| Summary: | This study, conducted from May to June 2023 in the Bukit Barisan Protected Forest, Padang Panjang City, presents a comprehensive analysis of Rhizanthes infanticida Banziger, a vital part of this ecosystem. By integrating census and purposive sampling, the study thoroughly investigated R. infanticida's habitat and associated flora. Employing nested plot methods at four forest points, we categorized plant life stages (trees, poles, saplings, and seedlings) to assess various growth stages of R.infanticida and neighboring plant species. The study also considered abiotic factors like temperature, humidity, elevation, and canopy cover, measured using a hygrometer thermometer, and digital imagery. We discovered 47 R infanticida knops across five growth phases, and identified 25 plant species from 18 families, with dominant species varying by life stage: Ptisana salicina (seedlings), Tetrastigma papillosum (saplings), Polyalthia jucunda (poles), and Litsea sp. (trees). The average environmental conditions were 25.1 ºC temperature, 73.55% humidity, elevation of 1,059 meters, and 76.01% canopy cover. This study provides crucial insights into R. infanticida's ecological dynamics within the Bukit Barisan Protected Forest, highlighting its distribution, relationship with surrounding vegetation, and environmental conditions, thereby contributing significantly to our understanding of this unique forest ecosystem. © 2024 by SPC (Sami Publishing Company).
|
|---|