Epiphytic Research Articles

Of Epiphytes and Epilepsy

Of Epiphytes and Epilepsy

Physiological ecology of ferns: Biodiversity and conservation perspectives

Ferns have a long geological record extending over millions of years, and they are distributed in diverse environments worldwide; including swamps, coastal locations, open grasslands, mountain terrains, drylands and deserts. Consequently, their physiological ecology is rich with examples of the fern species diversity, and remarkable adaptive variability. This is a review of some major aspects of their physiological ecology (that is, water relations and desiccation tolerance, light and photosynthesis, and temperature and physiological responses), focusing on terrestrial and epiphytic ferns in diverse global geographic locales. Ferns are important economically in horticultural commerce and provide significant ecological services. Climate change and destruction of their natural habitats may lead to extensive loss of fern biodiversity; and some of the current issues related to the protection of their natural habitat and conservation of fern species are addressed. Key words: Biological adaptation, climate change, geographic distribution, human impact, plant evolution.

Structure and robustness of the Neotropical ant‐gardens network under climate change

Abstract Knowing, predicting, and comparing the interactions among species of different assemblages allows the determination of both the structure and robustness of the ecological networks. However, this has been little studied for species assemblages with obligate associations across a wide geographic scale and under a global climate change context. We studied the Neotropical ant‐gardens (AGs), considered as a specialised mutualist system constituted of epiphytic plants that specifically inhabit nests of arboreal ants. We used the niche modelling and complex networks approaches to infer the interactions (range overlaps) between the ants and epiphytes that comprise the AGs and thus constructed AG quantitative networks for the current time and future scenarios of climate change. Also, we compared the structure (nestedness and modularity) and specialisation of the AG network with other ecological networks, and we evaluated their robustness through the simulated extinction of species. The AG network was formed by six ant species and 16 epiphyte species, generally of wide distribution. This low species number coincided with specialised networks, but the structure was more similar to that of the facultative networks, since it presented high nestedness and low modularity and specialisation. The network structure was maintained under the climate change scenarios, which also coincides with its high robustness in the face of the extinction of species. The AGs are a specialised system of wide distribution, but ant–epiphyte interactions are generalist, suggesting that the Neotropical AG network is cohesive and robust in the face of global perturbations.

Flower development, pollen viability and pollen storage test of Aeschynanthus radicans

Abstract. Damayanti F, Garvita RV, Wawangningrum H, Rahayu S. 2021. Flower development, pollen viability and pollen storage test of Aeschynanthus radicans. Biodiversitas 22: 1940-1945. Aeschynanthus radicans Jack. commonly-known as lipstick flowers, is an epiphytic plant in Gesneriaceae family. It has an attractive morphology and is easy to grow. Therefore A. radicans is used as mother species for hybridization by plant breeders. The flowers of A. radicans are dichogamous and strongly protandrous. The pollen matures before the stigma becomes receptive and bends away and down when the stigma becomes receptive. As a thought-after material for hybridization, little is known about the flower development, pollen viability, and storability. The purpose of this study was to observe the development phase of A.radicans flowers, determine the viability of pollen during flower development, and investigate the pollen storability at -20?C. Flower development was observed in phases from small buds to anthesis. Pollen viability was tested in 10%, 15%, and 20% sucrose solution for 4 hours. Pollen storage was tested at -20?C for 77 days and tested for viability every three weeks. The best sucrose concentration for the germination of fresh pollen was 20%. The highest pollen viability was at H0 was 58±3% and gradually decreased with flowerage. The lowest viability was 18±14% at flower stage H5, coinciding with the first day of stigma receptive. Pollen storage at -20?C decreased pollen viability to 30,2±2% after 42 days and to 13,54% after 77 days.

