record of its presence was

in 1844 from Bogor, West Java (Hasskarl 1844).

The oldest existing herbarium specimens were found in 1902 from Ciliwung

riverside in Bogor identified as Mimosa asperata L.; in the same year, a specimen was

also found in Jakarta.

The present distribution of M. pigra in Indonesia is still restricted to Java,

Sumatra and Kalimantan (Figure 1). Most of the specimens were found in Java, i.e.

from all the provinces, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and East Java.

In Sumatra it was reported from Solok, West Sumatra (Soedarsan 1980) and

Sibolangit, North Sumatra in 1917.

The only specimen from Kalimantan was found in Samarinda in 1979. It seems that

in Kalimantan M. pigra was newly introduced. There is no report yet from other

islands.

According to the recent information in Indonesia there are two types of the habits

of M. pigra i.e. erect and prostrate stenis. Field observations showed different

morphological characteristics of the two types of M. pigra. The prostrate stem type is

only strictly distributed around Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi at an altitude of

5-260 m a.s.l. The erect stem type is widely distributed all over Java (Partomihardjo

1988, Uji 1988).

Backer and van den Brink (1963) indicated that in Indonesia it can be found at an

altitude of 1-700 m above sea level.

In different places M. pigra is called by different names such as klampis air, putri

main hitam (Sumaryono and Soedarsan 1983) andputri malu raksasa. In West Java it is

known as jerujut, gehgeran and cucuk buset, Rondo kaget (Sunda), pis kucing (Java).

BIOTROPIA No. 2, 1988/1989

The distribution and potential problems of Mimosapigra L.-Sri S. Tjitrosoedirdjo

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE

There are some factors assisting the dispersal and rapid colonization of M. pigra

(Miller 1982). Among them are the intrinsic characteristics of the plant, like the ability of

whole seed pods on their segments to float on water for long periods, and the hairy nature

of pods allowing segments to stick to hair or clothing, which enable them to spread

easily. This is combined with dispersal both by natural uncontrollable forces and by

man as well as animals.

In a river, the spread of M. pigra downstream from its original location has been

largely through uncontrollable water movement. Its spread to isolated sites away from

the river is mainly by human activity through removal of sand from the river for use in

construction of roads or buildings.

The ability of M. pigra to rapidly colonize areas is due to its inherent ability to

flower and seed all year round under favorable conditions, the production of large

quantities of seeds, their long term viability and tolerance to both flood and drought.

Wanichanantakul and Chinawong (1979) reported that in Thailand, an average plant

is seeded twelve times per year. They also found that prolonged seed dormancy was

due to the hard seed coat.

In Indonesia, (Anonymous 1983) the rate of growth of M. pigra at Bening and

Saradan reservoirs, East Java, was observed. The rate of growth was 11.54 g dry

weight/day
-1
or 4.42% day

-1
. Although it is less than the rate of growth of the floating

aquatic weeds, it is relatively high for a woody perennial plant. The high rate of

growth is also supported by the high production of viable seeds.

The number of mature seeds found in 5 cm depth of soil in a plot 25 x 25 cm
2

was 200.

The laboratory experiments showed that the seed germination rate was very high, i.e.

approximately 93.5% under light and 89.5% under dark conditions (Anonymous 1983).

Sumaryono and Soedarsan, 1983 reported that in Bogor, the stem diameter reached

up to 4.6 cm after 8 months. The first flowers appeared 4 months after seed germination.

They also reported that after cutting, regeneration is very rapid. It grew better in a soil

water of 43-67% and the plant could survive in flooded land although its growth was

retarded.

In Java, M. pigra has spread faster than on other islands. Colonization by M. pigra is

basically through movement of seeds by water. Mostly, the plants were found in wet

places-such as riverside, irrigation canal or at the shore of the lake (Table 1). Introduction

to isolated places not reached by water can also be noticed. It is also found along the road,

railway or in waste lands.

BIOTROPIA No. 2, 1988/1989
Table 1. Distribution of M. pigra in Indonesia based on the herbarium specimens at the Herbarium

Bogoriense", other sources (Soedarsan 1980
2)
), Anon, 1983

3
), and own observation

4)
.

The distribution and potential problems of Mimosa pigra L. - Sri S. Tjitrosoedirdjo

Increasing development of housing, industrial estates, highways, airports,

bridges and roads in Jakarta use large amount of sand. This sand comes from the rivers

or places already contaminated by M. pigra seeds. Heavy infestation can be found in

waste lands close to housing and industrial estates, along the Jagorawi highway, and

along the way to Soekarno-Hatta airport.

