Floral diversity assessment in Alno communal mixed forest in Benguet, Philippines

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the floral composition of the Alno communal mixed forest in the Philippines. A quadrat method of vegetational analysis was used for the assessment of trees, shrubs, saplings, and seedlings. A total of 78 species belonging to 43 families were identified in this communal forest. For the assessment of grasses, herbs, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation, the line intercept method was used. A total of 31 species belonging to 20 families were found using this method. The diversity (Shannon–Wiener) indices of this communal forest are 3.2129 and 2.3870 for the quadrat method and line intercept method, respectively. The most dominant species in this area is Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Benguet pine) with an importance value of 64.19 %. Endemic species in the area also connote ecological importance, being considered a good indication of the status of habitats and ecosystems of this communal forest.

Full text

1 23
Landscape and Ecological
Engineering
ISSN 1860-1871
Volume 10
Number 2
Landscape Ecol Eng (2014) 10:361-368
DOI 10.1007/s11355-012-0204-5
Floral diversity assessment in Alno
communal mixed forest in Benguet,
Philippines
Roscinto Ian C.Lumbres, Jennifer
A.Palaganas, Sheryll C.Micosa, Kenneth
A.Laruan, Elvira D.Besic, Chung-Weon
Yun, et al.

1 23
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REPORT
Floral diversity assessment in Alno communal mixed forest
in Benguet, Philippines
Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres •Jennifer A. Palaganas •
Sheryll C. Micosa •Kenneth A. Laruan •
Elvira D. Besic •Chung-Weon Yun •Young-Jin Lee
Received: 13 October 2011 / Revised: 13 September 2012 / Accepted: 9 October 2012 / Published online: 2 November 2012
ÓInternational Consortium of Landscape and Ecological Engineering and Springer Japan 2012
Abstract This study was conducted to assess the floral
composition of the Alno communal mixed forest in the
Philippines. A quadrat method of vegetational analysis was
used for the assessment of trees, shrubs, saplings, and
seedlings. A total of 78 species belonging to 43 families
were identified in this communal forest. For the assessment
of grasses, herbs, ferns, and other low-lying vegetation, the
line intercept method was used. A total of 31 species
belonging to 20 families were found using this method. The
diversity (Shannon–Wiener) indices of this communal
forest are 3.2129 and 2.3870 for the quadrat method and
line intercept method, respectively. The most dominant
species in this area is Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon
(Benguet pine) with an importance value of 64.19 %.
Endemic species in the area also connote ecological
importance, being considered a good indication of the
status of habitats and ecosystems of this communal forest.
Keywords Biodiversity Vegetational analysis 
Diversity index Pinus kesiya
Introduction
The Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the Philippines
reported in 2003 that the Benguet Province of the Cordil-
lera Administrative Region (CAR) has a total of 8634 ha of
mixed forest (FMB 2003). Furthermore, forests that can be
found in this province are dominated by Pinus kesiya,
being classified as tropical lower montane rainforest
(Fernando et al. 2008). It is also reported that other Pinus
kesiya forest developed after human disturbance such as
burning for cultivation of broadleaved montane forest
(Fernando et al. 2008).
According to the Department of Environment and Nat-
ural Resources–United Nations Environment Programme
(DENR-UNEP), the Philippines has 15 biogeographic
regions, one of which is the CAR where the Alno forest is
located, due to the richness in the biological resources,
most especially the flora (DENR-UNEP 1997). Oyama
et al. (2003) reported that tropical rainforests such as those
in the Philippines have high richness of plant species. It has
also been characterized that, in tropical places, species
distribution varies from one location to another because of
biogeography, disturbance, and habitat (Whitmore 1984).