Comparative phylogeography of bromeliad species: effects of historical processes and mating system on genetic diversity and structure

Abstract A fundamental challenge in population genetics is to understand the role of ecological and historical processes in shaping genetic diversity patterns within and among species. Based on a set of nuclear microsatellite loci, we conducted a comparative study of the genetic diversity and structure of two epiphytic plant species: Vriesea simplex and V. scalaris (Bromeliaceae), endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The results showed contrasting genetic diversity and structure patterns according to variation in reproductive systems of these species. High genetic diversity, high effective population sizes and low genetic differentiation were observed in the mainly outcrossing V. simplex populations. In contrast, low genetic diversity, low effective population sizes and high genetic differentiation were detected in the mainly selfing V. scalaris populations. Accordingly, the isolation-by-distance indicated stronger population structures in V. scalaris than in V. simplex. Both species showed a similar phylogeographic north-south split across the Atlantic Rainforest, suggesting possible multiple refugia in this biome. Historical climatic changes during the Pleistocene were possible determinants of the genetic diversity and structure of these species in the Atlantic Rainforest. Divergent mating systems (selfing vs. outcrossing), genetic drift and colonization history influenced the genetic diversity and structure of these Neotropical plant species.

Ant-gardens: a specialized ant-epiphyte mutualism capable of facing the effects of climate change

It is suggested that specialized mutualisms are more vulnerable to climate change. Ant-gardens (AGs) are a complex and specialized mutualistic system represented by epiphytic plants that specifically inhabit the arboreal nest built by canopy ants in tropical forests. Different ant-epiphyte ensembles constitute the AGs throughout the Neotropics. However, neither the environmental factors that determine their geographical distribution nor the effects of climate change on this canopy biological system are known. Here, we estimated the ecological niche and elevational distribution of the Neotropical AGs as an entity (regardless of species composition), and individually for six AG ant and 16 AG epiphyte species in order to determine and compare their current and future distributions (vulnerability), using two unrelated Global Circulation Models for the year 2070 under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5: optimistic and RCP8.5: pessimistic). The current potential distribution of the AGs is discontinuous from Tamaulipas, Mexico, to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in low elevation areas with high mean annual temperatures (> 25 °C) and precipitation (> 2400 mm). In contrast, the individual distributions of the AG ants and epiphytes tended not to follow to this climatic profile and were segregated by both latitude and elevation. The geographic distribution of most AG ant and epiphyte species diminished under climate change, while that of the AGs increased, even under the pessimistic scenario. This suggests that AGs allow the species that comprise them to broaden their ecological niche and be more resistant to climate change than they would be outside of this system.

Novel biogeographic patterns across latitudinal and elevational gradients: A case study with tropical montane epiphytes lends insights to conservation

AbstractAimWhile latitudinal and elevational gradients of range size have been thoroughly studied, the ways these gradients might interact with each other to shape species distributions in complex montane environments are not well understood. We examined how elevational and latitudinal gradients interact to structure individual species’ distributions and larger geographic range size patterns.LocationNeotropics.TaxaTwo epiphytic plant genera: Peperomia and Elaphoglossum.MethodsWe compiled 35,382 GBIF records for 505 species, calculated species’ latitudinal and elevational range extents, and examined gradients in richness and range size. For individual species, we analysed the relationship between elevational and latitudinal occurrences.ResultsApproximately 50% of species demonstrate a significant, negative relationship between their elevational and latitudinal occurrences; most of these species occupy a non‐random, relatively narrow range of mean annual temperatures across their latitudinal distribution. Across species there is a positive relationship between latitudinal and elevational extent, a phenomenon we hereafter refer to as ‘Stevens’ pattern’. Average latitudinal extent of species’ ranges increased at higher latitudes, in support of Rapoport's rule. Average elevational extent increased with elevation in the global dataset (consistent with Rapoport's elevational rule), but most subsets of the data demonstrated a peak in average extent size at mid‐elevations.Main conclusionsThe prevalence of species with negative elevation‐by‐latitude relationships, along with their non‐random tracking of temperature, suggests that many tropical species with broad geographic distributions are more temperature sensitive than their broad ranges might otherwise suggest. Consequently, even tropical species that occur across a wide range of latitudes and elevations might be threatened by climate change. These wide‐ranging species drive the occurrence of two biogeographic patterns: Rapoport's elevational rule and Stevens’ pattern. Finally, while Rapoport's rule and its elevational corollary were supported in part, the unexpected occurrence of many species restricted to high elevations near the equator suggests a possible focus for conservation effort.

