A preliminary checklist of Rubiaceae in Mt. Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mt. Mariveles, a part of the Western Volcanic Chain of Luzon Island, has two trails, the Tarak ridge trail located at Mariveles, Bataan, and Pantingan Peak located at Bagac, Bataan. Tarak ridge trail is a famous place for mountaineering since it has difficult climbs near Manila. Conversely, people looking for a hiking adventure typically do the PantinganTarak Traverse which is known to mountaineers as ‘PANTARAK’. A preliminary checklist of vascular plants was done along the Tarak ridge trail but a comprehensive study on Rubiaceae in the entire mountain region has yet to be completed. Therefore, we conducted an inventory of Rubiaceae on Mt. Mariveles, Bataan. Collections were done between October 2019 and May 2022 within the area of the two trails. In total, 13 Rubiaceae species in nine genera were recorded in Mt. Mariveles, Bataan. Four endemic species of Rubiaceae were recorded in the study: Ixora macrophylla, Ixora cumingiana, Psychotria rubiginosa and the endangered Psychotria bataanensis. This study presents a checklist of Rubiaceae in Mt. Mariveles, Bataan, that will greatly contribute to the documented biodiversity of Philippine flora.