Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Eleocharis dulcis as a bioindicator of acid sulfate wetlands in post-mining swamps of Cempaka, Indonesia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13322
Submitted
23 December 2025
Published
08-06-2026 — Updated on 10-08-2026
Versions

Abstract

Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch, is a dominant aquatic macrophyte in acid sulfate swamp ecosystems. This study evaluates morphological traits, population density and ecological dominance using the importance value index (IVI). Field observations were conducted at three stations using line transect and quadrat methods. The species is characterised by upright cylindrical stems (31–183 cm), narrow leaf sheaths, reddish-brown fibrous roots and simple spikelet flowers.  The results indicated that E. dulcis exhibited a high relative density (72.79–97.85 %) and relative frequency (27.27–50 %), suggesting an even distribution pattern. Its high IVI values (92.20–148.22) confirm its ecological dominance, whereas other aquatic species such as Salvinia molesta, Hydrilla verticillata and Nymphaea ampla were found in low abundance. The species exhibits strong adaptation to acidic conditions and functions as a reliable bioindicator of low-pH wetlands. It also holds economic value for local communities.

References

  1. 1. Yovita SA. Community empowerment through product innovation (a study of purun plant weaving products in Palangka Raya City). J Ilmu Ekon Bisnis. 2023;8(1):1-16. https://doi.org/10.29040/jie.v8i1.10582
  2. 2. Asikin S, Thamrin M. The benefits of chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) in swamp land rice field ecosystem. J Lahan Suboptimal. 2012;31(1):35-42. http://pustaka.litbang.deptan.go.id/publikasi/p3311126.pdf
  3. 3. Noor M. Swamp land: characteristics and management of acid sulfate soil problems. Raja Grafindo Persada; 2004. p. 241.
  4. 4. Azni U, Alfitri A, Yunindyawati Y, Riswani R. Ecological adaptation patterns and household livelihood strategies for purun craftsmen around peatlands in Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, Indonesia. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Sriwijaya International Conference on Environmental Issues (SRICOENV 2022); 2023 https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.5-10-2022.2328296
  5. 5. Lu Y, Zhao S, Jia C, Xu Y, Zhang B, Niu M. Textural properties of Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) during steam heating treatment. Foods. 2020; 11:1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11091175
  6. 6. Armanto M, Wildayana E. Bridging the gap between land suitability and local wisdom species in South Sumatra peatlands, Indonesia. J Sustain Agric Environ Technol. 2025;3(1):8-17. https://doi.org/10.60105/josaet.2025.3.1.8-17
  7. 7. Yunindyawati Y, Lidya E, Azni U. Weaving life: women’s livelihood strategies based on local wisdom and stress reduction through purun (Eleocharis dulcis) crafting among female artisans in rural peatland areas. Society. 2025;13(1):1-17. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v13i1.701
  8. 8. Adriani D, Yazid MR, Damayanthy D, Choi E, Yang H. Livelihood alternatives in restored peatland areas in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Land. 2024;13(5):643. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050643
  9. 9. Sawarkar A, Shrimankar D, Kumar A, Kumar A, Singh E, Singh L, et al. Commercial clustering of sustainable bamboo species in India. Ind Crops Prod. 2020; 154:112693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112693
  10. 10. Hapsari JE, Amri C, Suyanto A. Effectiveness of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) as a phytoremediation agent in reducing lead levels in batik wastewater. Agric Eng Int J. 2018;9(4):30-37. https://doi.org/10.23960/aec.v3.i1.2018.p30-37