Relative colony size of parabiotic species demonstrates inversion with growth

Ant-gardens are a mutualistic association involving epiphyte plants and one or several ant species. Ant-gardens inhabited by Camponotus femoratus (Fabricius, 1804) and Crematogaster levior (Longino, 2003), are the most commonly found in the Neotropical Region. These two ant species share the nest and their foraging trails but keep their brood separated (i.e., parabiosis). The larger Ca. femoratus defends the nest, while benefits from the foraging ability of C. levior. However, it is still not experimentally proven which of the two parabiotic species initiates nest building. Moreover, the growth dynamic of population for these two ant species is unknown. To address these topics, we analyzed the change in proportion of individuals from the two species depending on the nest volume. Our results show that (1) the proportion of Ca. femoratus workers increased with nest volume leading to a numerically domination of Ca. femoratus in the largest nests and (2) C. levior workers are likely to initiate the nest construction given that it represents the overwhelming majority of the small nests. These results reinforce the knowledge of the complex and understudied interaction between these two ant species. Ant-gardens arise as a mutualistic association between ants and epiphyte plants. Plants benefit from the dispersal of their seeds and defense by the patrolling ants, while provide nest structure to the ants. The ants Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus live within common Ant-gardens. We studied the growth dynamic of the two species population with the volume of the Ant-garden nest. The proportion of Ca. femoratus increases with the nest volume resulting in a domination of the latter species on C. levior in the largest nets. Furthermore, our results, combined with field observations, suggest that C. levior can initiate the nest construction. These findings precise the complex relationship between the two ant species.

Anatomical study of Orchidaceae epiphytes species occurring in indigenous territory in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Tabuleiro (P.E.S.T.), Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract Besides their ecological importance, epiphytic species of Orchidaceae play economic and social roles through their commercialization and some are at great risk of extinction. The objectives of this study were to characterize the leaf and root anatomy of fourteen epiphytic Orchidaceae species, which occur in indigenous territory in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Tabuleiro (P.E.S.T.), Santa Catarina, Brazil and to identify adaptive anatomical characteristics related to the epiphytic habit. The species are commercialized by the Guarani and were collected during interviews and guided tours with Guarani in the indigenous territory. The results reveal the species have many morphoanatomical structures that are useful during water shortages resulting from the epiphytic habit. Notable characteristics are related to reserving water (i.e., pseudobulbs and a hypodermis with water-storage cells) and resistance to desiccation in the leaf (i.e., conspicuous cuticle, suprastomatic chamber and extraxylary and pericyclic fibers) and root (i.e., tilosomes and/or exodermal thickening and cortex cells with phi thickenings or sclereids). Descriptions and the identification of adaptive characteristics of epiphytic plant species are useful for conservation and cultivation studies, especially for plants commercially used by the Guarani Indians.

The Effects of Drought and the Recovery Phase of Two Tropical Epiphytic Ferns

The climate change scenario results in a reduction in rain precipitation in a large part of the tropical regions. This could be particularly severe for epiphytic species that rely entirely on rain or air humidity. Therefore, the knowledge of whether epiphytic plants can recover after a prolonged period of drought is pivotal in understanding their ecology, allowing us to better act for their conservation. In this study, drought stress was induced for 10 weeks in Asplenium nidus and Davallia denticulata, two tropical epiphytic ferns, by the exclusion of their water supply. Subsequently, they were rehydrated for 3 weeks. The aim was to test the effects of drought and the recovery rate of the fern species, and its relationship with stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content. In the prolonged drought stress period, D. denticulata showed a decline in both stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content values whilst A. nidus only showed a decline in stomatal conductance. In the rehydration interval, both species showed a steady recovery. The results indicated that the two species were negatively impacted by the 10 weeks of drought stress. However, A. nidus and D. denticulata recovered quickly in terms of stomatal conductance whereas for chlorophyll content, D. denticulata recovered at a slower rate compared to A. nidus. Therefore this study highlighted that A. nidus is better adapted to low precipitation and performed better in relation to future changes in precipitation. D. denticulata ranked second due to having more difficulty recovering from drought.

Presentation of Three Novel Tailed Phages Targeting Multiple Strains of Pseudomonas syringae.

