Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

Mt. Pantaron Range has no legislation for its protection and has significantly lost most of its forest cover over the years due to land conversion for agriculture and human settlement, construction of national highways, and illegal logging and mining. Floristic inventory was conducted in four sampling sites in Mt. Pantaron Range, Bukidnon to document its threatened and endemic seed plants through repeated transect walks. A total of 133 threatened and endemic species of seed plants were documented. Of these, 41 species were threatened, and 120 were endemic species. Mt. Bungkasan, Pantaron Range harbors 70 (52.6%) species of threatened and endemic seed plants, followed by Mt. Malimumu with 53 (40%) species, Mt. Natampod with 40 (30%) species, and Mt. Nabagkesan with only 19 (14%) species. The checklist of threatened seed plants reported herein represents 4.3% of the threatened seed plants and 2.6% of the endemic seed plants in the Philippines. Site comparisons using Bray-Curtis cluster analysis in terms of threatened and endemic species composition are relatively low (≤ 33%), implying the uniqueness of the species for each site in the said mountain range. The assemblage of threatened and endemic seed plants in Mt. Pantaron Range calls for immediate conservation endeavors by the stakeholders to warrant the protection of its threatened and endemic seed plants.

Full text

2433
Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines
Fulgent P. Coritico1,2*, Mutya L. Legaspi1, Noel E. Lagunday1,
Maria Melanie M. Guiang1,2, Danilo N. Tandang3, John Michael M. Galindon3,
Florfe M. Acma1,2, and Victor B. Amoroso1,2
1Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao (CEBREM),
Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan 8714 Bukidnon, Philippines
2Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences,
Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan 8714 Bukidnon, Philippines
3National Museum of the Philippines, Padre Burgos Avenue,
Ermita 1000, Manila, Philippines
Mt. Pantaron Range has no legislation for its protection and has significantly lost most of
its forest cover over the years due to land conversion for agriculture and human settlement,
construction of national highways, and illegal logging and mining. Floristic inventory was
conducted in four sampling sites in Mt. Pantaron Range, Bukidnon to document its threatened
and endemic seed plants through repeated transect walks. A total of 133 threatened and
endemic species of seed plants were documented. Of these, 41 species were threatened, and
120 were endemic species. Mt. Bungkasan, Pantaron Range harbors 70 (52.6%) species of
threatened and endemic seed plants, followed by Mt. Malimumu with 53 (40%) species,
Mt. Natampod with 40 (30%) species, and Mt. Nabagkesan with only 19 (14%) species. The
checklist of threatened seed plants reported herein represents 4.3% of the threatened seed plants
and 2.6% of the endemic seed plants in the Philippines. Site comparisons using Bray-Curtis
cluster analysis in terms of threatened and endemic species composition are relatively low
(≤ 33%), implying the uniqueness of the species for each site in the said mountain range.
The assemblage of threatened and endemic seed plants in Mt. Pantaron Range calls for
immediate conservation endeavors by the stakeholders to warrant the protection of its
threatened and endemic seed plants.
Keywords: biodiversity, Bukidnon, conservation status, endangered species, flora
*Corresponding author: cfulgent@cmu.edu.ph
INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is considered one of the 18 mega-
biodiverse countries, which contain two-thirds of the
earth’s biodiversity and possess 70–80% of the world’s
plant and animal species. However, it ranks fifth in terms
of the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the
world’s flora (Convention on Biological Diversity 2016).
Seed plants consist of two substantial major groups: the
gymnosperms with 800 living species (Ran et al. 2018)
comprising more than 39% of the world’s forest area with
economic and ecological value, and the angiosperms with
nearly 400,000 living species. However, recent studies
convey that there is a morphological and functional
divergence between the two major seed plant clades,
which involved significant changes (de la Torre et al.
2019). In the Philippines, there are 8,867 species of
Philippine Journal of Science
151 (6B): 2433-2445, December 2022
ISSN 0031 - 7683
Date Received: 13 Jun 2022

2434
angiosperms, of which 8,371 are native species and 496
are naturalized species; for the gymnosperms, there are
42 species, of which 16 are endemic species (Pelser et
al. 2011 onwards).
Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippine
archipelago with high diversity of flora and fauna
(Coritico and Amoroso 2020) along with the presence of
extensive threatened and endemic species. Mt. Pantaron
Range is located in the adjacent mountainous scenery
stretching from eastern Misamis Oriental in Claveria
all the way to Mount Apo and Mount Talomo in Davao
del Sur. The terrain traverses roughly six provinces
(Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao del
Norte, Davao del Sur, and Agusan del Norte) and covers
1.26 million hectares or around 12% of Mindanao (Atienza
2020). The sampling sites were selected in consultation
with the DENR-PENRO (Department of Environment and
Natural Resources–Provincial Environment and Natural
Resources) and CENRO (City Environment and Natural
Resources Office). Mt. Bungkasan, St. Peter, Malaybalay
City lies at the northernmost part of the Mt. Pantaron
Range. Mt. Nabagkesan, Cabanglasan is situated at the
center of the cordillera, whereas Mt. Malimumu and Mt.
