Bintangur Papua is an unassuming plant. Bintangur is a tree in the calophyllum family found mainly in Asia, though some species are also found in Africa, America, Australia, and Pacific Islands. The family consists of both shrubs and trees. The Papuan variety offers many benefits for our lives.
The bintangur tree can grow up to thirty meters in height. It has leathery leaves and produce beautiful white flowers with striking yellow stamens. The fruits are round and green in color with thin layer of flesh and large seed. While the fruits are not edible, there are other things the bintangur can give us.
Bintangur Wood
Because the tree can grow very tall, bintangur wood is good for many different purposes. With interlocked grains and medium texture, as well as reddish or pinkish brown in color, the wood is often used for flooring, furniture, carpentry, and ship building, among other things.
Not only that, bintangur wood is also relatively heavy and durable. It stays strong even underwater. The wood also can hold its own relatively well against mold and termites.
It makes sense that people may seek it out for ship and boat building. Not only that, using the bintangur wood in house building may also be desirable as being able to hold against mold and termites makes the wood valuable.
The wood also grows rapidly. As such, bintangur wood is a popular choice for wood working around the world, though not necessarily the Papuan variety.
Medicinal Values
Recent research shows that bintangur contains many active compounds that work well against many ailments. Locals may have used the tree medicinally, but many other people were not aware of the benefits this tree offers for the medical world.
Locals believe that this tree can cure ailments such as HIV, cancer, and malaria. The bark is often taken for folk medicine. Research later suggest that the bintangur bark contain active compounds that can work as malaria cure.
While cure for malaria may not be close to our grasp, it’s nice to know that the humble bintangur can offer something to the cure research.
Bintangur Papua for Biofuel
The fruit of the bintangur is not edible. However, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be used at all. In fact, it can be used as biofuel.
Oil produced from bintangur fruit is not edible, just like the fruit’s flesh itself. However, it can act as a main ingredient for biofuel. Extracting the oil requires drying the fruit to draw the oil out and then strained to separate the pulp, skin, and other matter from the oil.
Local Papuans use the fuel made from this oil as alternative from the regular fuel. As it is made from plants, it produces less carbon footprint and helps with keeping the air clean.
It can also work as lamp oil, although the use has grown rare as electricity become more commonplace.
Bintangur Papua Oil Uses
While bintangur oil works as a main ingredient for biofuel, it’s not the only thing the oil can do. Distilled well, the oil can also work as massage oil and topical medicine.
Aside from that, bintangur oil also helps with many skin problems and has traditionally been used to handle this problem. It can help with inflammation and has antibacterial properties as well as antifungal. Moreover, insects tend to dislike the oil.
The oil can also work as carrier oil, as well as oil for soap production. It also works well in keeping skin hydrated. Moreover, it works as hair oil, especially in cosmetics.
As you can see, Bintangur Papua has a myriad of benefits to offer. From medicine, fuel, to woodworking, the tree can do it all.
