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Orchids: Why Are They A Critical Subject to Conservation in Indonesia ?

Orchids are any plants that belong to a taxonomical unit known as family Orchidaceae. Orchids comprise about seven percent of all angiosperms and one of the largest family in the group (Pansarin and Pansarin, 2011). There are 26,972 species in this family (Stern, 2014). They are cosmopolitan species and can be found throughout the globe except in the frozen land of Arctic and Antartic. Based on this fact, orchids can grow in any type of habitats ranging from lowland savannah to mountainous forest. Orchids are very variable in habits. Some have erect bodies, some creeps, some have numerous leaves and some only have one. So, what is an orchid ? Or what are characteristics for any plant to be called an orchid ? There are several requirements for any plant to be classified in the family Orchidaceae, namely:

 1. Most members have one fertile stamen. Few have two (Cypripedium, Paphiopedilum) and only one genus has three (Apostasia).

 2. Stamens and pistil are partially or completely united. This structure is called as gymnostemium or column.

 3. Median petal (one that is opposite fertile stamen) is greatly modified or unlike the other two and known as labellum (lip).

 4. Buds of most members are born with labellum above column. Before they start to open and while opening, they twist resulting in reversed positions. In some slipper orchids, they flip over and result in the same like the others. This phenomenon is recognized as resupination.

 5. Modified stigma, rostellum is associated with pollen transfer.

 6. Pollen grains are borne in masses called pollinia.

 7. Seeds are exceedingly small (circa 0.5*1 mm) and very numerous.

                                                                                                           (Arditti, 1992)

Indonesia is an archipelagic country that means it consists of islands from large ones to small ones. Even Indonesia possesses some of largest islands in the world. Papua (with half of being the territory of New Guinea) and Borneo are respectively the second and the third largest island in the world after Greenland (the first) (World Atlas, 2015). Indonesia is also a mega biodiversity country. There are roughly about 5,000 species of native orchids in Indonesia making it the richest one in the Malesian region and even the world’s largest orchid bearing country (Heywood and Country, 2012). Then why are orchids a concern to conservation in Indonesia ? To be able to answer this question, we gotta see some of these facts.

1. The rate of deforestation in Indonesia is reaching out to the worrying number. Times and Guardian magazines reported that Indonesia had the largest rate of deforestation as of 2014 with 840,000 hectares of forest lost in 2012 compared to 460,000 ha loss in Brazil as they quoted from a study ended in 2012.

2. Orchid species just like other living organisms have different kind or mode of adaptation to the environment. This is true since every species (even individual) inhabit their own niche (in some way, they might be overlapping with one another). Let’s say every individual has their own microenvironment requirements (microenvironment is a condition or more accurately refers to the condition resulting from mixed different environment factors in which every individual or species suits specifically).

Forest deforestation and land conversion have contributed much to the loss of native species. When a tree is being felled, epiphytic orchids lose their habitat. They lose any living support (attachment to substrate i.e. tree bark) alongside with supplies of sunlight, humidity, and temperature. This develops even worse with orchid species adapted to the shady condition. Epiphytic orchids become an interesting topic to be discussed about epiphytism since most of the orchids are epiphytic (out of 19,128 orchid species, seventy-three percent or 13,951 orchid species are epiphytic (Lüttge, 2012). They have features like chlorophyllous roots specializing for photosynthesis and succulent thick leaves adapting to water scarcity (they couldn’t easily take up water since they are arboreal or hanging from their substrates so main source of water is from the air humidity or rain drops).

