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PRELIMINARY REVISION OF SCHEFFLERA FORST. & FORST. (ARALIACEAE)
IN SARAWAK
Siti Noor Aishah Binti Mohd Noor
Bachelor of Science with Honours
(Plant Resource Science and Management)
2013
PRELIMINARY REVISION OF SCHEFFLERA FORST. & FORST. (ARALIACEAE) IN
SARAWAK
Siti Noor Aishah Binti Mohd Noor (28268)
A report is submitted to partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of
Bachelor of Science with Honours
(Plant Resource Science and Management)
Plant Resource Science and Management Programme
Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology
Faculty of Resource Science and Technology
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
2013
Name of candidate
:
Siti Noor Aishah binti Mohd Noor
Title
:
Preliminary revision of Schefflera Forst. & Forst.
(Araliaceae) in Sarawak
_____________________________
(Dr. Aida Shafreena binti Ahmad Puad)
Supervisor
______________________________
(Dr. Rebicca Edward)
Coordinator
Plant Resource Science and Management Programme
Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology
Faculty of Resource Science and Technology
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, praise to Allah S.W.T for giving me the strength for completing this
study despite all the difficulties faced. Secondly, I would like to express my gratitude
towards my supervisor, Dr. Aida Shafreena binti Ahmad Puad for all the guidance, advices
and support throughout the process of completing this thesis. I also would like to give my
appreciation to Professor Dr. Cheksum @ Supiah binti Tawan for sharing her valuable
information and thoughts.
I would like to thank the staffs of Sarawak Forest Department for helping me during my
visit to herbarium by preparing the equipment for me to use in order to examine the
specimens. Not to forget, my best friend, Siti Aliyah binti Embok Patak who gives me the
moral support during my ups and downs.
Above and beyond, I would like to give a special thanks to the angel of my heart, Puan
Rohaizah binti Muhamad for all the encouragement and support given.
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DECLARATION
This Final Year Project 2013 is based on my original work except for quotation and
citation which have been acknowledged. I also declared that it has not been submitted
previously or currently to any other degree at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak or any other
institution.
__________________________________
Siti Noor Aishah binti Mohd Noor
Plant Resource Science and Management
Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology
Faculty of Resource Science and Technology
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
iv
TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………………….i
APPROVAL ………………………………………………………………….….ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ……………………………………………………...iii
DECLARATION ………………………………………………………….…….iv
TABLE OF CONTENT ……………………………………….............................v
LIST OF ABBREVIATION ……………………………….……….……....…..vii
LIST OF TABLES .…………………………………………………….………viii
LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………….…..ix
LIST OF APPENDIX ……………………………………………….….………..x
ABSTRACT ………………..................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ……………………………………….…....…2
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Taxonomy, morphology and anatomy of the Schefflera ………….……5
2.2 Discoveries of Schefflera species in Sarawak ………………………….6
2.3 Phylogenetics of Schefflera …………………………………………….7
2.4 Geographical distribution and ecology of Schefflera …………………..8
2.5 Economic potential and uses of Schefflera ……………………....……..9
CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS …………………….…………11
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS
4.1 Schefflera species in Sarawak ……………………………………........13
4.2 Distribution of Schefflera ……………………………………....……...16
4.3 Taxonomic key of Schefflera species in Sarawak and species
v
descriptions
4.3.1 Preliminary taxonomic key of Schefflera species in
Sarawak ……………………………………………....…...…18
4.3.2 Description of Schefflera species in Sarawak ……………….20
CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION
5.1 Published and unpublished name ……………………………………...33
5.2 Distribution of Schefflera in Sarawak …………………………………34
5.3 Limitations of the current study ……………………………………….36
CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ……….……....38
References ……………………………………………………………………...39
Appendix ……………………………………………………………………….41
vi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
SAR
Sarawak Herbarium
cm
centimetre
mm
millimetres
diam.
diameter
c.
circa (about)
vii
LIST OF TABLES
Table
Page
Table 1
Schefflera species in Borneo (Frodin & Govaerts, 2003).
7
Table 2
Schefflera species studied showing published and unpublished
14
names.
viii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
Figure 1
Page
(a) Schefflera crenata, (b) Schefflera tetrandra, (c)
3
Schefflera actinophylla and (d) Schefflera hexaphylla.
