A. Latiff’s research while affiliated with National University of Malaysia and other places

A new natural hybrid of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) Nepenthes × sultan-ibrahimii from Ayer Hitam Utara Forest Reserve, Johor, Malaysia is described and illustrated. Comprehensive morphological description, illustrations and geographical distribution are given. The hybrid and its putative parents, namely Nepenthes rafflesiana and Nepenthes mirabilis are compared.

This study was conducted at the Tranum Forest Reserve, Raub, Pahang to determine the community structure, species diversity and biomass of trees in the area. Four study plots, each measuring 25 m × 20 m, were established at the study site, which covered a total area of 0.2 ha. All trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 5 cm and above were measured and recorded. A total of 175 trees was enumerated in the study plots, comprising 106 species and 79 genera from 40 families. The largest family was Lauraceae, represented by 11 species from six genera, followed by Myrtaceae with eight species from one genus. Tree species diversity of the study area was high, as reflected by a Shannon Diversity Index (H’) value of 4.49 (Hmax = 4.66). Margalef Richness Index (R’) and Shannon Evenness Index (E) showed values of 20.33 and 0.84, respectively. The most important family, based on the highest Family Important Value Index (FIVi), was Dipterocarpaceae, with a value 17.31%. Shorea platyclados was the most important species with Important Value Index (IVi) of 17.04%. The tree density of the study area was 875 indidivuals per hectare (ind/ha), with Lauraceae being the densest family at 85 ind/ha. Vitex gamosepala was the densest species at 40 ind/ha. The total basal area of trees was 66.23 m2/ha, with Dipterocarpaceae showed the highest basal area of 31.69 m2/ha and Shorea platyclados had the highest basal area of 31.69 m2/ha at species level. The total biomass of trees was estimated at 1,307.56 t/ha, of which the above ground biomass and the below ground biomass were 1,091.33 t/ha and 216.23 t/ha, respectively. Dipterocarpaceae contributed the highest biomass with an estimate of 743.83 t/ha and Shorea platyclados showed the highest biomass at species level with 743.83 t/ha.

The species of Archidendron pahangense (Kosterm.) I.C. Nielsen (Fabaceae) is an endemic species in Peninsular Malaysia known only from Pahang and Selangor state. This species was also recorded in Gunung Rabong, Kelantan. This species was reported in Fraser Hill, Pahang, whereby common in the Pine Tree Hill. This species was also observed in Semangko Tambahan Forest Reserve, Selangor. Fertile specimens were collected in 1923, 1938, 1954, 1966 and 1967.

Mangrove ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity and coastal protection but face threats from climate change and human activities. This review assesses the productivity of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) in Malaysia, which is recognised as one of the best-managed mangrove forests, while also addressing challenges such as deforestation and climate change-induced factors. This review explores the concept of productivity in mangrove forests, highlighting their role in carbon sequestration and discussing litterfall measurements as fundamental metrics for assessing primary productivity. An analysis of historical changes in MMFR’s biomass and productivity revealed fluctuations influenced by logging, reforestation, and climatic conditions. Trends in MMFR productivity indicate a concerning decline attributed to anthropogenic activities such as aquaculture and industrial projects. A regression analysis conducted on Rhizophora apiculata data with age as the predictor and AGB as the response variable indicated a positive trend (slope = 3.61, R-squared = 0.686), suggesting a quantitative increase in AGB with age. Further analysis revealed a significant negative trend in MMFR’s overall productivity over years (coefficient = −3.974, p < 0.05) with a strong inverse relationship (rho = −0.818, p < 0.05), indicating declining AGB trends. Despite these challenges, this review underscores the significance of sustainable management practices, effective conservation efforts, and community engagement in maintaining mangrove ecosystem health and productivity. In conclusion, sharing management lessons from MMFR can contribute to global conservation and sustainable mangrove forest management efforts, fostering resilience in these vital ecosystems.

