The Relationship between Habitat Altitude, Enviromental Factors and Morphological Characteristics of Pluchea Indica, Ageratum Conyzoides and Elephantopus Scaber

Abstract

Asteraceae family has various benefit as herbal medicine and phytochemical affect (biopesticides). It can grow in different habitats but the morphological and physiological characters of Asteraceae depend on the environmental factor. The aims of the study is to describe the variation of height of stems and width of leaves from three species of Asteraceae family (Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides and Elephantopus scaber), on three types of habitat which differed by its altitude and learn the correlation between altitude and morphological characteristics of Asteraceae. Samples of Asteraceae were obtained from Bangkalan-Madura (28, 3-31, 72 m asl), Trawas-Mojokerto (727-937 m asl), Coban Talun-Bumiaji Batu (1303-1322 m asl). The results were then analyzed by cluster analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (ACA). The results show that there are correlation between altitude and environmental factors (climate and soil) to morphological characteristics especially height of stems and width of leaves of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides and Elephantopus scaber. The highest stem is found on Pluchea, while the widest leaves are found on Pluchea and Elephantopus. The habitat altitude and the environmental factors were determined by measuring altitude, light intensity, oxygen levels (climate), organic compound, C level, N level, pH (soil chemical character), soil temperature, water levels, porosity, dust, sand and soil humidity (soil physical character). Asteraceae which grows at intermediate-altitude has the highest stems. While, Asteraceae at low-altitude has the widest leaf.