These biological resources also provide many different
goods and services not only to other organisms but most
especially to humans (Nakashizuka 2004). However, the
diversity of this region’s resources seems not to be given
enough attention, and extinction of important species has
been going on unnoticed. In Asia, the rate of biodiversity
loss is higher and becoming serious (Nakashizuka 2004),
including in the Philippines, due to environmental
destruction (PCSD-IEMSDP 1998). Excessive logging,
clearing and burning, shifting cultivation, environmental
pollution, and expansion of agricultural areas and human
settlements are among the reasons for environmental
R. I. C. Lumbres C.-W. Yun Y.-J. Lee (&)
Department of Forest Resources,
Kongju National University, Yesan,
Chungnam 340-802, South Korea
e-mail: leeyj@kongju.ac.kr
R. I. C. Lumbres J. A. Palaganas S. C. Micosa 
K. A. Laruan E. D. Besic
College of Forestry, Benguet State University,
2601 La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines
123
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DOI 10.1007/s11355-012-0204-5
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destruction resulting in biodiversity loss. Thus, there is a
dire need to address the growing and nonstop degradation
of the environment to prevent biodiversity loss. Prance
et al. (2000) reported that large areas of tropical flora are
still understudied and information is still insufficient. The
basic premise for protection, preservation, and manage-
ment of these biological resources and to prevent the
soaring loss of biodiversity is to perform an inventory of
flora that still exists. According to Phillips et al. (2003), it
is necessary to conduct a floristic inventory to determine
the species diversity and understand the species distribu-
tion. Killeen et al. (1998) reported that floristic inventories
at specific localities are a rapid and effective method to
obtain significant information such as the identification of
rare, native, or endemic species, which is significant for
conservation plans and programs. Moreover, this inventory
will serve as a basis for policy formulation concerning the
areas which focus on preservation and protection of forests
(Bacudo et al. 2006). Their status regarding scarcity,
abundance, and utilization must be known in concomitance
with the identification of their location through mapping.
Application of geographic information system (GIS) is a
very important tool for protecting and managing the bio-
diversity of an area. Locations of threatened species can be
easily mapped using this system, providing an effective
tool for forest managers. Hence, the main objectives of this
study are to assess the existing floral diversity and develop
a spatial map and database for Alno communal forest in the
Philippines.
Materials and methods
Study site
The study site is located in the communal forest of Alno
Village in the municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet
Province, the Philippines (Fig. 1). It is accessible through
the Camp Dangwa–Alapang–Alno provincial road. Based
on the DENR cadastral survey, this village has an esti-
mated land area of 958.35 ha. It is the third largest village
in this municipality. The existing land uses of Alno are
agricultural lands with 318.56 ha (33.24 %), water
resources with 37.76 ha (3.94 %), residential land with
18.98 ha (1.98 %), roads with 56.64 ha (5.91 %), and
forest and brushlands with 526.42 ha (54.93 %). An area of
30.8 ha of forest and brushlands is classified as the Alno
communal forest. Alno is hilly to mountainous with slopes
ranging from 19 to 30 %, followed by upland areas with
slopes of 9–18 %, and rough mountainous areas with
slopes of 31–50 %.
Alno has average maximum and minimum temperature
of 24 and 15.1 °C, whereas the mean annual temperature is
19.6 °C based on 1971–2001 data. This area has two pro-
nounced seasons, dry from November to April and rainy
during the rest of the year, based on the Coronas System of
Classification (Lantican 2001). This area has annual pre-
cipitation of 3879 mm, while the mean annual relative
humidity is 86 %. Two types of soil exist in the area,
namely Puguis gravelly loam and Bineng loam. Puguis
Fig. 1 Location map of the study site in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines
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gravelly loam has good to excessive drainage. Bineng loam
soil has excessive external drainage and fair internal
drainage; this soil type is susceptible to soil erosion
(La Trinidad Municipality Official website 2011).
Alno communal forest is a secondary forest. Though the
study site was not subjected to commercial logging, it
served as a source of raw materials for various forest
products needed by members of the Alno community such
as fuel wood, construction materials, pasture land, and even
as a hunting ground during its primeval stage.