Figure 2
Main axis (c) of the inflorescence of S. mjoebergii
12
showing limitation zone (a) and branching zone (b).
Figure 3
Number of specimens observed for each species.
15
Figure 4
Altitudinal distribution of Schefflera species in Sarawak.
17
Figure 5
Schefflera beccariana Harms.
21
Figure 6
Schefflera borneensis Merr.
22
Figure 7
Schefflera kuchingensis Merr.
24
Figure 8
Schefflera lasiocalyx Ridl.
25
Figure 9
Schefflera laxiflora Ridl.
27
Figure 10
Schefflera mjoebergii Merr.
29
Figure 11
Schefflera remotiserrata Merr.
30
Figure 12
Schefflera tetandra Merr.
32
ix
LIST OF APPENDIX
Appendix
Appendix A
Page
Information on the specimen observed
x
41
Preliminary Revision of Schefflera Forst. & Forst. (Araliaceae) in Sarawak
Siti Noor Aishah binti Mohd Noor
Plant Resource Science and Management Programme
Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology
Faculty of Resource Science and Technology
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
ABSTRACT
Preliminary revision of Schefflera in Sarawak was done in Sarawak Herbarium (SAR) of Sarawak Forest
Department. All the specimens studied were from dried specimens. There are 357 specimens that have been
observed. From the specimens observed, there are 23 Schefflera species found in Sarawak and an additional
of 19 unpublished names. This gives a total of 42 Schefflera species of that can be found in Sarawak. A
preliminary taxonomic key has been constructed for selected species. Species descriptions of selected species
have been carried out. The species selected are S. beccariana, S. borneensis, S. kuchingensis, S. lasiocalyx, S.
laxiflora, S. mjoebergii, S. remotiserrata and S. tetandra. From this study, it shows that Schefflera species
can be found in wide geographical and elevational distribution.
Key words: Schefflera, taxonomy, description, distribution, Sarawak.
ABSTRAK
Kajian awal Schefflera di Sarawak telah dilakukan di Herbarium Sarawak (SAR) di Jabatan Hutan Sarawak.
Semua spesimen yang dikaji ialah dari spesimen kering. Terdapat 357 spesimen yang telah dikaji. Daripada
spesimen yang dikaji, terdapat 23 spesis Schefflera ditemui di Sarawak dan sebanyak 19 nama tambahan
yang tidak diterbitkan. Ini memberikan sejumlah 42 spesis Schefflera yang boleh didapati di Sarawak. Kunci
taksonomi awal telah dibina untuk spesis terpilih. Penerangan spesies bagi spesis yang terpilih juga telah
dibuat. Spesies yang dipilih ialah S. beccariana, S. borneensis, S. kuchingensis, S. lasiocalyx, S. laxiflora, S.
mjoebergii, S. remotiserrata dan S. tetandra. Dari kajian ini, ia menunjukkan bahawa spesis Schefflera
boleh didapati dalam taburan geogafi dan ketinggian yang luas.
Kata kunci: Schefflera, taksonomi, penerangan, taburan, Sarawak.
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia which is situated in Borneo Island covers nearly
125,000 square kilometres in the Borneo land mass. Sarawak is also a home to the amazing
range of tropical biodiversity (Sarawak Tourism Board, 2011). There are about 8000
species of vascular plant flora, 2000 species of trees, 1000 species of orchids, 757 species
of ferns and 260 species of palms (Forest Department of Sarawak, 2007). Despite the
approximate numbers of plant species recorded for Sarawak, there are still many more that
are not discovered and that includes Schefflera species which is still understudy and poorly
understood.
According to Frodin and Govaerts (2003), Schefflera is the largest genus in the family
Araliaceae (the ginseng family) with more than 582 species worldwide. Schefflera can be
found mainly in the tropical regions and a high number of this genus can be found
especially in mountainous areas of South America and Southeast Asia (Frodin & Govaerts,
2003).
