Reflecting properties of ornamental plants for directing traffic in public park

An effective way to reduce electricity consumption is planting of ornamental plants that have light-reflecting properties along the traffic path in public parks. This research project focused on 60 ornamental plant species that have light-reflecting properties. Plant samples were categorized into three groups; tree, shrub, and ground cover group. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 10 replications. The experiment was carried out in a 1.45×2×2 m chamber that adjusted the condition to imitate the surrounding of a public park at night. Ten mature leaves per sample were collected and then placed at the center of the completely dark room. After that, the light bulb was turned on for 20 min. A light meter, model LI-250A was used as a tool for measuring the intensity level of the leaf reflected-light. The results revealed that the most light-reflective leaf of each plant group, the tree group was Pisonia grandis, with an average reflectance level of 5.66 lx. For the small shrub group, the highest average light intensity of 5.73 lx was obtained from Dieffenbachia seguine 'Tropic Snow'. For the ground cover group, Pandanus baptistii 'Aureus' showed the highest average reflective of 6.16 lx. These three species are the most appropriate plant for directing traffic in public park.