Background: Pseudomonas syringae are ubiquitous epiphytic plant pathogens infecting a wide range of important agricultural plant species. Bacteriophages has been proposed as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens, however, in order to utilize this approach, a deeper understanding of phage diversity and phage-host interactions is required. Materials and Methods: Phages targeting P. syringae GAW0113 were isolated from organic waste samples. Three distinct phage isolates were purified and subjected to whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, transmission electron microscopy and host-range assay using a wide selection of diverse P. syringae isolates. Results: The three phage isolates, Pseudomonas phage Bertil, Misse, and Strit, were shown to have podovirus morphology with a short tail stub and isometric head. They had double-stranded DNA ranging from 41,342 to 41,374 bp in size comprising 50-51 open reading frames. The three phage genomes were highly similar and genomic comparison analyses showed that they all belong to the Autographiviridae family of the order Caudovirales. All three phages were shown to have a narrow host-range. Conclusions: The three phages were shown to share morphological and genomic features with other phages in the Autographiviridae family, however, based on the limited nucleotide similarity we propose that the phages constitute a novel genus. All three phages were found to infect multiple strains of P. syringae covering several phylogroups.

Beyond the gardens: The extended mutualism from ant‐garden ants to nectary‐bearing plants growing in Amazon tree‐fall gaps

AbstractThe regime of frequent small disturbances, such as the formation of tree‐fall gaps, is an important mechanism maintaining the diversity in tropical forests. Occurring primarily in forest gaps, or in riparian vegetation, ant gardens (hereafter AGs) are mutualistic associations involving several epiphytic plant species and ants. In the Amazon rainforest, a widespread AGs association is assembled by two aggressive species of parabiotic ants (Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior). Working together, these ants aggressively monopolize food resources and attack any intruder on the AGs. Here, we demonstrated the extended protective effect of parabiotic ants on the leaf herbivory of neighboring plants, contrasting plants with and without extrafloral nectaries (hereafter EFNs). We performed the fieldwork in South Amazonia where we found 33 forest gaps, 16 with and 17 without AGs. Independently of the presence of AGs, plants possessing EFNs have less area removed by herbivores and fewer leaves with herbivore marks than those without EFNs. This decrease in herbivory was remarkable on EFN‐plants growing in gaps that also harbor AGs. Additional manipulative experiments confirmed this pattern: The AG‐ants were more efficient than no‐AG ants in removing live termite baits placed on EFN‐plants, but few attacks were observed on plants without EFNs. Thus, AG‐ants can extend their role in defending ant gardens from other plants growing in the same area, particularly those with EFNs. This extension of the mutualism benefits can affect the dynamics of the ecological succession and coevolutionary process in the Amazon forest.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material

The magnitude and extent of edge effects on vascular epiphytes across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Edge effects are ubiquitous landscape processes influencing over 70% of forest cover worldwide. However, little is known about how edge effects influence the vertical stratification of communities in forest fragments. We combined a spatially implicit and a spatially explicit approach to quantify the magnitude and extent of edge effects on canopy and understorey epiphytic plants in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Within the human-modified landscape, species richness, species abundance and community composition remained practically unchanged along the interior-edge gradient, pointing to severe biotic homogenisation at all strata. This is because the extent of edge effects reached at least 500 m, potentially leaving just 0.24% of the studied landscape unaffected by edges. We extrapolated our findings to the entire Atlantic Forest and found that just 19.4% of the total existing area is likely unaffected by edge effects and provide suitable habitat conditions for forest-dependent epiphytes. Our results suggest that the resources provided by the current forest cover might be insufficient to support the future of epiphyte communities. Preserving large continuous ‘intact’ forests is probably the only effective conservation strategy for vascular epiphytes.

Molecular characterization of bacterial and fungal endophytes associated with Vanda testacea, an orchid of Kodagu forest (Western Ghats), India

Western Ghats is considered as one of the most important biogeographic zones of India and also major tropical evergreen-forested region that possesses enormous biodiversity. Challenging biodiversity due to decreasing forests and thereby related habitat loss triggered us to give a hand on conservation of microbial diversity in such regions. Vanda testacea a vulnerable epiphytic orchid from Kodagu, is in the heart of Western Ghats which was used for endophyte isolation and characterization in the current study. From leaves of V. testacea fungal and bacterial strains were isolated. Further, by using molecular methods, the genomic DNA of isolated strains was extracted. The ITS region from fungi and 16S rDNA from bacteria were amplified by PCR, and then sequenced. Nucleotide sequences were compared with the known sequences available in NCBI database. Sequence similarity matrix were prepared with closely related species and phylogenetic tree was also generated for homology comparison. Identity of isolated strains was established as two different endophytic fungi, Cladosporium perangustum and Pestalotiopsis maculans and two different strains of Bacillus pumilus upto its genotypic level from the epiphytic orchid, V. testacea. Studies related to endophyte from orchids and identifying them by comparing its sequence are meagre. However, further rigorous trials are necessary to identify diversified endophytes from the epiphytic vulnerable orchid plant habitat and so as to make strategies for biodiversity conservation of Western Ghats, one of the hottest biodiversity hotspots of the World.

