1. LIANAH_VOL2_2014.cdr Abstract This article presents an overview of the current knowledge of (Blume) Planch, aTetrastigma glabratum host of Raf�esiaceae, by providing information on botany and ecology of , and conservationT. glabratum status by propagating the plants vegetatively and monitoring its growth and . The study wasin-situ ex-situ conducted in the protected rainforests at Mount Prau, Candiroto, North Kedu, Central Java between 2009- 2014. Shoot growth and expansion in stem diameter were faster than whereas the number ofin-situ ex-situ leaves was similar in both locations. Ex-situ conservation and cultivation is very important to protect these rare, unique, and endangered species from extinction. Introduction Tetrastigma Planch (Vitaceae) is the sole host species of the Raf�esia (Raf�esiaceae), a genus of parasitic plants that have the largest �ower of all �owering plants, with �owers reaching up to 150 cm inR. arnoldii diameter (Nais 2001). Raf�esia plants live inside the roots and stems of as the Raf�esiaceaeTetrastigma entirely lack leaves, stems, roots and therefore are completely dependent on their host plants for nutrients and water. The centres of species diversity in Raf�esia are located in Borneo and Sumatra, also Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines (Nais, 2001). Eight out of the 18 identi�ed species were found in Borneo and Sumatra, two from Java, Indonesia. One species was reported from Thailand, three from the Peninsular Malaysia, and two from the Philippines. Tetrastigma is a widespread genus of approximately 100 species occurring from Asia to Oceania (Ren & Wen, 2007). The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'tetras' meaning four and 'stigma' which is the tip of the female pistil in a �ower, in reference to the four-lobed stigma. The species are found in subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and Australia and suited to grow in hillsides and valleys of shady and moist primary rainforests. , also known and recorded asT. glabratum Cissus glabrata, is not recorded from Australia although �ve other species have been identi�ed in Queensland and New South Wales (north of Sydney) (Anonim 2013; 2014). Habitat loss has severely affected the distribution of the endemic and native plant species in the tropics. Ex-situ conservation and cultivation has become increasingly important to protect these rare, unique, and endangered species from extinction. This article presents an overview of the current knowledge of (Blume) Planch, aTetrastigma glabratum host of Raf�esia (Zuhud, 1998), by providing information on botany and ecology of , its traditionalT. glabratum uses, and and conservation status byin-situ ex-situ propagating the plants vegetatively and report some observation on growth and development of T. glabratum. The study was conducted in the protected rainforests at Mount Prau, Candiroto, North Kedu (7.3713900°S, 109.9866700° E) and at village Blumah, sub-district Plantungan located at the foot slopes of Mount Prau between 2009 to 2014. Blumah village is bound to the North by Tlogo Payung village; to the West by sub- district Bulang and Lampin River; to the East by village Kediten; and to the South by district Wonosobo (Anon 2009). The village is located about 95km north east of Semarang city, Central Java. The location is classi�ed as humid with relative humidity of 60-80%, soil pH of 6.9, slopes of up to 60°, temperatures of 20-25°C day and 16-20°C night (Lianah, 2013). Botanical Description nd Ecologya T. glabratum are climbing perennial vines with tendrils (Figure 1 ) and the ability to grow to a height of up to 20A m, while their leaves consist of �ve lea�ets, serrated and arranged palmately compound (Figure 1A). The stems are reddish (Figure 1 ); their small �ower clustersA appear in the axils of the leaves, and are whitish in colour (Fig 1 ).B Description and Ecology of Indonesian Species Tetrastigma glabratum (Blume) Planch, a host of Raf�esiaceae Lianah* IAIN Walisongo, Jl Walisongo 4-5, Semarang, Indonesia 50185. *Corresponding author; email: lianahkuswanto@yahoo.co.id 1 SHORT COMMUNICATION Journal of Tropical Crop Science Vol. 1 No. , 20142 October www.j-tropical-crops.com Figure 1. T. glabratum lea�ets, stem and tendril (A), �ower cluster (B). The species appears to be endemic to the Mount Prau area as it