Data collection
Qualitative and quantitative approaches were performed in
this study. The qualitative approach covered the identifi-
cation of flora present in the area, while the quantitative
part made use of vegetational analyses using mathematical
formulae for biodiversity indices, density, frequency, and
height (PCARRD 1987). A total of six 50 m 950 m
quadrats were established in the Alno communal forest. All
trees, shrubs, saplings, and seedlings that fell within the
established quadrats were identified, counted, and mea-
sured. Likewise, grasses, herbs, and ferns were assessed
using the line intercept method. This was done by the
establishment of a 50-m transect line in each established
quadrat, and a total of six 5-m vertical lines at an interval
of 10 m were also established in each quadrat (PCARRD
1987). Grasses, herbs, and ferns that touched the vertical
lines were identified and counted. Figure 2shows the
layout of the quadrat and the transect line established for
the floral diversity assessment of Alno communal forest.
The information gathered in the field included the common
name, diameter at breast height (DBH, cm), and total
height (m) of each individual tree. DBH was measured at
1.3 m from the ground using a diameter tape while the total
height of trees was measured from the surface of the
ground to the tip of the tree using an Abney hand level.
Specific locations of all trees were identified using a
global positioning system (GPS) receiver (GPS V; Garmin,
USA). Using ArcView 3.2 GIS software, maps were cre-
ated showing the location of the trees found in the plots in
Alno.
Data analysis
Indices on the vegetation structure were computed using
the following formulae:
Density ðD;trees=m2Þ¼No. of plants of a certain species
Total area sampled 100;
ð1Þ
Relative density ðRDÞ¼ Density of a species
Total density for all species 100;
ð2Þ
Frequency ðFÞ¼Number of plots in which a species occurs
Total number of plots sampled ;
ð3Þ
Relative frequency ðRFÞ¼Frequency value for a species
Total frequency of all species 100;
ð4Þ
Relative height ðRHÞ
¼Summed height of all individuals for a species
Summed height of all individuals for all species 100;
ð5Þ
Importance value ðIVÞ¼RD þRF þRH:ð6Þ
Diversity indices were also determined using the
Shannon–Wiener index (Ito et al. 2006; Kodani 2006;
Nagai and Yoshida Nagai 2006; Wen et al. 2010)
computed as
H0¼Xpiln pi;ð7Þ
where H0is the diversity index, p
i
is the proportion of
individual species i, and ln is natural logarithm.
This information will provide a better quantitative
description of this forest regarding species importance and
function in its habitat compared with the density alone. The
rank or order for a particular species within the forest
community can be determined and quantified using this
Legend:
50m x 50m quadrat
50m transect line
5m vertical lines with
an interval of 10m
Fig. 2 Layout of the quadrat, transect line, and vertical lines for floral
diversity assessment in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines
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analysis (Kent and Coker 1992; Mueller-Dombois and
Ellenberg 1974).
Results and discussion
Floral assessment
Using the quadrat method, 78 tree species belonging to 43
families were identified in Alno Communal Forest. Mora-
ceae had the highest number of species of these families,
with 8 species. This was followed by Lamiaceae with six
species. Caprifoliaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and Rubiaceae
were the other families with higher numbers of species in
this communal forest, having four species each. On the
other hand, Pinaceae was the family with the highest
importance value of 64.19 %. The next most dominant
family was Moraceae with 30.18 %. Betulaceae, Melas-
tomataceae, and Juglandaceae were the other families that
dominated the area, with 24.12, 18.23, and 16.04 %
importance value, respectively.
On the species level, Pinus kesiya was the most domi-
nant species with an importance value of 64.19 % and
having 551 individual species. This species was found in
all quadrats and had the highest number of individuals in
five plots (Table 1). It was followed by Alnus japonica,
with importance value of 24.12 %. This species had 158
individuals that were found in four quadrats. Other species
with higher importance value were Engelhardtia spicata
var. colebrookeana with 14.48 %, Melastoma malabathri-
cum with 14.31 %, and Ficus annulata with 12 %
(Table 2).