Natampod, Namnam, San Fernando is found near the
southern portion of Mt. Pantaron Range (Figure 1).
A regional list of threatened plant species on Mindanao
Island was provided by Lumista et al. (2016) and Aribal
and Buot (2009); however, no records on threatened
and endemic seed plants have been reported yet in Mt.
Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines. Thus, this paper
generated a list of threatened and endemic species of seed
plants for the Mt. Pantaron range and hopefully will serve
as a sound basis for the future declaration of Mt. Pantaron
Range as one of the protected areas in the Philippines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Entry Protocol
Prior inform consent was obtained by presenting the
research proposal to the selected stakeholders of Mt.
Pantaron Range, Mindanao. Likewise, Gratuitous Permit
No. RX: 2021-16 was secured from the DENR Regional
X Office prior to the conduct of the research.
Study Site
Mt. Pantaron Range serves as the Central Cordillera of
Mindanao and is one of the few remaining rainforest
holdings having several watersheds vital to the survival
of Mindanao’s biodiversity. The range is located at
7°44′35.02″N and 125°25′49.01″E and is situated in the
adjacent mountainous scenery stretching from eastern
Misamis Oriental in Claveria all the way to Mount Apo
and Mount Talomo in Davao del Sur.
The study was conducted at Mt. Pantaron Range in
Bukidnon, Mindanao, the Philippines, having a 1.26
million hectare-mountain range that serves as a habitat
for a vast range of flora and fauna (Atienza 2020). Four
sampling sites were selected – namely, Mt. Bungkasan,
St. Peter, Malaybalay City; Mt. Nabagkesan, Cabanglasan,
Bukidnon; Mt. Malimumu, Magkalungay, San Fernando,
Bukidnon; and Mt. Natampod, Namnam, San Fernando,
Bukidnon. This research team has identified Mt.
Bungkasan, Mt. Nabagkesan, and Mt. Natampod to
have the same vegetation types composing only two
types (namely, tropical lower montane rainforest and
upper montane rainforest), whereas Mt. Malimumu,
Magkalungay, San Fernando, Bukidnon was identified
to have four vegetation types (namely, tropical lower
rainforest, upper montane rainforest, tropical lowland
evergreen rainforest, and forest over ultramafic rocks).
Species Inventory
An inventory of threatened and endemic seed plants was
conducted from October 2019–June 2021. Documentation
was done through repeated transect walks from the foot
of the mountain to the highest point in sites (Table 1;
Figure 1).
Collection, Processing, and Identification of
Specimens
A minimum of four specimens for each species was
collected and processed using the wet method (Hodge
1947). All collected herbarium specimens were deposited
at the Central Mindanao University Herbarium (CMUH)
and were identified using monographs, e-floras, and other
publications (Coritico and Amoroso 2020; Pelser et al.
2011 onwards).
Assessment of the Conservation Status and
Distribution
Assessment of the conservation status of the species was
based on the Updated national list of threatened plants in
the Philippines, following the standard for determining
the threatened plant species and their categories of the
DENR (Fernando et al. 2022).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Species Composition
A total of 133 threatened and endemic species of seed
plants in Mt. Pantaron Range are reported herein, which
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2435
Figure 1. Location of the study area showing the four study sites in Mt. Pantaron Range: [A] location of the study sites along Mt. Pantaron
Range, Bukidnon, Philippines; [B] transect lines (white) in Mt. Bungkasan, Barangay St. Peter, Malaybalay City; [C] transect
lines (white) in Mt. Nabagkesan, Sitio Miaray, Barangay Mandahican, Cabanglasan Bukidnon; [D] transect lines (white) in Mt.
Malimumu, Barangay Magkalungay, San Fernando, Bukidnon; [E] transect line (white) in Mt. Natampod, Barangay Namnam,
San Fernando, Bukidnon.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2436
are placed in 46 families and 82 genera. Of these, there
are two species, which are gymnosperms and 131 species
are angiosperms. Forty-one (41) species were threatened
and 120 species were endemic. Six (14.6%) were listed
as Critically Endangered (CR), three (7.3%) species were
Endangered (EN), 22 (54%) were Vulnerable (VU), and 10
(24%) species were assessed as Other Threatened Species
(OTS). Further, 111 (92.5%) species were Philippine-
endemic, eight (7%) species were Mindanao-endemic,
and one species is site endemic (Table 3).
in Bohol had 93 endemic species (Aureo et al. 2020).
However, the endemic species recorded were relatively
lower compared to Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife
Sanctuary, Davao Oriental and Dinagat Island with 154
and 263 endemic species, respectively.
The documented threatened seed plants reported herein
represents 4.3% of the threatened seed plants and 2.6%
of the endemic seed plants in the Philippines, as reported
by Pelser et al. (2011).