  11. 11. Syafitri N, Hamid I. Contradictions in the sustainability of the community's creative economic enterprises in purun village, Banjarbaru City. Halu Oleo J Soc Sci. 2023;2(3):268-276. https://doi.org/10.20527/h-js.v2i3.103
  12. 12. Turang W, Turang D. Development of women’s bag designs made from purun grass using the ATUMICS method. Productum. 2021;4(1):33-42. https://doi.org/10.24821/productum.v4i1.4000
  13. 13. Yunita R, Sofarini D. Utilization of water plants by the Galoeh Badjar women’s purun crafters group. J Apl Ilmu Pertanian. 2021;6(2):185-192. https://doi.org/10.33366/japi.v6i2.2780
  14. 14. Nikmah N, Yamani AZ. Assessing the importance of occupational safety and health knowledge for prospective mining technicians in South Kalimantan. Proc Int Semin Eng Technol. 2022; 1:249-255. https://doi.org/10.33654/iseta.v1i0.1697
  15. 15. Haruna MF, Kenta AM, Masso SH. Pattern of aquatic plant distribution in the Batu Gong River, Tataba Village, Buko District, Banggai Islands Regency. J Biol Trop. 2022;9(1):21-32. https://doi.org/10.31849/bl.v9i1.8682
  16. 16. Suraya U. Inventory and identification of aquatic plants in Andau Hanjalutung, Palangka Raya City. J Ilm Pertanian dan Kehutanan. 2020;6(2):149-159. https://doi.org/10.33084/daun.v6i2.1261
  17. 17. Hidayat M, Laiyanah, Silvia, Putri YA, Marhamah N. Vegetation analysis using the line transect method in Seulawah Agam Forest, Aceh Besar Regency. In: Prosiding Seminar Nasional Biologi, Teknologi dan Kependidikan (Seminar Nasional Biotik); Pros Biol. 2017. p. 85-91. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.22373/pbio.v5i1.2198
  18. 18. Simanjuntak ND, Suraya U, Dugayati S, Buchar NT. Structure of the Andau Hanjalutung aquatic plant community. J Trop Fish. 2020;15(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.36873/jtf.v15i1.7757
  19. 19. Yulma Y, Adiwilaga EM, Wardiatno Y. Contribution of organic matter from mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) in evaluating mangrove ecosystem management. Bonorowo Wetlands. 2013;3(1):12-29. https://doi.org/10.13057/bonorowo/w030102
  20. 20. Flach M, Rumawas F. Plant resources of South-East Asia No. 9: plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers; 1996. p. 238.
  21. 21. Flach M, Rumawas F. Plant resources of South-East Asia No. 9: plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. Econ Bot. 1999;54(4):1011-1012. https://doi.org/10.2307/4111188
  22. 22. Pancho JV, Soerjani M. Aquatic weeds of Southeast Asia. Bogor: SEAMEO BIOTROP; 1978. p. 130.
  23. 23. Rawana, Wijayani S, Masrur MA. Importance value index and diversity of forest vegetation communities in Alas Burno SUBKPH Lumajang. J Wana Tropika. 2022;12(2):80-89. https://doi.org/10.55180/jwt.v12i02.215
  24. 24. Augusta TS. Species identification and vegetation analysis of water plants in Lake Lutan Palangka Raya. J Ilm Hutan Trop. 2015;4(1):1-5.
  25. 25. Hadiyanti N, Pardono, Supriyadi. Density and morphological characteristics of ground cherries (Physalis sp.) on Mount Kelud, East Java. J Ilm Hijau Cendekia. 2017;2(2):71-77. http://ejournal.fp.uniska-kediri.ac.id/
  26. 26. Antoni, Efawani, Efizon D. Types and density of aquatic plants in Lubuk Siam Lake, Riau Province. J Online Mhs Bid Perikan Ilmu Kelaut. 2015;2(2):1-8.
  27. 27. Brower JE, Zar JH, Von Ende CN. Field and laboratory methods for general ecology. Boston: McGraw-Hill; 1998. p. 25-51.
  28. 28. Patrick AES, Florentine S. Factors affecting the global distribution of Hydrilla verticillata: a review. Weed Res. 2021;61(4):253-271. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12478
  29. 29. Theaker AJ, Boatman ND, Froud-Williams RJ. Variation in Bromus sterilis on farmland. J Appl Ecol. 1995;32(1):47-55. https://doi.org/10.2307/2404414
