Ornamental plant potential of Asteraceae from the Gayo Highlands, Bener Meriah Regency

Asteraceae have many species and beautiful flowers that became an attraction for cultivation and were used as ornamental or cut flowers. Asteraceae grow fertile in the high plains, as seen from the diversity of livable species and their phenetic flowers. The purpose of this research was inventory of the Asteraceae ornamental plants of the Gayo’s Highland. Analysis with explorative survey methods was conducted at eight districts in Bener Meriah Regency by conducting direct observations at the location of the statement’s object. The study found 19 species of Asteraceae belonging to 14 genera, including Dahlia, Tagetes, Cosmos, Zinnia, Chrysanthemum, Helianthus, Coreopsis, Tithonia, Melapodium, Tanacetum, Symphyotrichum, Callistephus, Centratherum, and Gerbera. The most commonly found genus is Dahlia, with three species with different color varieties, followed by Tateges, Cosmos, and Tithonia, with two species. This suggests that Dahlia is a favorite species and a potential plant to be chosen as an ornamental plant in the planning of the development of the Asteraceae flower garden as well as a cut flower and increasing its economic value.


Introduction
Asteraceae is a family with the second largest member of the kingdom Plantae [1][2][3].It covers about 1.250 to 3.000 genera and 20.000 to 25.000 species spread worldwide and lives in almost all habitats, including in Indonesia.Indonesia is known to have extraordinary biodiversity and is ranked second out of 17 global megadiversity countries after Brazil [4].Despite having high diversity, animal and plant species are not spared from the risk of extinction.Flora diversity needs special attention, one of which can be done by research related to biodiversity.The science related to botany, namely plant taxonomy, 1297 (2024) 012089 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1297/1/012089 2 is closely related to identification, description, and classification.Inventory and identification of plants in an area is very important for conservation purposes.
The beautiful Asteraceae flowers are an attraction for cultivation.It is not only used as an ornamental plant but also as an herbal medicine and biological agent, so it has high economic value [5].It thrives in the highlands due to environmental factors that suit its life requirements [6][7][8].The people in the highlands usually have ornamental plants in their homes, and Asteraceae is a species that dominates the yards of people's houses.
Asteraceae thrives in the highlands with a high diversity of wild and cultivated species.A distinctive feature of Asteraceae is that the flowers have ribbon and tube flowers [9].They are often used as decoration plants and bouquets for various events.The potential of Asteraceae in the Gayo highlands can become a tourist attraction if management and procurement of tourist destination areas such as flower gardens are managed.This will certainly create jobs for the community and help the regional economy.Therefore, it is necessary to carry out an inventory of Asteraceae in the Gayo highlands to determine their esistance potential of Asteraceae, especially as ornamental plant.
Inventorying and identifying plants in an area is very important because it is useful for conservation [10].Asteraceae species had the highest presence in areas with high diversity index categories.In addition, Asteraceae species are also found in conservation areas [11].This indicates that Asteraceae has high adaptability and can live in various habitats.Its wide distribution suggests the ability of a species to survive, so this potential needs to be studied further.The Gayo highlands are a possible area for Asteraceae, as evidenced by the diversity of species found almost along provincial roads, gardens, and people's homes.
Therefore, an inventory of Asteraceae especially those used by the community as ornamental plants, is very necessary.Ornamental plant inventory studies have been carried out by other researchers in various regions [12][13][14][15].Nevertheless, there has been no research on the inventory of Asteraceae ornamental plants in the Gayo highlands.So, it is necessary to inventory the Asteraceae as ornamental plants potential of the Gayo's Highland, Bener Meriah Regency.

Tools and materials
The tools used include the identification book Flora of Java Volume II by C.A. Backer and R.C. Bakhuizen Van Den Brink, a digital camera, rope, tape measure, GPS, pruning shears, and herbarium press.Materials used include stationery, plastic bags for various sizes of plant samples, and label paper.

Data collection technique
This study used a survey method by directly observing 8 (eight) Districts of Bener Meriah Regency as samples.The houses of the residents surveyed were houses where ornamental plants were found, especially Asteraceae, in 25 places; the total number of houses observed was 200.When the observations were made, the species found were photographed and collected using the herbarium method.This is done every time a new species is found.Furthermore, the data obtained is recorded in the observation table.The sample found is put into a sample plastic and then given a name tag and information on the location of the coordinates for further identification.

Data analysis technique
Species data was then identified using the identification book Flora of Java Volume II by C.A. Backer and R.C. Bakhuizen Van Den Brink, Plant.idwebsite, PlantNet applications, and herbarium press.The species data is then compared from one location to another in a comparison table.Then, the flower characteristics of each species are displayed, so that the beauty of the color, structure, and distinctive shape of each species is known.Most of the flower images presented were obtained in the field.