Pollen morphology of 19 species of Madhuca Buch.-Ham. ex J.F. Gmelin of Malaysia was examined using both light and scanning electron microscopes. The pollen grains are single, radially symmetrical, isopolar, mostly subprolate, rarely prolate-spheroidal and spheroidal and generally 4-colporate. The largest pollen belongs to M. curtisii and M. motleyana and M. khoonmengii and M. calcicola have the smallest. On the basis of pollen surface ornamentation four main types have been recognized namely, granular, anastomosed granular, rugulate and perforate which have taxonomic significance in species grouping. Within the genus pollen diversity is valuable for both identification and delimiting of species.

The petiole anatomy of 26 species of Madhuca from Peninsular Malaysia was studied. Methods used in this study were petiole sectioning using a sliding microtome, staining, mounting and observation under light microscope. This is the first report on a comprehensive petiole anatomy of selected Madhuca species from Peninsular Malaysia. The results had shown that there were five types of petiole outlines, and ten types of vascular bundles in the petiole of species studied. All species have sclerenchyma cells in the abaxial side except in M. motleyana, which has clusters of sclerenchyma cells scattered throughout the cortex. The findings showed that two types of crystals and latex canal were shared in all species studied. Only five species out of 26 have trichomes on their petioles. The evaluated petiole anatomical characteristic features proved to be a useful tool for the taxonomic discrimination of the 26 studied species.

A new species Durio gerikensis (Malvaceae) is described from Hulu Perak, Peninsular Malaysia, it can be easily recognised in the field by its reddish-pink flowers and small (6–7.5 cm in diameter), golden yellowish to pale yellow fruits with persistent calyx. It is unique from all the congeneric taxa by having two to four valved fruits with arilless seeds. Morphologically, Durio gerikensis is similar to D. lanceolatus Mast. (Masters 1875:499) and D. singaporensis Ridl. (Ridley 1916: 143) but they differ in their leaf, flower and fruit characteristics.

The wet and fast-flowed rivers in the lowland and hill forest at Taman Negara provide a suitable habitat for the rheophytes and riparian flora of seed plants. Fourteen species of rheophytes and riparian are listed and discussed in this paper, of which some taxa are locally common along the riverbanks of Sungai Tahan and Sungai Tembeling.

A preliminary survey on Burseraceae diversity was conducted in Kuala Keniam and surrounding area at Taman Negara Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. The data from recent scientific expedition in early September 2020 were compiled with the previous collections lodged in the Herbarium of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKMB), Herbarium of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (KEP), Herbarium of University of Malaya (KLU) and Herbarium of Singapore Botanic Gardens (SING). A total of 19 taxa of Burseraceae from five genera were listed in this area. Santiria and Dacryodes represented the highest species with six (6) taxa each followed by Canarium with five (5) species. The common species that we have counted around Kuala Keniam are Canarium littorale and Dacryodes rostrata . From the flora survey, we counted Canarium littorale, C. pilosum, D. costata, D. rostrata, D. rugosa, Santiria griffithii, S. laevigata and Triomma malaccensis . Meanwhile, in the plot study, we counted Canarium littorale, C. pilosum, Dacryodes rostrata, D. rugosa, Santiria laevigata, S. tomentosa and Scutinanthe brunnea .

A study was conducted to determine the composition of wild fruit tree in Kuala Keniam, Taman Negara (National Park) Pahang. A method of field specimen collection was used in this study. Five plots of 0.05ha (25 m x 20 m) were established. Trees of ≥ 1 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were measured within the plot. Additional data was also obtained from a general survey around the forest trails. A total of 41 species from 19 genera and 11 families of wild fruit trees were recorded. Guttiferae was listed the highest with 10 species (24.4%). It was followed by Euphorbiaceae and Sapindaceae with seven species (17.1%). Genus-wise, Garcinia has recorded the highest total number of species with 10 species followed by Baccaurea (six species), and Artocarpus (four species). The low total number of species in this study is due to the limitation time for sampling. A detailed study on the composition of fruit trees in the plot is needed in the future to get more information on the importance of wild fruit trees in Kuala Keniam in Taman Negara Pahang.