The most represented taxa were Orchidaceae (15%),
Zingiberaceae (7%) and Nepenthaceae (6%). Other
well-represented taxa were Apocynaceae, Arecaceae,
Dipterocarpaceae, and Rubiaceae representing 5.2% each;
Moraceae (4.5%); Actinidiaceae and Melastomataceae
(3.7%) and Araliaceae representing 3%. The remaining
taxa represented ≥ 2.3% of the threatened and endemic
seed plants in the Mt. Pantaron Range (Table 3). Some
of the threatened and endemic species documented in the
area were also present in the neighboring mountain ranges
like Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Kiamo, and Mt. Tago in Bukidnon
province (Amoroso et al. 2011; Coritico and Amoroso
2017; Coritico et al. 2020). It is noteworthy to mention that
Mt. Pantaron range is home to eight species of Nepenthes,
which is higher compared to Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao
Oriental with only seven species (Amoroso et al. 2018).
Conservation and Ecological Assessments
Threatened and endemic seed plant species are key
elements to plant biodiversity, which needs immediate
human intervention to secure long-term survival.
Plant species diversity and extinction is one of the
main constraints in the world that are caused either by
Table 1. Vegetation type and elevation profile of the sampling sites in Mt. Pantaron Range.
Sampling sites Coordinates Vegetation types Elevation ranges
(masl)
Mt. Bungkasan 8°15’50.35” N TLMRF 900–1000
125°19’49.15” E TUMRF 1100–1520
Mt. Nabagkesan 8°1’38.44” N TLMRF 600–1000
125°22’7.23” E TUMRF 1000–1200
Mt. Malimumu 7°53’2.05” N TLERF 600–800
125°25’10.61” E TLMRF 800–900
TUMRF 1000–1250
FOUR 700–1050
Mt. Natampod 7°51’40.58” N TLMRF 970–1000
125°25’25.50” E TUMRF 1078–1145
FOUR 771–969
Note: [TLERF] tropical lowland evergreen rain forest; [TLMRF] tropical lower montane rain forest; [TUMRF] tropical upper montane rain forest; [FOUR] forest over
ultramafic rock
Table 2. Number of threatened and endemic species for Mt. Pantaron
Range.
Plant groups Status
Threatened Endemic
Gymnosperms 2
Angiosperms 39 120
Total 41 120
The reported threatened species in Mt. Pantaron Range is
relatively higher compared with Mt. Hamiguitan Range
Wildlife Sanctuary, Davao Oriental, which harbors 26
threatened seed plants (Amoroso and Aspiras 2011);
Quezon Protected Landscape in Luzon Island has 38
threatened species (Paclibar and Tadiosa 2020); Mt.
Malarayat, Lipa, Batangas, Luzon has 23 species (Umali
et al. 2018); and Dinagat Island has 22 species (Lillo et al.
2018). For the endemic species, it is also relatively higher
compared to Quezon Protected Landscape in Luzon Island
with 65 endemic species (Paclibar and Tadiosa 2020); Mt.
Malarayat, Lipa, Batangas, Luzon had 39 species (Umali
et al. 2018); and Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2437
Figure 2. Some threatened and endemic seed plants in Mt. Pantaron Range: [A] Greeniopsis megalantha; [B] Nepenthes malimumuensis;
[C] Nepenthes pulchra; [D] Agathis philippinensis; [E] Shorea polysperma; [F] Sararanga philippinensis; [G] Nepenthes truncata;
[H] Nepenthes surigaoensis; [I] Dysoxylum oppositifolium.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2438
Table 3. Checklist of threatened and endemic seed plants in Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines.
Family Species
Conservation
status
Fernando et
al. 2022
Ecological
status
Pelser et al.
(2011+)
Mt. Pantaron Range
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4
Actinidiaceae 1. Saurauia avellana Elmer PE + - - +
2. S. clementis Merr. PE + - + +
3. S. panayensis Merr. PE - - - +
4. S. trichophora Quisumb. PE + - - -
5. S. trunciora Merr. PE + - - +
Anacardiaceae 6. Mangifera monandra Merr. VU PE + - - -
Annonaceae 7. Drepananthus apoensis Elmer PE - - - +
Apocynaceae 8. Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G.Don VU + - - +
9. A. parvifolia Merr. PE + - - -
10. Alyxia concatenata (Blanco) Merr. PE + - - -
11. A. linearis Markgr. OTS + - + -
12. Hoya butleriana Kloppenb., Siar, Guevarra
& Carandang PE - - + -
13. H. odorata Schltr. PE + - - -
14. H. madulidii Kloppenb. PE + - - -
Araceae 15. Alocasia zebrina Schott ex Van Houtte VU PE + + - +
16. A. maquilingensis Merr. PE + - - -
Araliaceae 17. Heptapleurum cumingii Seem. PE - - + +
18. H. insularum Seem. PE - - + -
19. H. simplicifolium (Merr.) G.M.Plunkett &
Lowry PE + - - -
20. Osmoxylon simplicifolium (Elmer) Philipson PE + + + -
Araucariaceae 21. Agathis philippinensis Warb. VU + - + +
Arecaceae 22. Areca costulata Becc. PE + - - -
23. Calamus bicolor Becc. PE - - + -
24. C. cumingianus Becc. PE - + - -
25. C. merrillii Becc. OTS PE - + + -
26. Pinanga egregia Fernando. PE - - - +
27. P. philippinensis Becc. PE + - - -
28. P. speciosa Becc. PE + - - -
Asteraceae 29. Vernonia lancifolia Merr. PE + - + -
Begoniaceae 30. Begonia ciliifera Merr. PE + - - -
Brownlowiaceae 31. Diplodiscus paniculatus Turcz. PE + - - -
Burseraceae 32. Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A.Gray OTS PE + - - -
Causarinaceae 33. Gymnostoma rumphianum (Miq.) L.A.S.
