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Flora
The
rich flora of Indonesia includes many unique
varieties of tropical plant life in various
forms. Rafflesia arnoldi, which is found
only in certain parts of Sumatra, is the
largest flower in the world. This parasitic
plant grows on certain lianas but does not
produce leaves. From the same area in Sumatra
comes another giant, Amorphophallus tatinum,
the largest inflorescence of its kind. The
insect trapping pitcher plant (Nepenthea
spp) is represented by different species
in many areas of western Indonesia.
The
myraid of orchids is rich in species, varying
in size from the largest of all orchids,
the tiger orchid or Grammatophyllum Speciosum,
to the tiny and leafless species of Taeniophyllum
which is edible and taken by the local people
as a medicine and is also used in handicrafts.
Theforest soil is rich in humus which enables
the luxuriant growth of a multitude of fungi,
including the horse hair blight, the luminescent
species, the sooty mold and the black mildew.
On
June 5, 1990, in a ceremony to mark the
World Environment Day, three flowers are
declared as Indonesia's national flowers:
the melati (Jasminum sambac), a small white
sweet-smelling flower which plays an important
part in many cultural and traditional ceremonies
in Indonesia, as Nations flower; the anggrek
bulan or moon orchid (Phalaenopsisamabilis),
a species with pure white flowers, as the
Enchanting Flower; and the Rafflesia arnoldi,
a plant without stems and leaves that grows
on the stems and roots of other plants and
spreading an odor like that of carrion,
as the Rare (endangered) species. This parasitic
plant is named after Sir Thomas Stamford
Raffles and Dr. Arnold who discovered the
bloom (the largest in the world) in 1818
in the forest of Bengkulu, southwest Sumatra,
when Raffles was serving as lieutenant governor
of Bengkulu under the British temporary
rule (1814-1825) in Indonesia following
Holland's occupation by France during the
Napoleonic War.
Indonesia's
flora also abounds in timber species. The
dipterocarp family is renowned for its timber
(meranti), resin, vegetable oil and tengkawang
or illipe nuts. Ramin, a good quality timber
for furniture production, is produced by
the Gonystylus tree.Sandalwood, ebony, ulin
and Palembang timber are other valuable
forest products. Teakwood is a product of
man-made forests in Java. Because the flora
is so rich many people in Indonesia have
made a good living out of this natural resource.
About 6,000 species of plants are known
to be used directly or indirectly by the
people. A striking example in this modern
time is the use of plants in the production
of traditional herbal medicine or Jamu.
Flowers are indispensable in ceremonial,
customary and traditional rites.
