Leaf architecture of threatened Aquilaria cumingiana> (Decne.) Ridley and <Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. (Thymelaeales: Thymelaeaceae) using morphometrics analysis

Authors

  • Rhea Lou R. Germo Forestry Department, College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, University of Southeastern Philippines Tagum – Mabini, Mabini Unit 8807, Davao de Oro, Philippines.
  • Christian C. Estrologo College of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat 9601, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6184-9161
  • Gindol Rey A. Limbaro College of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat 9601, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5187-7465

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9625.17.9.27488-27495

Keywords:

Dendrogram, leaf apex, leaf base, leaf blade, leaf morphology, leaf shape, leaf venation, trichomes

Abstract

Due to a very limited number of scientific studies on the morphology of the very closely related threatened species, Aquilaria cumingiana and Aquilaria malaccensis, it is very challenging to identify them thoroughly. The leaf architecture was studied in A. cumingiana and A. malaccensis of the family Thymelaeaceae. Quantitative and descriptive methods were used to assess 21 leaf-traits of A. cumingiana and A. malaccensis. The study indicated that 10 leaf traits, such as base shape, apex shape, secondary vein spacing, tertiary vein angle category, tertiary vein angle to primary, quaternary vein, venation pattern, laminar shape, base angle, and apex angle, are important for identifying, and distinguishing the leaf architecture of A. cumingiana, and A. malaccensis. This study highlights the importance of leaf morphology and venation patterns in identifying and differentiating A. cumingiana and A. malaccensis.

Author Biographies

Rhea Lou R. Germo, Forestry Department, College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, University of Southeastern Philippines Tagum – Mabini, Mabini Unit 8807, Davao de Oro, Philippines.

.

Christian C. Estrologo, College of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat 9601, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines.

.

Gindol Rey A. Limbaro, College of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat 9601, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines.

.

References

Azren, P. D., S. Y. Lee, D. Emang, & R Mohamed (2019). History and perspectives of induction technology for agarwood production from cultivated Aquilaria in Asia: a review. Journal of Forestry Research 30(1): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0627-4

Bora, S.S., R. Ronghang, P. Das, R.S. Naorem, D.J. Hazarika, R. Gogoi & M. Barooah (2025). Endophytic microbial community structure and dynamics influence agarwood formation in Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. Current Microbiology 82(2): 66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-024-04048-2

Chowdhury, B.D., A. Bhattacharjee & B. Debnath (2024). Endophytic microbes in agarwood oil production from Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. Engendering bio-resources for socioeconomic development, pp. 168–195. In: Advanced Green Technology for Environmental Sustainability and Circular Economy. CRC Press, 278 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003517108

Ellis, B., D.C. Daly, L.J. Hickey, K.R. Johnson, J.D. Mitchell, P. Wilf & S.L. Wing (2009). Manual of Leaf Architecture. Cornell University Press, 201 pp.

Harvey-Brown, Y. (2018). Aquilaria cumingiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T38068A88301841. en. Accessed on 11.i.2025. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T38068A88301841

Harvey-Brown, Y. (2018). Aquilaria malaccensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T32056A2810130. en. Accessed on 11.i.2025. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T32056A2810130

Hickey, L.J. (1979). A revised classification of the architecture of dicotyledonous leaves, pp. 25–39. In: Metcalfe, C.R. & L. Chalk (eds.). Anatomy of the Dicotyledons—Volume 1. Clarendon Press, 800 pp.

Jim, C. Y. (2015). Cross-border itinerant poaching of agarwood in Hong Kong’s peri-urban forests. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 14(2): 420–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2015.04.007

Kharnaior, S. & S.C. Thomas (2021). A review of Aquilaria malaccensis propagation and production of the secondary metabolite from callus. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources 4(4): 85–94. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.040407

Latifah, S., A.L. Codilan, O.H. Syahputra, A. Kustanti, G.R.N.B. Sembiring, T.C. Ningrum & N.I.M. Daulay (2024). Study of the existence of cultivated agarwood plants Aquilaria malacensis as an effort to preserve the environment around the forest. In: E3S Web of Conferences, Volume 519, 2014. 5th Talenta Conference on Engineering, Science and Technology (TALENTA CEST-5 2024). Article number - 03003. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202451903003

Lee, S.Y. & R. Mohamed (2016). The origin and domestication of Aquilaria, an important agarwood-producing genus, pp. 1–20. In: Mohamed, R. (ed.). Agarwood: Science Behind the Fragrance. Springer, Singapore, 167 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0833-7_1

Li, T., Z. Qiu, S.Y. Lee, X. Li, J. Gao, C. Jiang & J. Liu (2023). Biodiversity and application prospects of fungal endophytes in the agarwood-producing genera, Aquilaria and Gyrinops (Thymelaeaceae): a review. Arabian Journal of Chemistry 16(1): 104435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104435

Maulia, Z. & R. Susandarini (2019). Role of Leaf Architecture for the Identification of agarwood — producing species Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. and Gyrinops versteegii (Gilg.) Domke at Vegetative Stage. Journal of Biological Sciences 19(6): 396–406. https://doi.org/10.3923/jbs.2019.396.406

Mercado, M.I., M.D.H.S. Matías, C.M. Jimenez, M.S.B. Sampietro, M.A. Sgariglia, J.R. Soberón & D.A. Sampietro (2024). Comparative Analysis of Leaf Architecture and Histochemistry in Schinus fasciculatus and S. gracilipes (Anacardiaceae). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 67: e24230088. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4324-2024230088

Wang, Z.F., H.L. Cao, C.X. Cai & Z.M. Wang (2020). Using genetic markers to identify the origin of illegally traded agarwood producing Aquilaria sinensis trees. Global Ecology and Conservation 22: e00958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00958

Xie, Z.Q., J.Y. Xu, M. Rafiq & C.S. Cheng (2024). An analysis of agarwood trade patterns, historical perspectives, and species identification challenges: repercussions for importing nations. TMR Modern Herbal Medicine 7(1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.53388/MHM2024001

Zhang, X., L.X. Wang, R. Hao, J.J. Huang, M. Zargar, M.X. Chen & H.F. Dai (2024). Sesquiterpenoids in agarwood: biosynthesis, microbial induction, and pharmacological activities. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 72(42): 23039–23052. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c06383

Downloads

Published

26-09-2025

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 9 (2025)

Section

Communications

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Rhea Lou R. Germo, Christian C. Estrologo, Gindol Rey A. Limbaro

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT.  This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership.  Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.