has not been found in other areas (Lianah, 2013). It is growing in a mountainous area with an elevation >1300 m above sea level (Lianah 2013). The, local names of include walikadep (Lianah,T. glabratum 2013), gang putih, akar darik-darik, bantengan, oyod epek and oyon waliran (Hyne, 1987). inT. glabratum Mount Prau were found climbing on meranak trees ( (Bl.) A. DC. Meranak isCastanopsis acuminatissima the predominant tree growing at higher elevation on Mount Prau (Lianah, 2013). They are large trees of up to 40m height with a large canopy: the diameter of a mature tree can be more than 100cm. Traditional Uses The local people at Blumah Village have been using the liquid exudates from the stems of forT. glabratum generations. The exudate is believed to have a refreshing and stimulating effects, increase children's appetites and has been used as an important medicinal product in that area (personal communication: Supangat, 2011). The research in Indonesia on the medicinal properties of is still at the earlyT. glabratum stages. This is in contrast to another Tetrastigma species, , a Chinese endemic speciesT. hemsleyanum (Ren and Wen, 2007) that has been studied for many years in China and has been demonstrated to be effective against in�ammatory disorders, as an analgesic and antipyretic (Liu et al , 2002).. Table 1. and vegetative growth of from May to October 2010.In-situ ex-situ T. glabratum Vegetative Growth In-situ 1) Ex-situ 2) Survival (%) 100 75 Leaf number 20-31 20-31 Increase in shoot growth (mm) 23-28 13-29 Increase in stem diameter (mm) 3.7-8.9 1-3 Biomass (g) 2500 800 1) Protection forests at Mount Prau, Candiroto, North Kedu. Blumah Village, Candiroto, North Kedu 2) . Observation n T. Glabratum Growth ndo a Development This description is based on our research and observations of this plant between June – October 2010 (�ve months) as the plant grew in its natural habitat at Mount Prau and at Blumah village greenhouse. Our research demonstrated that this species is hard-to- root (Lianah, 2013). Propagation from stem cuttings resulted in only seven percent of the planted cuttings rooted and survived (Lianah, 2013) despite optimizing the vegetative propagation environment for hard-to-root species. The majority of the stem cuttings experienced browning and �nally died. Preliminary examination at the Biology laboratory at The University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, indicated that the leaves and stem of T. glabratum contains high concentration of phenols and �avonoids (Lianah, 2013). A number of naturally occurring compounds and enzymes, including phenols, have been reported to affect rooting (Krisantini, 2005). Plant growth at the protected rainforests at Mountin-situ Prau and at Blumah village is described in Tableex-situ 1. Plant growth was measured every month for �ve months. Generally shoot growth and expansion in stem diameter were faster than (Table 1). Thein-situ ex-situ number of leaves was similar in both locations as the plants in the greenhouse at Blumah village received plenty of sunlight as opposed to the shaded environment in-situ. Tetrastigma glabatrum is a slow-growing plant, and it needs about �ve years' growth from cuttings until the diameter of the plant stem reaches 2-3 cm and can be harvested (Lianah, 2013). Therefore, this plant is increasingly rare because people take those �ve-year- old plants, and they are not available to reproduce. Further study is currently under way to optimise the propagation of this hard-to-root species and to measure 2 Lianah Journal of Tropical Crop Science Vol. 1 No. , 20142 October www.j-tropical-crops.com A B propose to educate the community to preserve this endangered species. Acknowledgment The author thanks ISDN and IAIN Walisongo Indonesia for their funding support for this research. The information on local knowledge of growth,Tetrastigma ecology and traditional uses from Mr Supangat and the late Mr Solikhin of Blumah village is highly appreciated. The author thanks Dr Krisantini for her advice on the contents of this manuscript, Mr. Ken Hayes for his technical advice on vegetative propagation, and Dr Malcolm Wegener of The University of Queensland, Australia for his valuable comments and manuscript editing. Anon. (2009). Pro�l KPH Kedu Utara. 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