Johnson OTS + + + +
Clusiaceae 34. Garcinia rubra Merr. PE + - - -
Combretaceae 35. Terminalia surigaensis Merr. VU PE - - - +
Dilleniaceae 36. Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe PE - - + -
Dipterocarpaceae 37. Shorea almon Foxw. VU + - - -
38. S. assamica Dyer PE + - - +
39. S. astylosa Foxw. CR PE + - - -
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2439
40. S. contorta S. Vidal VU PE + + - -
41. S. negrosensis Foxw. VU PE + - - -
42. S. polysperma (Blanco) Merr. VU PE + - + +
43. S. squamata (Turcz.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex
DC. PE - + - -
Ebenaceae 44. Diospyros pyrrhocarpa Miq. VU + - - -
Ericaceae 45. Rhododendron kochii Stein VU PE - - - +
46. R. quadrasianum S.Vidal PE + - - -
47. Vaccinium agusanense Elmer PE - + +
Euphorbiaceae 48. Macaranga bicolor Müll.Arg. PE + - - +
Fagaceae 49. Lithocarpus apoensis (Elmer) Rehder VU PE - - + -
Lamiaceae 50. Callicarpa surigaensis Merr. PE + - - +
51. Clerodendrum brachyanthum Schauer PE - - - +
Lauraceae 52. Actinodaphne apoensis (Elmer) Kosterm. ex
Brambach & Pelser PE + - - -
53. Cinnamomum mercadoi S. Vidal OTS PE - + + -
54. C. utile Kosterm. ME + + - -
Loranthaceae 55. Amyema curranii (Merr.) Danser PE - - + -
Melastomataceae 56. Medinilla apoensis C.B.Rob. PE - - - +
57. M. copelandii Merr. PE - - + -
58. M. malindangensis Merr. PE + - + -
59. M. multiora Merr. PE - - + -
60. M. pendula Merr. EN PE + - - -
Meliaceae 61. Aglaia rimosa (Blanco) Merr. OTS + - - -
62. Dysoxylum oppositifolium F. Muell. OTS PE - - + +
Moraceae 63. Artocarpus pinnatisectus Merr. PE + - - -
64. Ficus skei Elmer PE + + + -
65. F. odorata (Blanco) Merr. PE - - + -
66. F. pseudopalma Blanco PE - - + -
67. F. ulmifolia Lam. PE + - - -
68. F. villosa Blume PE + - + -
Myristicaceae 69. Myristica philippensis Lam. OTS PE + - - -
Myrtaceae 70. Rhodomyrtus surigaoensis Elmer PE - - + -
71. Syzygium garciae (Merr.) Merr. PE + - - +
72. S. ramosii (C.B.Rob.) Merr. PE - - - +
Nepenthaceae 73. Nepenthes cabanae Lagunday & Amoroso CR ME - + + -
74. N. cornuta Marwinski, Coritico, Wistuba,
Micheler, Gronem., Gieray & Amoroso VU ME + - - -
75. N. malimumuensis Lagunday, Acma, Cabana,
Sabas & Amoroso CR SE - - + -
76. N. manobo Lagunday, Acma, Cabana, Sabas
& Amoroso CR ME - - + -
Table 3. Cont.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2440
77. N. pulchra Gronem., S.McPherson, Coritico,
Micheler, Marwinski & Amoroso CR ME + - + -
78. N. surigaoensis Elmer EN ME + + + -
79. N. talaandig Gronem., Coritico, Wistuba,
Micheler, Marwinski, Gieray & Amoroso VU ME + + +
80. N. truncata Macfarl. EN ME + - + -
Orchidaceae 81. Appendicula irigensis Ames PE + - - -
82. Bulbophyllum catenulatum Kraenzl. PE + - - -
83. Calanthe furcata Bateman ex Lindl. PE + - - -
84. Ceratostylis latipetala Ames PE - - + -
85. Coelogyne candoonensis Ames PE - - - +
86. C. sparsa Rchb.f. PE - - + -
87. Dendrobium niveobarbatum Cootes PE - - + -
88. D. tiongii Cootes PE - - + -
89. D. serratilabium L.O. Williams PE + - - -
90. Dendrochilum derekcabactulanii M.Leon,
Cootes & R.B.Pimentel PE - - - +
91. Mycaranthes gigantea (Ames) Cootes &
W.Suarez PE + - - -
92. M. mindanaensis (Ames) Cootes & W.Suarez PE - - - +
93. Oxystophyllum elmeri (Ames) M.A.Clem. PE - - - +
94. Phalaenopsis mariae Burb. ex R.Warner &
H.Williams VU - - + -
95. P. sanderiana Rchb.f. PE - - - +
96. Podochilus plumosus Ames PE - + + -
97. P. strictus Ames PE - + + -
98. Spathoglottis tomentosa Lindl. PE - - + -
99. Robiquetia compressa (Lindl.) Schltr. PE + - - -
