DISTRIBUTION OF THE THALLOID LIVERWORT GENUS MARCHANTIA (MARCHANTIACEAE) IN NORTH SUMATRA, INDONESIA

ARTICLE HIGLIGHTS
- The survey method was successful in identifying the species Marchantia and mapping their distribution in North Sumatra
- Eight taxa of Marchantia confirmed in North Sumatra, M. emarginata subsp. cuneiloba has the most widely distributed species.
- Species distribution linked to environmental factors like elevation, humidity, rainfall, soil types, slope, solar intensity, and types of land cover

ABSTRACT
Marchantia is one of the large genus complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiophyta). The species of Marchantia has a wide distribution throughout the world, and occupies a variety of substrates. Studies on the presence and distribution of Marchantia species are still limited in North Sumatra. Therefore, the research was carried out to inventory the species of Marchantia and map their distribution in North Sumatra. Survey method was used to inventory the species of Marchantia, covering 9 locations, namely: Aek Nauli Forest, Bukit Barisan National Forest Park, Bukit Lawang, Resort Cinta Raja, Dolok Tinggi Raja Nature Reserve, Sibayak Mountain, Sicike-cike Natural Park, Silima-lima waterfall, and Taman Eden 100 Natural Park.  Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to map the distribution of the species. The results showed that there were eight taxa of Marchantia confirmed in North Sumatra, namely, M. acaulis, M. emarginata subsp. emarginata, M. emarginata subsp. cuneiloba, M. geminata, M. paleacea subsp. paleacea, M. polymorpha, M. treubii, and Marchantia sp. The most widely distributed species of Marchantia is M. emarginata subsp. cuneiloba, found in 7 study locations. Species with the least distribution are M. treubii and Marchantia sp., each species found only in one location. Marchantia spp. in North Sumatra spread at an altitude of 77 to 1976 m alt, occupying habitats with 6 types of soil (orthic acrisol, humic andosol, humic acrisol, and humic cambisol), with rainfall of 1800-3600 mm/year. Marchantia species are found on sloping plains to steep, in various habitat, namely secondary forest, primary and secondary forest borders, dryland farming, primary and plantation borders, and plantations. The results of this study are important for the conservation of Marchantia spp. in North Sumatra considering the many benefits of the species.

INTRODUCTION

The genus Marchantia is characterized by a dichotomously branched and dorsoventrally flattened thallus, bearing compound air pores, gemma cups, archegonium, and antheridium on the dorsal of thallus, along with ventral scales appendages on the ventral side. Marchantia is distinguished from all other genera of Marchantiaceae by bearing gemma cups on the dorsal thalli. The male and female thalli can reproduce asexually by producing multicellular ‘gemmae’ (singular: gemma) in ‘gemma cups’ (or ‘cupules’)(Shimamura, 2016). Gemma is the asexual reproduction, where each gemma grows into a new individual when supported by environmental conditions. Furthermore, gemmae are usually dispersed by rainwater, insects, and small mammals, such as mice(Barbé et al., 2017). Marchantia also has sexual reproduction organs in the form of archegonia (female) and antheridia (male), which are separated in different thalli (dioicous). However, species such as M. acaulis, show monoicous characteristics, where both archegonium and antheridium occur in the same thallus(Bischler-Causse, 1989);(Gradstein, 2011);(Siregar et al., 2013);(Linde et al., 2020)). This genus has oil bodies which can be usually observed in gemmae, appendage of the ventral scale of thallus, gemma cups or cupules, and involucre(Zheng & Shimamura, 2019);(Zheng & Shimamura, 2020);(Zheng & M, 2022).

Marchantia is composed of approximately 40 species globally(, 2016), and is represented by 19 accepted taxa in Asia(Bischler-Causse, 1989);(Xiang et al., 2016);(Long & Crandall-Stotler, 2020). This genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and the greatest diversity of species occurs in tropical Asia and Oceania. Marchantia is found in moist to wet habitats, open or shady places, side of the road, usually neutral or basic soils, sandy or clayey soils, on wet rocks, trench walls, riverside cliffs, waterfall cliffs, limestones, boulders in open or shaded places. Moreover, it is occasionally found on mineral soils in depressions or in the shade of fallen logs following hot forest fires. Marchantia frequently associates with human activity, rapidly colonizing in the open, burnt soil, and thriving in cultivated farmland. For example, species such as M. polymorpha commonly intrude into gardens, greenhouse, and areas around human settlements (land that has been disturbed by human activities)(Bischler-Causse et al., 2005);(Siregar et al., 2013);(Ho, 2013);(Shimamura, 2016);(Shimamura & Zheng, 2021)). Some of these species can be found below an altitude ranging from 100 m to 4,000 m above sea level, and are abundant at 1,000 to 2,500 m(Lu & Huang, 2017).

Marchantia has ecological roles as a pioneer plant on barren lands, preventing erosion by colonizing cliffs and forming dense populations(Sahu et al., 2014);(, 2017). Economically, Marchantia serves as a potential source of medicine due to the presence of antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant contents(, 2016);(Fatma, 2018);(Siregar et al., 2021);(Romani et al., 2022);(, 2022). This genus has also been used as a traditional medicine in China and India for treating various ailments, such as skin tumefaction, liver protection, hepatitis, tumors, ulcers, open wounds, burns, poisonous snake bites, hepatotoxicity, and as an antipyretic(Gupta et al., 2015); Purkon et al. 2022.

Despite the numerous benefits of Marchantia, only a few investigations focused on exploring its distribution in Indonesia, including in North Sumatra. Among the exploration reports are: (1)(Siregar et al., 2013)who reported seven species in Sibayak Forest; (2)(Siregar et al., 2020)who found the morphological variations of M. emarginata; and (3)(Siregar et al., 2021)who identified the antioxidant activity of M. paleacea. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate distribution of Marchantia species in North Sumatra.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research Area

The research was conducted in nine locations in North Sumatra Province, which has abundant existence of Marchantia. These locations were: (1) Aek Nauli Forest, Simalungun District; (2) Bukit Barisan National Forest Park, Karo District; (3) Bukit Lawang, Langkat District; (4) Resort Cinta Raja, Langkat District; (5) Dolok Tinggi Raja Nature Reserve, Simalungun District; (6) Sibayak Mountain, Karo, Deli Serdang District; (7) Sicike-cike Natural Park, Dairi District; 8) Silima-lima Waterfall, South Tapanuli District; and (9) Taman Eden 100 Natural Park, Toba Samosir District, as shown inFigure 1.

Data Collection

An exploratory survey was carried out along the path at each predetermined location. Species that have been recognized in previous research were only photographed and not collected for analysis. However, unknown or doubtful species were photographed, collected, and placed in a ziplock bag containing water-moistened tissue paper. These species were taken to Herbarium Medanense (MEDA), Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara Medan, Indonesia for identification. The ordinal point of global positioning system (GPS) was recorded and physical factors were measured at each location, including altitude, humidity, soil pH, air temperature, and light intensity. Data on Marchantia spp. that were previously collected from North Sumatra and stored in the MEDA herbarium were also used in this research.

Data Analysis

Morphological observations were carried out at the Plant Systematics Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia. Species identification was based on various available literatures, particularly(Bischler-Causse, 1989),(Singh & Singh, 2013),(Siregar et al., 2013),(Lu & Huang, 2017), and(Zheng & M, 2022). Validation of the scientific names was based on the Tropicos website: https://www.tropicos.org/home. Data on distribution

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