The calculated diversity index in Alno communal forest
employing the quadrat method for overstory vegetation
analysis was 3.2129. On the other hand, a total of 31
species belonging to 20 families were identified by the line
intercept method (for grasses, herbs, and ferns), and the
calculated diversity index of species using this method was
2.3870 (Table 3).
An example of species with ecological function is the
Ficus spp. (tropical figs), which appeared to be one of the
abundant families present in this forest. This species can be
designated as both an umbrella species and keystone spe-
cies (Catinbog-Sinha and Heaney 2006) because it provides
food to a wide variety of and numerous fruit-eating birds,
wild pigs, and native rodents, among others. Aside from
this, Ficus nota and Cyathea contaminans are usually
associated with abundance of water or moisture in an area
(Bacudo et al. 2006).
Species with threatened condition were found in this
forest. The species Guioa reticulata was found to be crit-
ically endangered based on the DENR national list of
threatened Philippine plants (DENR 2007) (Table 2).
Saplings and seedlings of this species were encountered
specifically in quadrat 1, which was established on the
eastern part of the forest. The other two species categorized
in the vulnerable list were Cyathea contaminans and
Saurauia bontocensis. For the understory vegetation,
Anamirta cocculus and Hyptis suaveolens are categorized
as vulnerable, while Rubus fraxinifolius is categorized as a
threatened species (Table 3). Because of the presence of
threatened species in the area, there is a need to conserve
and protect this communal forest to prevent extinction of
these species.
The study of Gascon (1998) reported that the total
diversity (Shannon–Wiener index) of Hanunuo Mangyan
Agroforestry Systems in Sitio Dangkalan, Bulalacao,
Oriental Mindoro, Philippines is 1.2990 and Antidesma
bunius (Bignai) has the highest importance value of
27.9 %. Gevan
˜a and Pampolina (2009) reported that the
Table 1 General floristic information of the six plots established in Alno communal forest
Plot Quadrat method Line intercept method
Number
of
species
Number
of
families
Total number of trees,
shrubs, saplings, and
seedlings
Species with highest
number of individuals
(count)
Number
of
species
Number
of
families
Total number of
grasses, herbs,
and ferns
Species with highest
number of individuals
(count)
12317357 Pinus kesiya (76) 12 9 98 Miscanthus sinensis
(24)
22015400 Pinus kesiya (168) 13 9 258 Eupatorium sp. (131)
33222357 Alnus japonica (93) 14 8 251 Ageratina
adenophora (83)
43623639 Pinus kesiya (129) 18 12 293 Eupatorium sp. (105)
53425330 Pinus kesiya (59) 15 9 299 Eupatorium sp. (74)
63119470 Pinus kesiya (101) 17 9 484 Paspalum
conjugatum (223)
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Table 2 Overstory vegetation analysis and importance value of species present in Alno communal forest using quadrat method
Scientific name Family name Local name RD RH RF IV Status/endemism
Acer laurinum Aceraceae Philippine maple 0.16 0.16 0.58 0.89 Relatively rare/
indigenous
Agave sisalana Agavaceae Sisal hemp 0.39 0.09 0.58 1.06 Indigenous
Aglaia rimosa Meliaceae Balubar 0.16 0.08 1.16 1.40 Threatened/indigenous