  30. 30. Amrullah A, Farobie O, Widyanto R. Pyrolysis of purun tikus (Eleocharis dulcis): product distributions and reaction kinetics. Bioresour Technol Rep. 2021; 13:100642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2021.100642
  31. 31. Hutasuhut MA. Herbaceous plant diversity in Sibolangit Nature Reserve. Klorofil: Journal of Biology and Applied Science. 2018;1(2):69-77. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/266977801.pdf
  32. 32. Marfi WOE. Identification and diversity of understory plant species in teak plantations. (Tectona grandis L.f.) in Lamorende Village, Tongkuno District, Muna Regency. Agrikan: J of Agribusiness and Fisheries. 2018;11(1):71-82. https://doi.org/10.29239/j.agrikan.11.1.71-82
  33. 33. Rusdi R, Saleh Z, Ramlah, R. Diversity of broadleaf weeds in corn crops (Zea mays L.) in Sangatta Selatan Village, East Kutai Regency. Journal of Agrotechnology. 2019; 9(2),1-6. https://doi.org/10.24014/ja.v9i2.3558
  34. 34. Santosa LF, Sudarno, Zaman B. Potential of Eleocharis dulcis for wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands system. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2021;896(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/896/1/012030
  35. 35. Grassby T, Jay AJ, Merali Z, Parker ML, Parr AJ, Faulds CB, et al. Compositional analysis of Chinese water chestnut cell-wall material. J Agric Food Chem. 2013;61(40):9680-9688. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf401863n
  36. 36. Pardi, Aprilia S, Syamsuddin Y, Zuhra, Amin A, Zuwanna I. Properties of polyester composites reinforced with purun fiber (Eleocharis dulcis). S Afr J Chem Eng. 2024; 47:338-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2023.11.014
  37. 37. Fachrul MF. Bioecological sampling methods. Jakarta: Bumi Aksara; 2007. p. 198.
  38. 38. Wulan SN, Apriadi T, Melani WR. Phytoremediation of iron from mining ponds using Eleocharis sp. Limnotek. 2020;27(2):67-78. https://doi.org/10.14203/limnotek.v27i2.270
  39. 39. Walid A, Turahmah F, Ismarliana P. Analysis of water quality in the Kikim River in East Kikim District, Lahat Regency. Ekologia. 2020;20(2):52-57. https://doi.org/10.33751/ekologia.v20i2.2162
  40. 40. Sulthoni MAD, Badruzsaufari NB, Yusran FH, Pujawati ED. Ability of Typha latifolia and Eleocharis dulcis to reduce Fe and Mn in wastewater. EnviroScienteae. 2014;10(2):80-87. https://doi.org/10.20527/es.v10i2.1968
  41. 41. Zhang Y, Xu H, Hu Z, Yang G, Yu X, Chen Q, et al. Eleocharis dulcis corm: phytochemicals, health benefits and processing. J Sci Food Agric. 2022;102(1):19-40. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11508
  42. 42. Rahman K, Wirianata H, Wijayani S. Fe and Al element uptake at several growth stages of mouse-eared sedge (Eleocharis dulcis). Jurnal Ilmiah Hijau Cendekia. 2017;2(2).
  43. 43. Widhoyo H, Kurdiansyah, Yuniarti. Phytochemical testing of purun andau (Lepironia articulata). Jurnal Sylva Scienteae. 2019;2(3):384-392. https://doi.org/10.20527/jss.v2i3.1828
  44. 44. Parmadi EHJ, Dewiyanti I, Karina S. Important value index of mangrove vegetation in Kuala Idi Area. East Aceh Regency. J Ilm Mahasiswa Kelautan Perikanan Unsyiah. 2016;1(1):82-95Juswardi J, Tanzerina N, Junaidi E. Accumulation of heavy metal in Chinese waterchestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) in phytoremediation of coal acid mine water in constructed wetlands. Biovalentia. 2024;9(2):158-161. https://doi.org/10.24233/biov.9.2.2023.375
  45. 45. Yunita LH, Fiki H, Yoppie W, Septy H, Ester R, Endang G. Plant diversity and density in the Mandau River, Siak Regency, Riau Province. J Penelit Pendidik IPA. 2023;13(2):329-334. https://doi.org/10.37630/jpm.v13i2.93

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.