Antioxidant activity of an Epiphyte Fern in Palm Oil Tree

Vitaria elongata is an epiphytic plant in the Pteridaceae family, which usually grows on palms and wetlands. Other species of this genus have been reported to have cytotoxic and antioxidant activity, but their biological activity was not reported in this species. Therefore, the research aimed at antioxidant activity from V. elongata extracts. The extract of methanol was obtained by maceration (3 x 24 h). The sample was subsequently brought with partition containing various organic solvents (n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate). The n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and water extracts tested for antioxidant activity were performed using 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazil (DPPH) methods. The IC50 value of dichloromethan, ethyl acetate and water extract was 472,35 μg / mL, 94,72 μg / mL, and 13,63 μg / mL, while there was no antioxidant activity of the n-hexane extract and component VE-DCM-01, IC50 > 1,00 μg / mL.

Is ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) a structural parasite of mesquite (Prosopis laevigata)? Anatomical and ecophysiological evidence

The epiphyte Tillandsia recurvata modifies the anatomy of the xylem, phloem and periderm of its host Prosopis laevigata, these modifications affect water flux and photosynthetic activity in this host. The relationships between epiphytes and host plants are commensal interactions, where epiphytes obtain support to growth without damaging their hosts. However, some epiphytes may cause the death of branches in their hosts. Ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata) is an epiphyte with elevated reproductive success in semiarid zones of Mexico, growing mainly on mesquite trees (Prosopis laevigata). Mesquites are of great ecological and economical importance in central and northern Mexico, but the elevated mortality of branches and even whole trees have been associated with high ball moss loads. This study evaluates whether ball moss causes structural damage in the phloem, xylem, and periderm of mesquite branches, also testing whether the physiological performance of these branches was reduced. For this we measure the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), hydraulic conductivity, water flux, number of vessels and the effective area of conduction in mesquite branches with and without ball moss. The results demonstrated that juvenile ball moss only affected the periderm and the collapsed phloem with no damage to non-collapsed phloem or xylem, but the reproductive individuals modified the anatomy of the xylem, phloem and periderm of mesquite. These structural modifications affected both water flux and hydraulic conductivity and reduced the ΦPSII. Our findings suggest that structural and ecophysiological changes induced by the ball moss are the cause of high branch mortality in mesquite. This is the first study showing anatomical and ecophysiological evidence of an epiphytic plant damaging its host.

LIMITED SEED DISPERSAL MAY SHAPE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF Hydnophytum formicarum JACK. POPULATIONS IN MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM

Hydnophytum formicarum is an epiphytic plant, commonly distributed throughout Southeast Asia. However, its distribution is currently declining due to forest fragmentation and the subsequent habitat changes which may have also consequently affected the genetic structure of H. formicarum populations. Hence, this study aimed to understand the genetic variation and differentiation within and among populations of this species. Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, the genetic variation and genetic differentiation among three populations were assessed in order to identify potential conservation management strategies for this species in the mangrove ecosystem in Malaysia. Ten highly reproducible primers were used in the population analysis, resulting in a total of 221 discernible fragments. Genetic variation among populations was high at 98% identified polymorphic fragments. AMOVA showed significant genetic differentiation among the populations (ΦPT = 0.554, p ≤ 0.001), with pairwise genetic distances between the populations ranging from 0.495 - 0.589. PCoA clustering analysis separated the populations according to their geographical locations. The high genetic variation within a population, high genetic differentiation between populations and clear separation in the cluster analysis indicated a restricted seed dispersal of the species.