100. Zeuxine wenzelii (Ames) Ormerod PE - + - -
Pandanaceae 101. Pandanus philippinensis Merr. PE - - + -
102. Sararanga philippinensis Merr. VU PE - - + -
Pentaphragmataceae 103. Pentaphragma grandiorum Kurz OTS - - + -
Pentaphylacaceae 104. Adinandra luzonica Merr. PE - - + -
105. Ternstroemia philippinensis Merr. PE - - - +
Podocarpaceae 106. Dacrycarpus imbricatus (Blume) de Laub. OTS - - + +
Rubiaceae 107. Greeniopsis megalantha Merr. CR PE + - + +
108. Lasianthus acuminatissimus Merr. PE + - - -
109. Mussaenda grandifolia Elmer VU - - - +
110. Neonauclea formicaria (Elmer) Merr. PE - - - +
111. Timonius trichophorus Merr. PE - - - +
112. Urophyllum memecyloides (C.Presl) S.Vidal PE - - - +
113. U. urdanetense Elmer PE + - - -
Rutaceae 114. Melicope triphylla (Lam.) Merr. PE + - - +
Sapindaceae 115. Mischocarpus triqueter Radlk PE - - + -
Sapotaceae 116. Palaquium philippense (Perr.) C.B.Rob. VU PE + + + +
Table 3. Cont.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2441
Smilacaceae 117. Smilax lucida Merr. PE + - - -
Sparmanniaceae 118. Trichospermum discolor Elmer PE - + + -
Theaceae 119. Camellia lanceolata (Blume) Seem. VU + + -
Thymelaeaceae 120. Aquilaria cumingiana (Decne.) Ridl. VU + + - -
Urticaceae 121. Elatostema mindanaense (C.B.Rob.)
H.Schroet. PE - - + -
Vitaceae 122. Ampelocissus ochracea var. trilobata Merr. PE - - + -
123. A. madulidii Lati PE + + - -
Zingiberaceae 124. Adelmeria alpina Elmer PE + + + -
125. Alpinia haenkei C.Presl VU PE + - - -
126. A. musifolia Ridl. PE + - - -
127. A. rufa C.Presl ex Náves PE + - - -
128. Etlingera pilosa A.D.Poulsen & Docot PE + - - -
129. E. philippinensis (Ridl.) R.M.Sm. PE - - - +
130. Globba campsophylla K.Schum. PE - - - +
131. Hornstedtia lophophora Ridl. PE + - - -
132. Meistera muricarpa (Elmer) Škornick. &
M.F.Newman PE + - - -
133. Plagiostachys lourdesiae Docot VU PE - - - +
Total 70 19 53 40
Note: [CR] Critically Endangered; [EN] Endangered; [VU] Vulnerable, [OTS] Other Threatened Species; [SE] Site Endemic; [PE] Endemic to the Philippines; [ME]
Mindanao Endemic. [Site 1] Mt. Bungkasan, St. Peter, Malaybalay City; [Site 2] Mt. Nabagkesan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon; [Site 3] Mt. Malimumu, San Fernando,
Bukidnon; [Site 4] Mt. Natampod, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
Table 3. Cont.
nature or by people’s action. Reasons why plant species
become threatened include habitat disturbances such as
habitat loss, change of habitat quality, and fragmentation
(Hobohm and Bruchmann 2014). Parts of the forest are
also being converted into agricultural lands, pollution,
climatic changes, loss of pollinators, over-collection of
certain plants from the wild, illegal logging, and other
anthropogenic factors, which lead to loss of genetic
diversity (Coelho et al. 2020; Coritico and Amoroso
2020; Khapugin et al. 2020; Amoroso et al. 2011). In
addition, plants are also becoming extinct because of
distinctive sequential patterns with agriculture, invasions,
and urbanization (Le Roux et al. 2019).
Conservation and ecological status assessments showed
that Mt. Bungkasan harbors the highest number of
threatened (63.4%) and endemic (54.1%) species,
followed by Mt. Malimumu harboring 54% of the
threatened and 38.3% of the endemic species, and Mt.
Natampod having 36.5% of the threatened and 30% of
the endemic species (Figure 3; Table 3).
The relatively high number of threatened and endemic
species in Mt. Bungkasan, Mt. Malimumu, and Mt.