Alnus japonica Betulaceae Japanese alnus 6.19 15.60 2.33 24.12 Exotic
Alphitonia philippinensis Rhamnaceae Tulo 6.04 2.09 2.33 10.45 Endemic
Archidendron merrillii Fabaceae Anagap-bangin 0.31 0.15 0.58 1.04 Endemic
Astronia benguetensis Melastomataceae Benguet dungao 0.24 0.29 1.74 2.27 Endemic
Astronia glauca Melastomataceae Dungau-puti 0.27 0.21 1.16 1.64 Endemic
Beilschmiedia purpurea Lauraceae Magansira 0.12 0.09 0.58 0.79 Indigenous
Breynia cernua Phyllanthaceae Matang-katang 1.14 0.77 1.74 3.65 Indigenous
Breynia racemosa Phyllanthaceae Karmai-bugkau 1.49 0.46 0.58 2.53 Endemic
Breynia rhamnoides Phyllanthaceae Matang-hipon 1.06 0.36 2.33 3.75 Indigenous
Callicarpa magnifolia Lamiaceae Agnai 0.16 0.10 1.16 1.42 Endemic
Callicarpa subintegra var. parva Lamiaceae Taringau-liitan 3.02 1.40 2.91 7.33 Indigenous
Clerodendrum klemmei Lamiaceae Luag 0.04 0.03 0.58 0.65 Endemic
Clerodendrum pubifolium Lamiaceae Bagauak-mabolo 0.04 0.06 0.58 0.68 Indigenous
Clethra canescens var. luzonica Clethraceae Apiit 0.20 0.15 0.58 0.93 Endemic
Cyathea contaminans Cyatheaceae Tree fern/pakong
buwaya
0.94 1.05 0.58 2.57 Vulnerable
Dacryodes incurvata Burseraceae Kamingi 0.16 0.10 0.58 0.84 Indigenous
Dacryodes rostrata Burseraceae Lunai 0.31 0.17 1.16 1.65 Indigenous
Ehretia acuminata Boraginaceae Tanaua 0.31 0.54 1.16 2.02 Indigenous
Elaeocarpus bontocensis Elaeocarpaceae Kalumbaya 0.04 0.01 0.58 0.63 Endemic
Elaeocarpus multiflorus Elaeocarpaceae Tigalot 0.16 0.03 0.58 0.77 Indigenous
Engelhardtia spicata var.
colebrookeana
Juglandaceae Pedped 8.08 2.91 3.49 14.48 Indigenous
Engelhardtia spicata var. spicata Juglandaceae Lupisan 0.20 0.20 1.16 1.56 Indigenous
Eucalyptus pellita Myrtaceae Red mahogany 0.43 1.23 0.58 2.24 Indigenous
Eurya buxifolia Theaceae Basbasit 3.25 3.04 2.91 9.20 Indigenous
Evodia dubia Rutaceae Sidi-sidi 1.10 0.79 0.58 2.47 Endemic
Fagraea auriculata Loganiaceae Curran urung 0.24 0.21 1.16 1.61 Endemic
Ficus annulata Moraceae Siningsing 5.61 2.91 3.49 12.00 Indigenous
Ficus heteropoda Moraceae Alangas 0.16 0.30 1.16 1.61 Endemic
Ficus nota Moraceae Tibig 0.08 0.13 0.58 0.79 Indigenous
Ficus pseudopalma Moraceae Niog-niogan 0.20 0.14 1.16 1.50 Endemic
Ficus pungens Moraceae Isis-tilos 0.31 0.13 2.33 2.77 Indigenous
Ficus ruficaulis Moraceae Tabgun 0.39 0.12 0.58 1.09 Indigenous
Ficus satterthwaitei Moraceae Malatibig 0.39 0.25 1.16 1.80 Indigenous
Ficus septica Moraceae Hauili 2.43 2.70 3.49 8.62 Endemic
Glochidion urophylloides Phyllanthaceae Halakan 0.43 0.21 1.74 2.38 Endemic
Gmelina arborea Lamiaceae Gmelina 1.29 2.60 1.16 5.06 Exotic
Grewia setacea Tiliaceae Alinau 0.74 0.22 1.16 2.13 Uncertain
Guioa reticulata Sapindaceae Alahan-sinima 0.35 0.10 0.58 1.03 Critically endangered/
Endemic
Helicia graciliflora Proteaceae Salimai-liitan 0.04 0.06 0.58 0.68 Endemic
Heptis sp. Lamiaceae 0.04 0.01 0.58 0.63 –
Homalanthus alpinus Euphorbiaceae Buta 0.35 0.09 0.58 1.03 Endemic
Homalanthus populneus var.
populneus
Euphorbiaceae Balanti 0.94 1.43 1.74 4.12 Indigenous
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diversity index (Shannon–Wiener index) of a Rhizophora
stand in Verde Passage in San Juan, Batangas, Philippines
is 0.8165–1.4185, with a total of nine species identified.