Schefflera can be found as epiphytic shrublets, shrubs, small or medium trees and climbers
(Frodin & Govaerts, 2003) (Figure 1). Generally, this genus can be distinguished by
several characteristics. The first one is that it has palmately compound leaves and at the
base of the petiole, the stipules are fuse and elongated into an attachment of greater or
lesser length. Second, the inflorescence is arranged in panicles and the numbers of
branches are varies along which the flowers are organised in many or few numerous,
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normally stalked umbellules, capitula, racemules or spicules. The third one is, the prickles
are absent on the vegetative parts. Finally, the flowers lack an articulation beneath the
receptacle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Figure 1 (a) Schefflera crenata, (b) Schefflera tetrandra, (c) Schefflera actinophylla and
(d) Schefflera hexaphylla.
There are several species that are distributed in Sarawak, Sabah and both Sabah and
Sarawak. The species that are native to Borneo are S. avenis (Miq.) Harms, S. borneensis
Merr., S. burkillii Merr., S. cephalotes (C. B. Clarke) Harms, S. filipes Merr., S. foetida
3
Merr., S. gracilis (Miq.) R. Vig., S. havilandii Merr., S. lasiocalyx Ridl., S. petiolosa
(Miq.) Harms., S. polita (Miq.) R. Vig., S. remotiserrata Merr., S. tetrandra Merr. and S.
winkleri Harms. The species which are found in Sarawak are S. beccariana Harms, S.
kuchingensis Merr., S. mjoebergii Merr. and S. laxiflora Ridl. As for Sabah, the species
like S. bipalmatifolia Merr. and S. pachyphlebia Merr. are natives to this state (Frodin &
Govaerts, 2003).
There is no revision of Schefflera in Sarawak that has been carried out up until now. In
spite of this, the diversity of Schefflera in Sarawak is still uncertain. Moreover, the
information on Schefflera is published in scattered publication. Thus, the study on
Schefflera in Sarawak is much needed to figure out how many Schefflera species are there
and to obtain a better understanding of this interesting and challenging genus. Therefore,
the objectives of this study were to document the number of Schefflera species in Sarawak
and to construct a preliminary taxonomic key of Schefflera in Sarawak.
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Taxonomy, morphology and anatomy of Schefflera.
The family Araliaceae comprised of 50 genera (Qibai & Lowry II, 2007) and 1600 species
(Plunkett et al., 2005) worldwide. Genus Schefflera is the largest genus among Araliaceae
family with over 580 formally accepted species (Frodin & Govaerts, 2003). In fact, more
than half of species in Araliaceae family are from this genus (Oskolski & Lowry II, 2001).
This genus is typified by the species S. digitata described in New Zealand (Plunkett et al.,
2005).
Schefflera can be found as epiphytic shrublets, shrubs, small or medium trees up to 12 m
and climbers (Frodin & Govaerts, 2003). It has leaves which are divided palmately or
digitately which normally has 3 or more leaflets, few unifoliolate or decompounds.
Leaflets are normally entire or with a few coarse teeth. It also has ligule-like stipules,
connate within the petiole and the tip of the stipules sometimes very elongated. The
arrangement of the flowers usually in umbellules or small heads rarely scattered and
organised within panicles which consists of the main axis and a number of racemes with
scattered or whorled peduncles. The petals are usually 5 or more. Stamens are usually 5
and can be up to 10-12. The ovary is 5-12-locular and rarely more than that. This genus
usually has smooth and slightly ribbed fruit. It also has subglobose to globose fruits
(Stone, 1978).
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The study on the anatomical characteristics of this genus is very much needed as there are
only a few anatomical studies that have been conducted about this interesting genus. In
2001, a study on the wood anatomy of Schefflera has been carried out by Oskolski and
Lowry II. In this study, they used the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to distinguish
the wood anatomical characters of the sample variation patterns. The wood samples used
were collected in New Caledonia. Their findings showed that only two characteristics
present which are the scalariform perforation plates and scanty paratracheal axial
parenchyma and both of characteristics seems to be regular.
2.2 Discoveries of Schefflera species in Sarawak.
Before early 1800s, species of Schefflera were not frequently spotted by voyagers and
collectors even though this genus mainly lives in forest and woodland habitats, particularly
in mountainous area (Frodin et al., 2010). Frodin et al. (2010) also said that, after James
Cook had finished his first voyage, there were less than 10 species which described by
him.