An indirect effect of deforestation to the existence of orchids is related to the light need. Orchids can be sun-loving like Arundina graminifolia and Spathoglottis plicata or shade-loving like Oncidium Goldiana and Cymbidium sinense (Hew and Yong, 2004). The effect seems to be small for well adapted or cosmopolitan orchids. But it’ll be larger or major for endemic species. Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum are genera in the family Orchidaceae known to be shade-loving (Fatt and Astley, 2012) and direct sunlight seems to retard their growth. Direct sunlight is a result of vegetation clearing (as deforestation or land conversion). Let’s acknowledge ourselves that members of the two genera that are native to Indonesia are Paphiopedilum intaniae, Paphiopedilum hookerae, Paphiopedilum victoria-mariae, Paphiopedilum liemianum (IUCN Red List, 2017),  Paphiopedilum bougainvilleanum, Paphiopedilum chamberlainianum, Paphiopedilum praestans, Paphiopedilum superbiens, Paphiopedilum tonsum (Asiatic Green, 2009), Phalaenopsis borneensis, Phalaenopsis pantherina, Phalaenopsis viridis, Phalaenopsis amboinensis, Phalaenopsis fimbriata, Phalaenopsis floresensis, Phalaenopsis javanica, Phalaenopsis robinsonii, Phalaenopsis venosa, Phalaenopsis inscriptiosinensis, and Phalaenopsis celebensis (Chen, 2011).

We have many species of Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis that are endemic - so protection to these genera are a concern. As a matter of fact, Phalaenopsis amabilis or moon orchid is declared as Indonesian flower of charm (Bahasa: puspa pesona) – therefore, if we don’t wanna lose our identity, we gotta keep that natural heritage.

Another indirect effect of deforestation affecting the existence of orchid is the change of air humidity as a consequent of direct sun lighting. Alterations in environmental factor such as air humidity can be transductional. As the air gets warmer and drier, it will evaporate any water droplet existing in the soil particles and the atmosphere near the ground. When soil gets drier, it will reduce the chance of microorganisms to survive and thrive. On the other side, we acknowledge that microorganisms are very important to soil (micro)fauna benefitting in the degradation of organic matter that will be used by the holomycotrophic or saprophytic orchids. In another word, we could say that holomycotrophic orchids are heterotrophic. As the land clears, we rarely could find Stereosandras, Epipogia, or Didymoplexuses which grow mainly under the shade-covered humus (commonly one from bamboo leaves - so they are usually found near clumps of bamboo trees).

Based on the explanation and rationale above – orchid conservation and protection is the responsibility of all Indonesian citizens.

 References:

Books:

Arditti, J. 1992. Fundamentals of Orchid Biology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.. Hoboken: p. 55.

Chen, Hong-Hwa. 2011. Orchid Biotechnology II. World Scientific. Singapore: pp. 2-5.

Fatt, C. T. and D. Astley. 2012. The Essential Guide to Growing Orchids in the Tropics. Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd. Singapore: p. 96.

Hew, C. S. and J. W. H. Yong. 2004. The Physiology of Tropical Orchids in Relation to the Industry. World Scientific. Singapore: p. 68.

Heywood, V. H. and  P. W. Jackson (eds). 2012. Tropical Botanic Gardens: Their Role in Conservation and Development. Academic Press. Cambridge, USA: p. 303.

Lüttge, U. 2012. Vascular Plants as Epiphytes: Evolution and Ecophysiology. Springer Science & Business Media. Berlin: pp. 258-259.

Pansarin, E. R. and L. M. Pansarin (eds). 2011. The Family Orchidaceae in the Serra do Japi, São Paulo state, Brazil. Springer Science & Business Media. Berlin: p.7.

Stern, W. L. 2014. Orchidaceae. Oxford University Press. Oxford: p. 1.

 Websites:

Asiatic Green. 2009. Orchids: Paphiopedilum. Accessed from https://www.asiaticgreen.com/orchids_paph.htm on June 16, 2017 at 16:41 GMT+7.

Hellmann, M. 2014. Indonesia Now Has the Highest Rate of Deforestation in the World. Accessed from http://time.com/2944030/indonesia-now-has-the-highest-rate-of-deforestation-in-the-world/ on June 15, 2017 at 15:42 GMT+7.

Rankou, H. 2015. Paphiopedilum hookerae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T43320406A43327874. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T43320406A43327874.en. Downloaded on June 16, 2017  at 21:01 GMT+7.

Rankou, H. 2015. Paphiopedilum intaniae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T43320508A43327889. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T43320508A43327889.en. Downloaded on June 16, 2017 at 20:59 GMT+7.

