Altitudinal distribution and quantitative vegetation analysis of the monocotyledonous flora in Mt. Pangasugan, Leyte, Philippines

Abstract

The attitudinal distribution of monocotyledonous species in Mt. Pangasugan, Leyte, Philippines was described. Quantitative vegetation analysis to evaluate attitudinal effect was also done from the four sites established in the western side of the mountain.

Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the families Araceae, Gramineae, Orchidaceae, Palmae, and Zingiberaceae can adapt to wide environmental conditions since these groups were observed in all sites. Cyperaceae preferred the open, welt-lighted and cooler summit. Widely distributed species were Alocasia heterophylia, Alocasia zebrine, and Homalomena philippinensis (Araceae), Schizostachyum diffusum (Gramineae), Languas haenkei, Languas illustris and Globba marantina (Zingiberaceae), Scleria scrobiculata (Cyperaceae), and Heterospathe philippinensis (Palmae). Discriminant analysis revealed that the families Pandanaceae and Apostasineae, Palmae and Araceae, Liliaceae to Orchidaceae and Zingiberaceae were related based on their distribution and frequency in the different sites.