Bacudo et al. (2006) identified 86 floral species belonging
to 43 families in four quadrats established in Mindoro State
College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT) forest
reservation, Mindoro Province, Philippines. The most
dominant species was Pometia pinnata, a member of the
family Santalaceae, with importance value of 5.41 %,
while Donax cannaeformis was the most dominant herb
plant species, with 4.86 % importance value. The diversity
index (Shannon–Wiener index) ranged from 2.8113 to
3.2715. The Alno communal forest is still diverse, as
indicated by the high diversity index of 3.2129 and 2.3870
for the overstory and understory vegetation, respectively.
Spatial mapping and database
All trees found inside the established quadrats were map-
ped, and a database was also created (Fig. 3). Each tree
corresponds to one point and bears complete information
on its common name, family name, scientific name, height,
and DBH. In this way, forest managers can easily view and
evaluate the existing condition of the communal forest.
Table 2 continued
Scientific name Family name Local name RD RH RF IV Status/endemism
Lantana camara Verbenaceae Coronitas 0.31 0.14 1.16 1.61 Exotic
Leea congesta Leeaceae Kahig-inulo 0.63 0.58 0.58 1.79 Endemic
Leptosolena haenkei Zingiberaceae Panawil 0.12 0.06 0.58 0.76 Endemic
Lithocarpus luzoniensis Oleaceae Kilog 0.12 0.14 0.58 0.84 Endemic
Litsea ampla Lauraceae Marang-laparan 0.08 0.02 0.58 0.68 Endemic
Lygodium flexuosum Lygodiaceae Nito 0.04 0.02 0.58 0.64 Endemic
Maesa sp. Myrsinaceae 2.74 0.91 2.33 5.98 Indigenous
Melastoma malabathricum Melastomataceae Malatungaw 8.15 3.25 2.91 14.31 Indigenous
Melicope triphylla Rutaceae Matang-araw 0.31 0.17 1.74 2.23 Endemic
Pinanga philippinensis Arecaceae Bungang-dakigan 0.04 0.02 0.58 0.64 Endemic
Pinus kesiya Pinaceae Benguet pine 21.60 39.10 3.49 64.19 Indigenous
Pittosporum ramosii Pittosporaceae Albon/tungtunga 1.92 0.66 2.33 4.90 Endemic
Praravinia loheri Rubiaceae Loher-siganog 1.88 1.77 2.33 5.98 Endemic
Psidium guajava Myrtaceae Guava 4.12 1.90 2.91 8.92 Endemic
Saurauia bontocensis Actinidiaceae Deguai 0.74 0.48 1.16 2.39 Vulnerable
Saurauia elegans Actinidiaceae Uyok 0.20 0.20 1.16 1.56 Indigenous
Saurauia papillulosa Actinidiaceae Papayang 0.04 0.07 0.58 0.69 Endemic
Schefflera elliptica Araliaceae Galamay-amo 0.20 0.06 0.58 0.84 Uncertain
Scurrula atropurpurea Loranthaceae Dapong kahoy 0.12 0.09 0.58 0.79 Indigenous
Spiraeopsis celebica Cunoniaceae Bognag 0.47 0.12 0.58 1.17 Indigenous
Symplocus ophirensis Symplocaceae Sotsa 0.20 0.05 0.58 0.82 Indigenous
Tristiropsis acutangula Sapindaceae Gasi-gasi 0.59 0.65 1.16 2.40 Indigenous
Vaccinium sp. Ericaceae 0.39 0.27 2.33 2.99 Indigenous
Vernonia acrophylla Asteraceae Adasay 0.12 0.06 0.58 0.76 Endemic
Viburnum cornutidens Caprifoliaceae Tilba 0.51 1.05 0.58 2.14 Indigenous
Viburnum glaberrimum Caprifoliaceae Apit 0.04 0.01 0.58 0.63 Endemic
Viburnum odoratissimum Caprifoliaceae Idog 0.43 0.37 1.16 1.97 Indigenous