Rankou, H. 2015. Paphiopedilum liemianum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T43321398A43327909. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T43321398A43327909.en. Downloaded on June 16, 2017 at 21:02 GMT+7.

Rankou, H. 2015. Paphiopedilum victoria-mariae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T43322404A43328019. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T43322404A43328019.en. Downloaded on June 16, 2017 at 21:01 GMT+7.

Vidal, J. 2014. Rate of deforestation in Indonesia overtakes Brazil, says study. Accessed from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/29/rate-of-deforestation-in-indonesia-overtakes-brazil-says-study on  June 15, 2017 at 15:42 GMT+7.

World Atlas. 2015. Islands of The World: The Largest. Accessed from http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/islands.htm on June 15, 2017 at 17:04 GMT+7.

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What A Motivational Afternoon!

It was a bright Friday afternoon when I was on my way home by public city bus and a woman sitting opposite to me suddenly asked me what college I go to. So, I answered and she said so did her son. She is a Batak but been living moving from one place to another one and now she’s residing in Jogjakarta. Back to the topic about her son. Her son graduated from the university I as well go to in 2003. It was a very long time ago. He was a student of mechanical engineering. Her son went to an elementary school in Maumere (East Nusa Tenggara), went to a junior hi-school in Manado (North Sulawesi), and his senior hi-school is a school in Babarsari, Depok, Sleman (I guess it should be SMAN 1 Depok). So the convo ran naturally. He told me that it was a coincidence that her son and his wife went to the same junior hi-school and university (her wife is now a doctor at a hospital). Nobody knows how the destiny works. They’d been separated several times and now they become a couple. Aww-cute ! She asked some things about me and so I replied to her question. But some nice quotes she gave me are:

“No matter where you are from, you are who you are and you are today are what you planned yesterday and your future is on your hands. Only you who can make it.”

She said her son got his first education in a rather isolated place but that ain’t an obstacle avoiding him to be someone. As now he works in a foreign petroleum company somewhere in Iraq. That’s really great. And so she motivated me to keep studying and make the nation proud of having me. She ensured me that I could be someone great. Just don’t give up easily, keep fighting, stay humble and down-to-earth, and keep trying.

“Keep sticking and believing in God - that’s the biggest power you’ve ever known.”

You may lose direction, orientation, support, and all the things we need to be someone, but when God’s there in our heart, we’ll never lose guidance, light, and grip. God must be the reason why we still keep going on even in the darkest times of our lives or at the nadir of this life.

 Anyway Bu, it was great to talk to you. Thanks for all the stories you’d shared with me. I’m feeling grateful to know you, talk deeper with you, and blessed for being given with motivational words. Semoga Bapak cepat sembuh – Ameen.

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Some individuals of Nervilia aragoana (note the habit, what differentiates it from members of the family Araceae is the habit which is single leafy with purplish stalk, clear but not distinct veins, and water less-resistant leaves) Credit: Faiza Senja W. P.

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A terrestrial orchid (suspected for being Geodorum densiflorum (note the rounded onion-like bulb)) Credit: Faiza Senja W. P.

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A terrestrial orchid (suspected for being a member of the subtribe Malaxidinae but probably it could be Pecteilis susannae (no ideas)) Credit: Faiza Senja W. P.

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Fruits of Geodorum densiflorum Credit: Faiza Senja W. P.

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In frame: Front (left to right): Me, Mbak Nindy Mid (ltr): Faiza, Maya Rear: Dian, Himawan Credit: Nindy Senissia Asri

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It may look like the bad days won't go away, but even through the hardest storm, it will vanish and a band of rainbow comes to replace

Yoko, 2017

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Vacation-Tasted Survey

It was a bright Sunday. And the sun had risen up. The clock arms pointed at 07:10 am when I just woke up from the after-subuh sleep (you know take a capsule of medication after having sahur and it’s kinda sedative so I’ll fall asleep thereafter). Hence, I rushed to the bathroom cuz I was supposed to be at the campus at 07:30. Minutes after minutes and it’d been already 8:00 am and my team hadn’t been complete yet. We’d have a survey. I shoulda introduced my team beforehand, huh ? Ok, it’s me, Dian, Maya, Faiza, Himawan, and Mbak Nindy (no need to memorize, I just wanted to inform ya :D :P) We waited and it’s about 08:15 when we started our trip. We’d reach Bangunjiwo so we took our way and the adventure had just begun. We followed the maps and boom we ended up stuck somewhere among paddy-planted fields (take it easy, we’re still on the road not so stuck as you thought guys). It’s nobody at the place and we changed our way tryna find someone to get some info. And we got some. So we decided to visit a dukuh nearby.

