Mangrove floristic composition dataset of the Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu Malaysia

This article documents the composition of plant species collected from the mangrove forest of the Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu. The data was collated between 2004 and 2019 through fieldwork to compile an inventory of mangrove flora on 13 islands located in the Setiu Lagoon. Field inventories using circular sample plots of 5.6 m radius and square plots of 100 m × 20 m were employed in the study. In each plot, the mangrove plant species were enumerated and identified. A total of 74 species belonging to 39 families were recorded, comprising of 23 exclusive, 49 non-exclusive and 2 associate mangrove species. Pulau Telaga Tujuh supported the most diverse mangrove with 47 species in contrast to Pulau Tok Ba and Pulau Gemia that supported the least number of mangroves with only 10 species recorded each. The Lagoon is also a home to critically endangered species, Olax psittacorum (Lam) Vahl and an interesting species, Hydnophytum formicarum Jack (an ant plant, the mangroves epiphyte). Overall, islands of the Setiu Lagoon supported a mix of mangrove plant species which were exclusive and non-exclusive. The present work provides important baseline data for management, conservation and restoration of mangrove forest in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Various mangrove plant species including the presence of hybrid species underlines the importance of the Setiu Lagoon as a center of mangrove plant diversity, particularly in the Southeast Asia region.