Vegetation Analysis, Leaf Structure and Nutrient Status of a Malaysian Health Community

A heath community found on Pulau Sibu, an island lying off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, was found to consist of a low scrub, generally under 2 m in height, containing 24 species of vascular plants growing on hills overlooking the sea. It grew on a very shallow and acidic (pH 4.3) soil that was low in total nitrogen concentration (0.2%). Leaves of the seven most common shrub species, Ixonanthes reticulata, Melastoma malabathricum, Rhodamnia cinerea, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Schima wallichii, Styphelia malayana and Tristaniopsis obovata, were collected for morphological, anatomical, and chemical analysis. The community was characterized by very small leaves (a dominance of microphylls), with very low nitrogen, phosphorus and total chlorophyll concentrations, and chlorophyll a/b ratio. Lamina thickness, specific leaf area, crude fiber content and potassium concentrations were less extreme. A number of the species in the community are generally considered to be early successional, but no strong evidence could be found for any recent disturbance event that would have initiated the production of a seral community.