DIVERSITY AND VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF VASCULAR EPIPHYTES ON A MALAYSIAN MANGROVE ISLAND

Many studies have attempted to explain the diversity and abundance of epiphytic plants in major ecosystems, worldwide. However, investigations on the abundance of epiphytic plants in mangroves have remained rare. The aim of this research was to study the diversity and vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes in a mangrove forest in peninsular Malaysia. The sampling was done over a 0.1 hectare of Pulau Telaga Tujuh, a mangrove island in Terengganu, Malaysia. Trees with vascular epiphytes were divided into three strata: basal, trunk and canopy. The vascular epiphytes were identified, and the number of individuals in each stratum was recorded. In total, 8 species of vascular epiphytes from 6 genera and 4 families were recorded. Pulau Telaga Tujuh mangrove forest exhibited a relatively low diversity of vascular epiphytes (H’ = 1.43). The dominance of Hydnopytum formicarum significantly contributed to the diversity of vascular epiphytes in this forest. The highest abundance of epiphytes was observed on the trunks of the host trees. The vertical distribution pattern observed in this study is associated with the adaptation of the epiphytic plants to stresses in the mangrove ecosystem, particularly, drought and salt spray. Pulau Telaga Tujuh had a high density of vascular epiphytes but lower diversity compared with other ecosystems.

The water-water cycle facilitates photosynthetic regulation under fluctuating light in the epiphytic orchid Dendrobium officinale

Fluctuating light can cause selective photoinhibition of photosystem I (PSI) in angiosperms. However, the strategies for photosynthetic regulation under fluctuating light in wild epiphytic plants are little known. We here compared PSI and PSII performances under fluctuating light in the epiphytic orchid Dendrobium officinale and the terrestrial orchid Bletilla striata. Upon dark-to-light transition, D. officinale showed a rapid re-oxidation of P700, but this rapid re-oxidation of P700 was not observed in B. striata. Within the first 40 s after transition from dark to actinic light, B. striata showed much higher activation of cyclic electron transport (CET) than D. officinale. However, this strong activation of CET could not prevent the over-reduction of PSI. Therefore, the rapid re-oxidation of P700 in D. officinale was attributed to pseudo-cyclic electron transport (water-water cycle). Within the first 60 s after transition from low to high light, PSI was highly oxidized in D. officinale but was highly reduced in B. striata. Concomitantly, B. striata showed much higher stimulation of CET. These results indicate that water-water cycle significantly regulates PSI redox state under fluctuating light in the epiphytic orchid D. officinale. By comparison, the terrestrial orchid B. striata employs CET to cope with fluctuating light, similar to the phenotype of Arabidopsis thaliana. Taking together, these two orchids used different strategies for photosynthetic regulation to cope with fluctuating light.

Diversity of Epiphytic Orchids, Hoya, Dischidia and Phorophytes (Host Trees) in Bawean Island Nature Reserve and Wildlife Reserve, East Java, Indonesia

Bawean Island is a small island located between two islands (Java and Borneo). Geographically, the diversity of plants, especially epiphytic plants on this island is very interesting to be studied. This research aims to investigate the diversity of epiphytic plants, focussing on epiphytic orchids, Hoya and Dischidia in Bawean Island Nature Reserve and Wildlife Reserve. It was conducted through an inventory of epiphytic orchids and hoya growing on host trees. The results showed there were 10 species of epiphytic orchid and 3 species of epiphytic Hoya, and 1 species of Dischidia growing on-location studies. The epiphytic orchids which found in location studies included Phalaenopsis amabilis, Aerides odorata, Cymbidium aloifolium, Dendrobium anosmum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Liparis condylobulbon, Taeniophyllum biocellatum, Cymbidium sp., Eria sp. Orchid species that most often found in the study location was Phalaenopsis amabilis. In addition, this study recorded Taeniophyllum biocellatum as an endemic orchid from Java that was found on this island. The epiphytic Hoya recorded in there, i.e. Hoya diversifolia, H. verticillata, and H. amoena, and also only found 1 species of Dischidia was Dischidia imbricata. There were 12 species of trees as the host trees of epiphytic, i.e. Irvingia malayana, Tectona grandis, Diospyros buxyfolius were the host trees frequently found as the host of the epiphytic plant. Zone 3 as an area of 1/3 basal part of a total length of the branches was the most preferred zone by epiphytic orchids and hoya. The epiphytic orchid and hoya hardly found in Zone 5.