Results and discussion
The results of research that has been conducted on the potential of the Gayo Highland Asteraceae as ornamental plants in Bener Meriah Regency in 8 Districts are presented in table 1.The results of the study found 19 species of Asteraceae as ornamental plants by the people of the Gayo Highlands, consisting of 14 Asteraceae genera, including Dahlia, Tagetes, Cosmos, Zinnia, Chrysanthemum, Helianthus, Coreopsis, Tithonia, Melapodium, Tanacetum and Symphyotrichum.The most frequently found genus is Dahlia, with three species, followed by Tagetes, Cosmos, and Tithonia, with two species.While other genera only found one species each.This shows that Dahlia is a popular Asteraceae species and is of interest to the people of the Gayo Highlands as an ornamental plant.
Dahlia is a type of shrub, one of the Asteraceae species which is known to most people in Indonesia.This plant has morphological characteristics of woody stems, round stem shape, brownish color, compound leaves, oval leaf shape, tapered leaf bases and tips, shiny leaf surfaces, serrated edges, and leaves sitting opposite each other on the stem cup-shaped flowers [14].
Dahlia comes from the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala, was first cultivated by the Aztecs who ruled the area.The Dahlia was so important meaning for the Aztecs that it became the national flower of Mexico.Botanists discovered the species D. imperialis with single petals, and hybridization began in the early 18th century to produce Dahlia with double petals.The research found three species of Dahlia, including D. x hortensis Guillaumin, D. pinnata Cav., and D. imperialis presented in figure 1 (a, b, and  c).D. x hortensis has the most color variations with nine color variations.Information on colors and pigments that play a role in flower color expression is presented in table 2. The discovery of various color variations and a high percentage of presence indicated that the Dahlia species was a favorite ornamental plant for the people of Bener Meriah Regency.Dahlia is a symbol of beauty, trust, and even death.Currently, in Bandung, the Dahlia plant is used in a series of condolences [14].Dahlia.x hortensis is the result of crosses of various Dahlia colors, so sometimes, this species shows variations of more than one color in the flower buds.
The Acocoxochil Association in Mexico, for 25 years, carried out various activities to spread Dahlia cultivation in rural areas.The target is women and older people by conducting training in producing cut flowers [16].Nowadays, young people have no interest in ornamental flower farming.Ornamental plant business actors have an age interval of 45-52 years, and the productive age, an according to the Central Statistics Agency, is 15-54 years.Most workers are male, namely 62.5% [17].This business has great opportunities because some areas do not have the right temperature or altitude for flowers to thrive.It requires suppliers of cut flowers from other regions for various needs, such as room decorations and flower bouquets for various events [18,19].Dahlia is a recommended species for cultivation as an ornamental plant or cut flower.The study results found that this species thrives and has the highest percentage of presence, which means it is found in all sub-districts of Bener Meriah Regency.Despite the species, D. imperialis is not recommended as a cut flower because of the corolla's characteristics, which are not strong and easily separated from the petals.Besides, the D. imperialis species has a Near Threatened (NT) category according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), so it needs conservation concern.
The flower parts have economic value, and others, such as Dahlia tubers, contain inulin carbohydrates.This type of carbohydrate contains fructose, a sweetener 2.5 times sweeter than sucrose.This type of sugar is considered safer for people with diabetes because the sugar increase will not occur significantly [20].It was reported that feeding Dahlia variabilis, also known as D. pinnata, tuber extract flour containing inulin increased the number of lactic acid bacteria and daily weight gain in native chickens [21,22].Another interesting potential of this plant is that the essential oil in D. pinnata bulbs has been shown to have insecticidal properties [23].
Based on table 2, it was found that various flower colors of Asteraceae species were related to the pigment content, especially the floral organs, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, delphinidin-based anthocyanins, and flavonoids.Yellow is derived from carotenoids, C40 isoprenoid pigments found in many plants.Pink and purplish red are derived from anthocyanins.Anthocyanins contribute to several other colors in flowers and fruit, including orange, red, purple, and blue.Anthocyanins or carotenoids determine the expression of orange, red, and dark red.The blue and purple colors of the flowers contain delphinidin-based anthocyanins.The white color is due to the content of flavanones and flavonols, which are sub-groups of flavonoids [24][25][26][27].The D. x hortensis species has a combination of colors on its crown: white with purple and red with white.It is a cross-breeding of flowers of different colors, resulting in offspring with different-colored crowns.