As for the discoveries of Schefflera in Sarawak, there is some information which has been
published by various authors in scattered publications. The first one is written by Merril
(1928), who described about the taxonomy of the S. mjoebergii, which was found on
Gunung Murud in October 1922 at or above an altitude of 1900 m. Secondly, there was a
discovery which was recorded by Ridley (1946) which explains about the S. lasiocalyx that
was found near Kuching, Sarawak. Other than S. lasiocalyx, Ridley (1946) also stated that
S. laxiflora were discovered on Gunung Koum. He also reported that S. corona-sylvae
found in Rejang, Sibu and S. rubiginosa was recorded in Gunung Matang. Furtado (1962)
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reported about the name changes in Bornean Araliads. The species involved was S.
furfuracea which is also a synonym for S. kuchingensis.
Frodin and Govaerts (2003) listed a total of 20 species of Schefflera that occur in Borneo.
However, only 8 species are published for Sarawak.
Table 1 Schefflera species in Borneo (Frodin & Govaerts, 2003).
Schefflera species in Borneo
S. avenis (Miq.) Harms
S. beccarina Harms*
S. bipalmatifolia Merr.
S. borneensis Merr.*
S. burkillii Merr.
S. cephalotes (C. B. Clarke) Harms
S. filipes Merr.
S. foetida Merr.
S. gracilis (Miq.) R. Vig.
S. havilandii Merr.
S. kuchingensis Merr.*
S. lasiocalyx Ridl.*
S. laxiflora Ridl.*
S. mjoebergii Merr.*
S. pachyphlebia Merr.
S. petiolosa (Miq.) Harms
S. polita (Miq.) R. Vig.
S. remotiserrata Merr.*
S. tetandra Merr.*
S. winkleri Harms
Species with * are published for Sarawak.
2.3 Phylogenetics of Schefflera
A study which conducted by Harms (1894) pointed out that Schefflera is closely related to
the genus Trevesia which is from the same family, Araliaceae (as cited in Jebb, 1998). A
study which conducted by Wen et al. (2001) suggested that Schefflera may be
polyphyletic. This statement is supported by recent study which carried out by Plunkett et
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al. (2005). In their study, the phylogenetic analyses of Schefflera were done based on
nuclear (ITS) and plastid (trnL-trnF) DNA sequences. Their study revealed that there are
five unrelated clades of Schefflera distributed across the phylogentic tree of Araliaceae.
Those five clades match perfectly to the geographic distributions. They are named Asian
Schefflera, Neotropical Schefflera, Pacific Schefflera, African-Malagasy Schefflera and
Schefflera s. str. Two of the clades (Pacific Schefflera and Schefflera s. str.) which differ
morphologically are centered in the southwest Pacific while the other three clades (Asian
Schefflera, Neotropical Schefflera and African-Malagasy Schefflera) are centered in the
Neotropics, Asia/Malesia and Africa/Madagascar. In other study which conducted by
Fiaschi et al. (2010), found that, the informal “Asian Palmate Clade” of Araliaceae which
consists of “Neotropical Schefflera” and “Asian Schefflera” is mostly Asian group of
genera.
2.4 Geographical distribution and ecology of Schefflera
According to Oskolski and Lowry II (2001), Schefflera species can be found in most
tropical and subtropical areas. Malesia, Southeast Asia, New Caledonia, the Andes and the
Guyana Highlands are the areas with high number of species from this genus. Generally,
Schefflera is most abundant in area above 1000 m such as the mountain of Southeast Asia
and Malesia (Frodin, 1975). This observation also supported by other study which
conducted by Shafreena (2012). The study reported that 24 out of 36 Schefflera species in
Sabah are found at elevation above 1000 m.
There are species which are widely distributed but some are restricted. For instance, S.
avenis is common in Borneo but is very rare in Jawa (Frodin & Govaerts, 2003). There is
8
also species which is widely distributed such as S. cephalotes which can be found in
Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatera (Frodin & Govaerts, 2003). Schefflera elliptica
has a wide elevation and can be found throughout South East Asia (Frodin & Govaerts,
2003).