Natampod is attributed to less anthropogenic activities
that these areas experience. It can be noted that botanical
sampling was done at the intact forests where more
vegetation abounds and occurred at very high elevations of
the sites where natural vegetation has lesser disturbances;
hence, more floral species inhabit the area. While the
relatively low number of threatened and endemic species
in Mt. Nabagkesan is attributed to anthropogenic activities
at the site and limited sampling efforts due to peace
and order issues. This study noted the decreasing forest
cover in Mt. Natampod and Mt. Nabagkesan and the
increase of migrants occupying the roadsides due to the
national highway construction in the area, creating more
accessibility of the area. Further, these sites do not have
existing legislations for their protection; hence, habitat
loss due to illegal logging, swidden agriculture, poaching
of plants for commercial purposes, and overharvesting of
food, medicinal, and handicraft plant sources still persist.
Cluster Analysis
Bray-Curtis cluster analysis in terms of threatened and
endemic species composition across the study sites showed
low similarity (≤ 50%). Among the sites, Mt. Malimumu
and Mt. Nabagkesan – which are geographically adjacent
– showed higher similarity (33%) in comparison with
the other sites (Figure 4). The low similarity among the
study sites is attributed to the unique vegetation types,
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2442
Figure 3. Threatened and endemic seed plants in Mt. Pantaron Range.
Figure 4. Bray-Curtis cluster analysis of threatened and endemic species in the study sites.
i.e. tropical lowland evergreen rainforest, tropical lower
montane rainforest, tropical upper montane rainforest, and
forest over ultramafic rocks.
Mt. Bungkasan has 38 unique species, followed by
Mt. Malimumu (26 species) then Mt. Natampod
with 22 species and Mt. Nabagkesan with only three
unique species. The unique threatened species in Mt.
Bungkasan were Canarium luzonicum (Blume) A. Gray
(Burseraceae), Shorea almon Foxw. (Dipterocarpaceae),
S. astylosa Foxw. (Dipterocarpaceae), S. negrosensis
Foxw. (Dipterocarpaceae), Diospyros pyrrhocarpa Miq.
(Ebenaceae), Rhododendron quadrasianum S.Vidal
(Ericaceae), Medinilla pendula Merr. (Melastomataceae),
Aglaia rimosa (Blanco) Merr. (Meliaceae), Nepenthes
cornuta Marwinski, Coritico, Wistuba, Micheler, Gronem.,
Gieray & Amoroso (Nepenthaceae), Alpinia haenkei
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2443
C.Presl (Zingiberaceae), and Plagiostachys lourdesiae
Docot (Zingiberaceae); unique endemic species were
Saurauia trichophora Quisumb. (Actinidiaceae), Alstonia
parvifolia Merr. (Apocynaceae), Alyxia concatenata
(Blanco) Merr. (Apocynaceae), Hoya odorata Schltr.
(Apocynaceae), H. madulidii Kloppenb. (Apocynaceae),
Alocasia maquilingensis Merr. (Araceae), Heptapleurum
simplicifolium (Merr.) G.M.Plunkett & Lowry
(Araliaceae), Areca costulata Becc. (Arecaceae), Pinanga
philippinensis Becc. (Arecaceae), P. speciosa Becc.
(Arecaceae), Begonia ciliifera Merr. (Begoniaceae),
Diplodiscus paniculatus Turcz. (Brownlowiaceae),
Garcinia rubra Merr. (Clusiaceae), Rhododendron
quadrasianum S.Vidal (Ericaceae), Actinodaphne
apoensis (Elmer) Kosterm. ex Brambach & Pelser
(Lauraceae), Artocarpus pinnatisectus Merr. (Moraceae),
Ficus ulmifolia Lam. (Moraceae), Appendicula irigensis
Ames (Orchidaceae), Bulbophyllum catenulatum Kraenzl.
(Orchidaceae), Calanthe furcata Bateman ex Lindl.
(Orchidaceae), Mycaranthes gigantea (Ames) Cootes &
W.Suarez (Orchidaceae), Robiquetia compressa (Lindl.)
Schltr. (Orchidaceae), Urophyllum urdanetense Elmer
(Rubiaceae), Smilax lucida Merr. (Smilacaceae), Alpinia
musifolia Ridl. (Zingiberaceae), A. rufa C.Presl ex Náves
(Zingiberaceae), Etlingera pilosa A.D.Poulsen & Docot,
Hornstedtia lophophora Ridl. (Zingiberaceae), and
Meistera muricarpa (Elmer) Škornick. & M.F.Newman
(Zingiberaceae).
Unique threatened species in Mt. Malimumu were
Lithocarpus apoensis (Elmer) Rehder (Lauraceae),
N. malimumuensis Lagunday, Acma, Cabana, Sabas
& Amoroso (Nepenthaceae), N. manobo Lagunday,
Acma, Cabana, Sabas & Amoroso (Nepenthaceae),
Phalaenopsis mariae Burb. ex R.Warner & H.Williams
(Orchidaceae), Sararanga philippinensis Merr.