Species C. x grandiflorum is a species often found in flower bouquets since the flower, commonly called chrysanthemum, has beautiful flowers and a variety of colors.Two color variations of chrysanthemum flowers were found at the study site (figure 1 (g.1, g.2)).Differences in the generation of chrysanthemum seeds show no effect on growth and flowering, so the quality of chrysanthemum flowers will remain good even if they come from old or young seeds [28].This is a very good potential to develop C. x grandiflorum in the cut flower business.The public also demands H. annuus, C. chinensis and G. jamesonii as ornamental plants and cut flowers as flower bouquets and wedding decorations [29,30].Research has shown that a combination of 25% sugar and acetic acid significantly affects the freshness of flowers G. jamensonii [31].The other species, T. erecta, found at all observation locations prove this plant is popular with the community.T. erecta belongs to herbaceous with morphological characteristics of upright, branched stems with a rough surface, about 10-120 cm high and it has a single lanceolate leaf, shared pinnate, and thin green.Terminalis inflorescence with cup-shaped flowers [14].The indole-3-butyric acid hormone dose of 100 mg/l is proven to accelerate the growth of T. erecta, and this species is recommended because it has a business opportunity value in horticultural aspects and profitable cultivation of ornamental plants [32,33].Usually planted around the house's yard, it is useful not only as an ornamental plant but also as an herbal medicine.It is reported that the leaves of this species contain bioactive compounds, namely flavonoids, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids, essential oils, pyrethrin, carbohydrates, and glycosides [34].Species T. diversifolia, with a percentage of 50%, is widely known as an ornamental plant.Instead, this species, which has another name, the Mexican sunflower, is considered invasive in Southeast Asia.It is feared that it will invade local species and threaten areas, including Indonesia.Due to its high adaptation potential to the environment, causing the species' population to increase rapidly, an in-depth study is needed regarding other prospects of this species so that its existence is not threatening [35].It was reported that the ethanol extract of T. diversifolia leaves has the potential to reduce blood glucose levels in mice, which makes this species a candidate as a raw material for medicines for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) sufferers [36].(g.2) (g.1) (h) (f.2) Based on the description of the potential of Asteraceae as an ornamental plant, cut flower, or biological agent, than its sustainability is very important.The community's activity of planting Asteraceae as an ornamental plant at home is one of the efforts in conservation in the context of preserving the species, which is considered insufficient.Therefore, Asteraceae needs serious attention from the Bener Meriah Regency Environmental Service.It is hoped that this article can add information so that the next step can be taken, namely the design of a conservation program to preserve natural resources.The research results show that cultivating Asteraceae as ornamental and cut flowers is a potential practice in the Gayo Highlands.Procurement of Asteraceae parks and flower gardens, besides being useful in conservation efforts, also aims to increase tourist attraction in Bener Meriah Regency.It is hoped that it will become a business opportunity for the surrounding community.The Botanical Garden, which contains various plants, is one of the long-term conservation efforts [37].Bali is a city in Indonesia with an average population of Hindus known for having strong traditions and traditional ceremonies.Ceremonial activities in Hinduism use various plant species, among others Cananga odorata, Impatiens balsamina, Hydrangea macrophylla, Plumeria acuminat, Tagetes erecta, Magnolia champaca, Gomphrena globosa, Gardenia jasminoides, Nympheae sp. and Hibiscus rosasinensis.Therefore, in 2001, Eka Bali Botanic Gardens, managed by the central government, LIPI, now known as the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), functioned as a place for plant conservation, including developing species used by the community in traditional ceremonies [38].In this effort, it is hoped that the species will remain sustainable even if used in large quantities and for a long time.
In general, the Asteraceae found in the study are not included in protected species under the IUCN, meaning they are not endangered.However, the Dahlia imperialis species has a Near Threatened (NT) category according to the IUCN and has a risk of facing extinction threats in the future, so this needs special attention.Conversely, to prevent species extinction, conservation measures must be taken.Cultivating plants by providing flower gardens and gardens is a container for good conservation practices in-situ and ex-situ in avoiding biodiversity loss [39,40].

Conclusions
The Gayo Highlands have the potential to cultivate ornamental plants such as Dahlia and other species, considering Banda Aceh still supplies ornamental flowers from outside the province.This potential should be developed so that this business can become one of the prospective livelihoods for the community.Species recommended as ornamental plants and cut flowers, include Dahlia x hortensis, Dahlia pinnata, Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum, Helianthus annuus, Callistephus chinensis and Gerbera jamesonii.These species are recommended because they have beautiful flowers and a strong crowns and do not fall off easily when cut.However, further studies are needed regarding the appropriate treatment so the flowers of these species stay fresh for a long time after being cut.The Dahlia imperialis species has a Near Threatened (NT) category.Hopefully, the species inventoried in this study can guide the development of Asteraceae flower gardens, especially in Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh Province.In addition to having economic value, providing parks and flower gardens is a conservation effort that can be carried out to prevent plant species from becoming extinct.

Table 1 .
List of Asteraceae species and the percentage present at observation stations.

Table 2 .
Color pigments Asteraceae flowers in the Gayo Highlands.