Viburnum platyphyllum Caprifoliaceae Apit-laparan 0.63 0.81 1.74 3.18 Endemic
Weinmannia luzoniensis Cunoniaceae Itangan 1.06 1.56 1.16 3.78 Endemic
Wendlandia philippinensis Rubiaceae Mamboi 0.04 0.02 0.58 0.64 Endemic
Wendlandia uvariifolia Rubiaceae Karimbabui 0.08 0.01 0.58 0.67 Indigenous
Wendlandia warburgii Rubiaceae Rado 1.88 1.59 2.91 6.38 Endemic
Zanthoxylum avicennae Rutaceae Kangai 0.24 0.04 0.58 0.85 Indigenous
Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 300.00
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Table 3 Diversity index of
grass, herbs, and ferns in Alno
communal forest using the line
intercept method
Scientific name Family name Local name No. of individuals Status/endemism
Ageratina adenophora Asteraceae Bebengtet 94 Common
Anamirta cocculus Menispermaceae Lagtang/libtang 3 Vulnerable
Centella asiatica Apiaceae Takip-kuhol 4 Common
Chromolaena odorata Asteraceae Hagonoy 80 Uncertain/exotic
Christella dentata Thelypteridaceae Pako 12 Indigenous
Curculigo capitulata Hypoxidaceae Abang-abang 1 Common
Davallia sp. Davalliaceae 7 Indigenous
Desmodium trifolum Papilionaceae Pakpak langaw 10 Indigenous
Dicranopteris linearis Gleicheniaceae Kilob 11 Not threatened
Digitaria sanguinalis Poaceae Hairy crab grass 40 Indigenous
Digitaria velutina Poaceae Velvet crabgrass 44 Common
Elephantopus tomentosus Asteraceae Tabtabako 106 Endemic
Embella philippinensis Myrsinaceae Dekay/lando 4 Endemic
Eupatorium sp. Asteraceae Sipa-sipa 469 Common
Fimbristylis sp. Poaceae 2 Common
Globba campsophylla Zingiberaceae Luya-luyahan 6 Endemic
Hyptis suaveolens Lamiaceae/Labiatae Bangbangsit 3 Vulnerable
Imperata cylindrica Poaceae Cogon 99 Common
Lantana camara Verbenaceae Coronitas 10 Exotic
Leptosalena haenkei Zingiberaceae Panawil 1 –
Lygodium flexuosum Lygodiaceae Nito 1 Endemic
Mikania cordata Asteraceae Uoko 79 Common
Miscanthus sinensis Poaceae Rono 65 Common
Paspalum conjugatum Poaceae Kulape 386 Common
Passiflora edulis Passifloraceae Pasionaria/masaplora 1 Exotic
Pteridium aquilinum Dennstaedtiaceae Bracken fern 29 Common
Pteris tripartita Pteridaceae Giant bracken fern 15 Common
Rubus fraxinifolius Rosaceae Sapinit 15 Threatened/endemic
Scleria scrobiculata Cyperaceae Sarat 7 Indigenous
Urena lobata Malvaceae Kollo-kollot 16 Common
Asteraceae Inangel 63 –
Total 1,683
Diversity index, H02.387
Fig. 3 Map showing the trees
identified in quadrat 1 and
its database
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Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the Jaime
V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. for funding this study. Special thanks are
also given to the College of Forestry-Benguet State University for
allowing us to conduct this research. This study was also carried out
with the support of Forest Science and Technology Projects (project
no. S211012L020410) provided by the Korea Forest Service.
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