At Ciapus Bogor, there is a big sand quarry where the product is distributed

mostly to Jakarta and West Java. M. pigra can be found easily in the areas

surrounding the quarry. This condition contributes to the further spread of M. pigra

elsewhere.

In Central Java, M. pigra can be found at the roadside between Yogyakarta and

Magelang. There are some rivers such as Krasak, Putih and Blongkeng, between these

two cities. The rivers are rich in sand from Merapi mountain, which is collected and

distributed to many places in Central Java. If the sand from these rivers is contaminated

with M. pigra seeds, it can be spread further within a short time.

Anonymous (1983) reported that in East Java, Bening and Saradan reservoirs are

infested with M. pigra. The plants are mostly found at the lake shore. At Saradan

reservoir M. pigra is a dominant species.

At Bening reservoir where the fluctuation of the water is very high (approximately

13 m), M. pigra appears to be particularly well adapted to grow in a seasonally flooded

habitat. During the dry season, M. pigra grows well and biomass production is very high.

During this time at Bening reservoir, the flooded area is 570 ha and there are 370 ha which

can be potentially colonized by M. pigra. After flooding during the wet season, M. pigra

will decompose and the nutrients released would enrich the water. Its decay will cause an

increase in the water's carbon dioxide content, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia and

nitrate, and nitrogen, and reduce its pH and dissolved oxygen concentration. The plants

recover by germination of viable seeds.

Anonymous (1983) suggested that a control program should be carried out

during the dry season before flowering, to prevent the production of seeds.

In Sumatra, Soedarsan (1980) reported that M. pigra was found close to the river.

It reached 4 m in height. If there is no control treatment M. pigra will spread further.

With the construction of the Trans Sumatra highway from Aceh to Java and

crossing the Sunda Channel, there is a possibility that M. pigra will be spread from Java

to Sumatra through the movement of man and vehicles.

BIOTROPIA No. 2, 1988/1989

SUMMARY

Although M. pigra has been introduced in Indonesia for a long time, the

existing known places are still restricted to Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. The in-

troduction of the plant to other islands has not been reported yet. The separation of the

islands by the sea is preventing the further spread of the plant in Indonesia.

In Java, M. pigra is widely distributed, it is found in almost all provinces. The

high rate of growth, the ability of producing large amounts of seed, the great

regenerative power and also the resistance to flood and drought support the rapid

colonization of M. pigra.

In Jakarta and West Java, many places have been infested heavily by M. pigra.

There is no sustained effort yet to control the plant, only occasionally by individual

initiative.

The urgency of controlling and restricting its spread cannot be over emphasized.

REFERENCES

ANONYMOUS. 1983. Penyelidikan Tanaman Air dan Perikanan Waduk pada Proyek Irigasi Widas (Studies on
the Reservoir's Aquatic Weeds and Fishery at the Widas Irrigation). Internal Report BIOTROP, Bogor,

Indonesia.

BACKER, C.A. and R.C.B. VAN DER BRINK. 1963. Flora of Java. Vol. I. N.V.P. Noordhof-Groningen-

The Netherlands.

LAMAR ROBERT, G. 1982. Economic Returns to Investment in Control of M. pigra in Thailand. IPPC
Document No. 42. A-82. MPC Agricultural Economics Report No. 15.

HASSKARL, J.K. 1844. Catalogus Plantarum in Horto Botanico Bogoriense Cultarum Alter. (Ter Lands-Drukkerij :

Batavia).

MILLER, I.L. 1982. The Distribution and Threat of M. pigra in Australia Proc. International Symposium on M.

pigra Management Chiang Mai, Thailand.

PARTOMIHARDJO, T. 1988. Studies on the biology of Mimosa pigra for supporting its control in Indonesia.

Proceeding WSSI Conference Vol. II.

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pigra as a weed in the Future). Menara Perkebunan 48(6): 179-180.

SOERJANI, M. 1979. Recent Trends in Aquatic Weed Management in Indonesia Proc. 7th Asian Pac. Weed Sci.
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SUMARYONO and SOEDARSAN, A. 1983. Beberapa aspek pertumbuhan klampis air (Some aspect of the

growth of M. pigra). Menara Perkebunan 51 (6): 160-164

. THYSMANN, J.E. and S. BINNENDIJK. 1866. Catalogus Plantarum quae in Horto Botanico Bogoriense

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