The investigation and analysis of woody plants in campus of high schools at Pingtung City, Southern Taiwan.
Su MingChou
Author Affiliation: Department of Enviromental Engineering and Health, Tajen Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Yianpu, Taiwan.
Journal of the Experimental Forest of National Taiwan University 15 : 273-289
Abstract : Plants in campus can provide many functions, such as plant species conservation, campus beautification, health improvement, and promotion of education. A study was conducted in 8 senior high school campuses in Pingtung City, southern Taiwan to investigate and analyse the woody plants present in the area. Results showed that there were 52 families, 170 species, which include 109 trees, 61 shrubs and lianas. Among the 170 species, 3 were endemic species, 28 were native species, and the rest were introduced species. The ten most popular trees were Ficus microcarpa, Juniperus chinensis var. kaizuka, Roystonea regia, Cinnamomum camphora, Cocos nucifera, Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica, Alstonia scholaris, Garcinia subelliptica and Araucaria excelsa [A. heterophylla]. The eight most popular shrubs and lianas were Ixora williamsii cv. Sunkist, Osmanthus fragrans, Ficus microcarpa cv. Golden leaf, Codiaeum variegatum, Murraya paniculata, Bougainvillea brasiliensis [B. spectabilis], Ixora duffi [I. casei] cv. Super king, and Cordyline fruticosa. The results also indicated that there was a great shortage in plant diversity, native species and endemic species in senior high school campuses which need to be corrected. These findings are consistent with the results of the author's previous similar investigation done in the elementary and junior high schools.