(Pandanaceae), and Pentaphragma grandiflorum Kurz
(Pentaphragmataceae); unique endemic species were
Amyema curranii (Merr.) Danser (Loranthaceae), M.
copelandii Merr. (Melastomataceae), M. multiflora
Merr., F. odorata (Blanco) Merr. (Moraceae), F.
pseudopalma Blanco, Rhodomyrtus surigaoensis Elmer
(Myrtaceae), Ceratostylis latipetala Ames (Orchidaceae),
Coelogyne sparsa Rchb.f., Dendrobium niveobarbatum
Cootes, D. tiongii Cootes, Spathoglottis tomentosa Lindl.,
Pandanus philippinensis Merr. (Pandanaceae), Adinandra
luzonica Merr. (Pentaphylacaceae), Mischocarpus
triqueter Radlk (Sapindaceae), Elatostema mindanaense
(C.B.Rob.) H.Schroet. (Urticaceae), and Ampelocissus
ochracea var. trilobata Merr. (Vitaceae).
Unique threatened species in Mt. Natampod were
Terminalia surigaensis Merr. (Combretaceae),
Rhododendron kochii Stein (Ericaceae), Mussaenda
grandifolia Elmer (Rubiaceae), and Plagiostachys
lourdesiae Docot (Zingiberaceae);unique endemics species
were Saurauia panayensis Merr., Drepananthus apoensis
Elmer, Pinanga egregia Fernando., Clerodendrum
brachyanthum, Schauer, Medinilla apoensis C.B.Rob.,
Syzygium ramosii (C.B.Rob.) Merr., Coelogyne
candoonensis Ames, Dendrochilum derekcabactulanii
M.Leon, Cootes & R.B.Pimentel, M. mindanaensis
(Ames) Cootes & W.Suarez, Oxystophyllum elmeri
(Ames) M.A.Clem., Phalaenopsis sanderiana Rchb.f.,
Ternstroemia philippinensis Merr. (Pentaphylacaceae),
Neonauclea formicaria (Elmer) Merr. (Rubiaceae),
Timonius trichophorus Merr., Urophyllum memecyloides
(C.Presl) S.Vidal, Melicope triphylla (Lam.) Merr.
(Rutaceae), Etlingera philippinensis (Ridl.) R.M.Sm.
(Zingiberaceae), and Globba campsophylla K.Schum.
Further, Mt. Nabagkesan has no unique threatened
species, whereas the unique endemic species were
Calamus cumingianus Becc. (Arecaceae), Shorea
squamata (Turcz.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex DC., and Zeuxine
wenzelii (Ames) Ormerod (Orchidaceae).
CONCLUSION
Mt. Pantaron Range is home to 133 threatened and endemic
species of seed plants belonging to 46 families and 82
genera. Conservation and ecological status assessments
in four sampling sites of Pantaron Range showed that
Mt. Bungkasan harbors the highest number of threatened
(63.4 %) and endemic (54.1%) species, followed by Mt.
Malimumu harboring 54% of the threatened and 38.3%
of the endemic species and Mt. Natampod having 36.5%
of the threatened and 30% of the endemic species. The
relatively low number of threatened and endemic species
in Mt. Nabagkesan is attributed to limited sampling efforts
at the site due to peace and order issues.
The documented threatened seed plants reported herein
represents 4.3% of the threatened seed plants and 2.6%
of the endemic seed plants in the Philippines.
The similarity of the study sites in terms of threatened and
endemic species composition is relatively low (≤ 33%),
implying that each study site harbors unique threatened
endemic seed plants. The assemblage of threatened and
endemic seed plants in Mt. Pantaron Range calls for
immediate conservation strategies by the stakeholders to
warrant protection, as the site has no legislation to protect
the floral resources of the area.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2444
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to express appreciation to the
DOST-GIA (Department of Science and Technology
Grants-in-Aid) for the financial support to conduct this
research. The researchers likewise sincerely acknowledge
the CMU under the leadership of Dr. Jesus Antonio
G. Derije and the CEBREM (Center for Biodiversity
Research and Extension in Mindanao). We also thank the
Local Government Units of Malaybalay, Cabanglasan,
and San Fernando in Bukidnon for the logistics support;
the DENR Office of Region X for the gratuitous permitl
and all local researchers for the assistance during the
fieldwork. Special thanks to Mr. Guiller S. Opiso for
preparing the site location map.
REFERENCES
AMOROSO VB, ASPIRAS RA. 2011. Hamiguitan
Range: A sanctuary for native flora. Saudi Journal of
Biological Sciences 18: 7–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
sjbs.2010.07.003
AMOROSO VB, LARAGA S, CALZADA B. 2011.
Diversity and assessment of plants in Mt. Kitangland
Range Natural Park, Bukidnon, Southern Philippines.
Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 63(1–2): 219–236.
AMOROSO VB, ACMA FM, CORITICO FP, GORME
FS, LAGUNDAY NE, SALOLOG MCS, COLONG
RD. 2018. Floral diversity assessment of the buffer
zones and vicinity of the Mt. Hamiguitan Range
Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS), Davao Oriental: basis
for inclusion to protected area zone. Philippine Journal
of Systematic Biology 12(2): 36–51.
