KEBERADAAN DESMANTHUS VIRGATUS (FABACEAE) MELIAR DI PULAU JAWA

Abstract

Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd. is an alien plant from Tropical America and reported present in Dutch East Indies in 1855. Nonetheless, the existence of its wild population is yet to be known, which caused by lack of record in Flora of Java vol. I. Hence the research conducted to report the existence of Desmanthus virgatus in Java. The research also conducted as a part of Alien Flora of Java compilation project. Field observation conducted in West Java (Bekasi, Bogor, Sumedang) and Central Java (Batang) by using the explorative method. Observation results showed the existence of Desmanthus virgatus wild population in Bekasi, Sumedang, and Batang. Therefore, the species can be stated as a new record of alien species for Flora of Java. Desmanthus virgatus presumably already escaped from cultivation and able to form its wild population in the nature.