Getting in the place, we still had to wait cuz there’s a toddler-aimed health service but it’s only 15 minutes. We talked to the dukuh head (sorry Pak, I forgot the name of padukuhan you rule :) ) and asked him about forests surrounding the village. So he recommended us Padukuhan Kenalan, Sambikerep, and Petung (fortunately those padukuhans situated close to one another and that’s a good idea). Then, we rode and reached somewhere in an alien padukuhan. Well, funny enough but it ain’t and yup we asked someone again (it’s always been suggested if you visit new places, then you feel like you’re lost and you should stop to ask as a famous Indonesian proverb says Malu bertanya, sesat di jalan-Ashamed to ask, then you’ll get lost on the way ).

To make it short, we finally met the head of  Padukuhan Sambikerep. He’s there for the mosque renovation. We talked to him and he told us that orchids weren’t common in the place. It’s normal when common people orchids are limited to those ornamental plants with showy flowers like those of Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium hybrids. But the thing that made us hopeless is when he told us that not many portions of natural forest exist. Forest is so important to explorers like us. OK! We’d still try, we didn’t wanna give up or lose faith. We started to explore the somewhat forested hill like area. I was the leader so I walked first and it’s such an honor (thank you guys for letting me be your leader, hehe). Then we found a suspect of terrestrial orchids - we weren’t sure but the bulb like structure ensured us. We kept walking and I found a patch of area with abundant Nervilias near the waterway under the shade of bamboo plants. We were so sure because it’s a single purplish stalked plicate leafy plant in habit (features differentiating it from members of Araceae). And it’s supposed to be Nervilia aragoana. Kept walking, I found a tall teak tree with a monopodial epiphytic orchid attaching to the bark. It has a symmetrically divided leaf tip and I guessed it should be an Agrostophyllum (laxum ?) (later examination revealed it could be Aerides :) ). As we reached some building ruins, my friend noticed another terrestrial orchid and unfortunately it has blacking dead habit (the leaves’d completely blackened and fell off) but it still bears some fruits. We guessed it’s a member of the subtribe Malaxidinae.

We browsed along and found a terrestrial orchid again. It looks like a Geodorum or Phaius. It has one much bigger and smaller leaves. We kept on track and found other Nervilias thriving on the clay soil under the shade of bamboo plants. We continued walking and it was near the meeting point with a path and we found 2 interesting orchids. They both bear fruits. One with leaves and another is just a fruity stalk. The fruits of the latter aren’t as ellipsoid as those of Spathoglottis plicata or Phaius tankervilleae. The size is also medium (S. plicata= small, P. tankervillae=bigger). The latter turned out to be Geodorum densiflorum. Near the unleafed plant, we also found one with only single leaf.   It resembles a Geodorum or Phaius. We passed the path to another hill. We kept browsing and found nothing. As I walked further, I saw a snake twining (I guessed it’s a nonvenomous one but it wasn’t very clear) and it moved away. Sigh, I could wildly scream if I just stepped on it. So I told my team and they started to develop uninteresting expressions and we decided to go downhill and finished our survey. Not a bad idea since majority of us were fasting. So we walked along the path, went through the woods (in some way looked like plantations). I must confess we’re lost. We were way too far from the starting point as it turned out when we asked the natives. So we turned around and tried to reach to the starting point. On our way back, some of us who walked behind found another Nervilia. It’s completely different from one we found so abundant. It’s Nervilia campestris. I felt a bit disappointed cuz I couldn’t see it with my own eyes. But the pic relieved. Yup, though just a little :D