INTRODUCTION. world. One of the flora groups that has a high diversity is fern. Until to day, the group

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1 INTRODUCTION Background Indonesia is one of the countries which has the highest diversity of flora in the world. One of the flora groups that has a high diversity is fern. Until to day, the group of fern are less of interest compared with the other groups; although many species of fern have significant economic and ecological benefit for human life. Ferns have been relatively abundant in the fossil record from the carboniferous period to the present. To day, ferns number about 11,000 species; they are the largest group of plants other than the flowering plants, and the most diverse (Raven et al., 1992). Of the 11,000 species, 1300 species are prediceted in Malesia region which mostly the archipelago of Indonesia (Sastrapradja e! al., 1979). Fern have limited distribution areas, but some have a wide distribution areas. They can fastly grow covering empty lands. Fern can be found in coasts, mangrove forest, lowlands forest, swampy lands, ricefields, dry fields, gardens and high mountains; it also can be found at steep mountain sides, river sides, or near trees. Generally, the fern prefer to live at humid places, especially on higlands. The number of species and populations at the places like these are relatively higher than those on the lowlands (Sastrapradja e! al., 1979). The fern has various benefit to human life. The role on economic aspect can be seen that some species of fern have enchantment and beautiful son structure, so they are grown as decoration plants in pot. The species which are bred as decoration plants,

2 such as Asplenium nidus, Adiantum sp., Platycerium, Angiopteris evecta, Lycopodium cernuum, Nephrolepis sp., Cyathea and Pteris. In some regions such as West Java and West Sumatra, ferns are consumed as food. The species which are consumed as food are Nephrolepis hirsutula (as vegetable spice), Tectaria coadunate (its young fronds used as vegetable, it can also be eaten as raw vegetable) Stenochlaena palustris (the top of the leaf is edible as raw vegetable, also it can be used as spice for vegetable), and Phymatosorus nigrescens is also edible. Heyne (1987), it is known that many species of ferns have benefit as medicines. This means that fern potency as medicines need to be improved. Manicham (1992), recorded that some species can be used as traditional medicine, such as Diyopteris hirtipes (rhizome can be used as anthelmintic), Pteridium aquilinum (the rhizome can be used as anthelminyic, prevents diarrhea, inflammation of interior cavity and mucus membrane), Hypolepis glandulifera (fronds can be used as abscess paste), Nephrolepis auriculata (fronds can be used to ease cough), Asplenium nidus (sedative medicine), Drynaria quercifolia (for cough and dyspepsia medicine), Azola pinnata (for boifertilization) and Salvinia molesta species can be used as pulp in paper industry. Several species of fern such as Alsophila and Cyathea, their stem usually are used as wall layer plate, orchid growing media, also can be used as house pillar. The outer surface of the stem fern has leaves scars which is interesting so that it can be used as handicraft material and decoration ornamen. The dry leaves are also used as the complement of dry flowers decoration or ornamen.

3 Some species of fern are composition of animal food or probably used as food material by human or cut and dry out for. Lycopodium which is climbing is used in making bouquet for party, they spora can be used to demonstrate the length of sound wave for physical experiments (Polunin, 1994). From ecological aspect, the fern prefer wet and humid place so that this plant became ground plant and contribute important role in the sustaenability of the ecosystem, and also in hydro-orological functions. West Timor is one part of the Timor Island, with ,OO km2 area, which located at 123" 18' - 125' 12' east and 8' 56' - 10' 22' south latitudes. Generally climate type is B to F (Schmidt & Fergusson, 1951) with the largest area in E climate type (49%). Area with this type of climate is semiarid area which is affected by dry and wet season, where rainy season is very short (November-Maret), and long dry season (April-October). Rainfall is between mmlyear, with average of rainy day daysfyear, maximum temperature is 31,6' and minimum 21,s" C (Anonimous, 1998). Based on the climate and rainfall, West Timor has various type of ecosystems and in general as seasonal forest type, but in several area belong to rain forest type which are spread around mt. Mutis and mt. Timau. Generally West Timor has E climate type which occurs in part of the east coast of Kupang regency and the biggest part of mountain area is D climate type, while at the northern part of Timor Tengah Selatan is B climate type (mt. Mutis) (Anonimous, 1998). The variations of ecosystem types which occurs at West Tior are : Payau forest (mangrove), with specific genera

4 such as Rhizopora, Bruguiera, Avicenia, and Sonneratia; Mixed Tropical Monsoon Forest, with specific genera such as Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus, Pterocarpus, Acacia leucoceploea, Schleichera oleosa, and Tamarindus indica; savanna with specific genera such as Borrasus, Corypha, Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Casuarina; Montane, with specific genera such as Eucalyptus (ampupu) (Kmtawinata, 1977 and Monk, et al, 2000). The first fern specimens in the Lesser Sunda Island (LSI) were collected by French botanist in Timor in 1801; this island was much visited in those days by expeditions to Australia and Pacific. Posthumus (1944), mentioned that there are 290 species of the fern in LSI. Since that moment research has not been conducted. French botanists who visited Timor (Posthumus, 1944) are : Antoine Guichenot (]Sol), L.TH. Leschenault (1803), CH. Gaudichaud-Beaupre (1818), A.Zippe1(1828), J.B. Spanoghe ( ), J.E. Teysmann (1854), FR. Naumann (1875), Mrs. M.E. Walsh-Held (1929), C.N.A. De Voogd ( ), and S. Bloembergen (1939). Based on the specimens in Herbarium Bogoriense, fern specimen from Timor still few in number, so that it is important to conduct the research to find out the species diversity of fern species, especially at West Timor. Also still few researchers who visited Tinior island to collect the fern.

5 Objectives This research is to understand the diversity of fern species at West Timor and the distribution pattern, at different ecosystem types through ecological, morphological, and cytological approaches. Benefits The expected result is to make identification key of fern at West Timor and understand the consept of species and genera by using ecological, morphological, and cytological characters. Data and information which are obtained, are expected to be used as the basic data in using and developing the potential of fern resources.