ARIBAL LG, BUOT IE. 2009. The threatened plants spe-
cies in various regions in Mindanao Island, Philippines.
Journal of Nature Studies 8(2): 23–33.
ATIENZA CL. 2020. Bill declaring Pantaron Mountain
Range as a national park and watershed reservation
filed. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from https://mb.com.
ph/2020/09/12/bill-declaring-pantaron-mountain-
range-as-a-national-park-and-watershed-reservation-
filed/
AUREO WA, REYES TD, MUTIA FCU, JOSE RP,
SARNOWSKI MB. 2020. Diversity and composition
of plant species in the forest over limestone of Rajah
Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Bohol, Philippines.
Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e55790.
COELHO N, GONÇALVES S, ROMANO A. 2020.
Endemic Plant species conservation: Biotechnological
approaches. Plants 9(3): 345. https://doi.org/10.3390/
plants9030345
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.
2016. Retrieved from https://www.cbd.int/countries/
profile/?count
CORITICO FP, AMOROSO VB. 2017. A Rapid Assess-
ment of Vascular Plants in Mt. Kiamo, Mindanao,
Philippines. Asian Journal of Biodiversity 8(1): 62–78.
CORITICO FP, AMOROSO VB. 2020. Threatened lyco-
phytes and ferns in four protected areas of Mindanao,
Philippines. Nature Conservation Research 5: 78-88.
https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2020.061
CORITICO FP, LAGUNDAY NE, GALINDON JMM,
TANDANG DN, AMOROSO VB. 2020. Diversity of
Trees and Structure of Forest Habitat Types in Mt. Tago
Range, Mindanao, Philippines. Philippine Journal of
Systematic Biology 14(3): 1–11.
DE LA TORRE AR, PIOT A, LIU B, WILHITE B, WEISS
M, PORTH I. 2019. Functional and morphological
evolution in gymnosperms: a portrait of implicated
gene families. Evolutionary Application 13: 210–227.
https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12839
FERNANDO ES, AMOROSO VB, TANDANG DN,
BANAG CI, LAPIS AB, GRUEZO WS, CORITICO
FP, POLLISCO FA JR., PALIJON AM, CHING MD,
LANSIGAN FP, GARCIA-FRANCISCO C, LITA NM,
TAGTAG AM, DE LEON JL. 2022. Threatened Plants of
the Philippines. Department of Environment and Natural
Resources–Biodiversity Management Bureau. 149p.
HOBOHM C, BRUCHMANN I. 2014. Endemism in
Vascular Plant; Chapter 4: Factors That Threaten and
Reduce Endemism. Plant and Vegetation 9: 71. https://
doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6913-7_4
HODGE W. 1947. The use of alco-
hol in plant collecting. Rhodora 49: 207–220.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23303840
KHAPUGIN AA, KUZMIN IV, SILAEVA TB. 2020.
Anthropogenic drivers leading to regional extinction
of threatened plants: insights from regional Red Data
Books of Russia. Biodiversity and Conservation
29(8): 2765–2777. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-
020-02000-x
LE ROUX JJ, HUI C, CASTILLO ML, IRIONDO JM,
KEET JH, KHAPUGIN AA, MÉDAIL F, REJMÁNEK
M, THERON G, YANNELLI FA, HIRSCH H. 2019.
Recent anthropogenic plant extinctions differ in biodi-
versity hotspots and coldspot. Current Biology 29(17):
2912–2918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063
LILLO EP, FERNANDO ES, LILLO MJR. 2018. Plant
diversity and structure of forest habitat types on
Dinagat Island, Philippines. Journal of Asia-Pacific
Biodiversity 12(1): 83–105.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines

2445
LUMISTA HP, DELA CRUZ RY, ACMA FM, AMORO-
SO VB. 2016. Occurrence of Threatened, Endemic,
and Economic Seed Plants in Selected Mountains
in Mindanao, Philippines. CMU Journal of Science
20(1): 2–13.
PACLIBAR GCB, TADIOSA ER. 2020. Plant species
diversity and assessment in Quezon Protected Land-
scape, Southern Luzon, Philippines. Philippine Journal
of Systematic Biology 14(3): 1–19.
PELSER PB, BARCELONA JF, NICKRENT DL eds.
2011 onwards. Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines.
Retrieved from www.philippineplants.org
RAN JH, SHEN TT, WANG MM, WANG XQ. 2018.
Phylogenomics resolves the deep phylogeny of seed
plants and indicates partial convergent or homoplastic
evolution between Gnetales and angiosperms. The
Royal Society. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.1012
UMALI AGA, MALABRIGO PL JR., REPLAN EL.
2018. Floral Diversity and Habitat Assessment at Mt.
Malarayat Brgy. Malitlit, Lipa City, Batangas. Ecosys-
tems & Development Journal 8(1): 3–14.
Philippine Journal of Science
Vol. 151 No. 6B, December 2022
Coritico et al.: Threatened and Endemic Seed Plants
of Mt. Pantaron Range, Mindanao, Philippines