Based on the study which conducted by Shafreena (2012), there are some species which
are endemic to Borneo such as S. beccariana Harms, S. kuchingensis Merr. S.
remotiserrata Merr S. filipes Merr., S. lasiocalyx Ridl., S. petiolosa (Miq.) Harms and S.
tetrandra Merr. On the other hand, S. pachyphlebia Merr. is endemic to Sabah and
restricted to high elevation of Mount Kinabalu on exposed ultramafic soil between 25003800 m above sea level (Shafreena, 2012).
2.5 Economic potential and uses of Schefflera
There is a number of Schefflera species which are used as ornamental. For example, S.
actinophylla which also known as octopus tree, Australian umbrella tree and umbrella tree
(Gucker, 2011) is indigenous to New Guinea and Queensland, Australia, but, it is
indigenous only at the north of The Tropic of Capricor in Queensland (Gucker, 2011). For
its commercial value, S. actinophylla is used as ornamental in Florida and Hawaii. This
species is also used as planted plants as an effort of the reforestation in Hawaii (Gucker,
2011). The flower of S. actinophylla is used for the making of the lei (flower arrangement
consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental) and decoration in
Hawaii (National Tropical Botanical Garden, 2012).
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Other than S. actinophylla, S. heptaphylla is also cultivated as ornamental and pot plants.
This species is native to China, India, Taiwan, and Province of China. The common name
of S. heptaphylla is ivy tree. In addition to its uses, the timber and fibre of S. heptaphylla
are used to manufacture paper, musical instruments and matchboxes (Orwa et al., 2009).
This is due to the soft, light and easy to handle the wood of S. heptaphylla. According to
Orwa et al. (2009), S. heptaphylla also has the medical value. The bark is used because of
its diuretic properties. The ashes of this plant can also be used to cure dropsy. Itchy skin
can also be soothed by applying fresh branchlets to the affected area. Another use of S.
heptaphylla is green manure that is produced by leaves and young branches of the S.
heptaphylla can act as the soil improver (Orwa et al., 2009).
10
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was carried out in the Sarawak Herbarium (SAR), located in the Forest
Department Sarawak. The samples were observed from dried specimens. Information such
as the species name, collection number, collector, date, locality, habitat and notes for each
specimen was recorded in the Microsoft Excel. The species that were chosen for the
construction of the taxonomic key and species descriptions are S. beccariana, S.
borneensis, S. kuchingensis, S. lasiocalyx, S. laxiflora, S. mjoebergii, S. remotiserrata and
S. tetandra.
The description and measurements in this study were based on dried specimens only. The
parts that were measured were reproductive parts and vegetative parts. All measurements
and descriptions were done following the description of Frodin (1986). Various leaflet
shapes were also observed and examined. The length and the diameter of the petiole,
petiolules, branch of inflorescence/infructescence were observed and measured.
The main axis of the inflorescence/infructescence, which started from the last leaf that
closest to the inclorescence/infructescence axis was measured. The main axis was divided
into two zones, which is the limitation zone (the part with no branches of
inflorescence/infructescence) and the branching zone (the part with branches of
inflorescence/infructescence) (Figure 2). Useful flower characteristics such as number of
petals, stamens, stigma and ovary position were also studied (if possible). Fruit
characteristic which include stigma/carpels, style length and diameter of the fruits were
11
also measured. All measurements were made using vernier callipers and ruler. Dissecting
microscope with 10 x magnifications was also utilized to aid observation. After all the
observations have been made, a taxonomic key was constructed. Because of time
constraint, taxonomic key and species descriptions were made based on selected species
which are the species that have been published only (as mentioned previously).
Leaf nearest to the
inflorescence axis
b
c
a
Figure 2 Main axis (a) of the inflorescence of S. mjoebergii showing limitation zone (b) and branching zone
(c).
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CHAPTER 4
RESULTS
4.1 Schefflera species in Sarawak
There are about 357 herbarium specimens of Schefflera species that have been observed
(Appendix A). From 357 specimens observed, there are about 50 species that can be
identified. Out of 50 species identified, only 8 species that have been published for
Sarawak (from various scattered publications). There are 15 new records for Schefflera in
Sarawak, additional of 19 unpublished names of this genus and other 8 species which are
found elsewhere (Sabah or Peninsular Malaysia).
13