West Papua has a variety of unique and endemic flora. There are about 20,000 species of plants originating from the Papuan forests that have the nutritional benefits contained in them. Plants in Papua are believed to have efficacious medicinal properties.
Researchers from the Manokwari forestry research center, in his book, mentions that there are six types of local fruit from all over Papua. Most of the fruit as a source of food in Papua is obtained from uncultivated forests.
The fruits mentioned are taer, Haribo/forest coconut, piarawi, gayang, selre, and woton. The six types of local fruit have a fairly high nutritional potential and are not inferior to the nutrition of the matoa fruit and red fruit, the pride of the Papuan people.
Papua’s native fruits mostly come from natural forests. The head of the West Papua Regional Research and Development Agency stated that the government had not paid any attention to the conservation of local fruits in the Papuan forests.
In addition to these typical fruits, there are many types of medicinal plants in Papua. These types of medicinal plants are used by local people to treat various types of diseases with herbal remedies.
Types of Medicinal Plants in the Province of West Papua
• Kaskado/Cassia alata L
This local plant which is often called caskado leaf is widespread in the lowlands of Papua. This plant is believed to contain good pharmacological activity to cure skin diseases such as oleic acid and others.
Papuan people use this plant to eradicate skin diseases, especially diseases caused by lice or fungi. For its use, we take advantage of the leaves by kneading until soft and watery and then smeared.
• Red fruit / pandanus conoideus
The properties contained in red fruit are known to treat various diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Papuan people use this fruit to maintain healthy eyes, skin, and neurological function.
• Papua water gourd
Papuan water pumpkin is believed to be able to increase immunity. Papuan water gourd, which is also known as an ingredient for making koteka, is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, and C. In addition, water gourd is rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, and quinones.
• Anthill
Ant nest is a medicinal plant that is part of the local wisdom of the Biak people to treat malaria. Ant nest contains multi-minerals, flavonoids, tannins, antioxidants, and is a natural antibiotic.
West Papua Medicinal Plants can be used as Herbal Medicine
In addition to red fruit, there are still many types of Papuan medicinal plants that are beneficial for the health of the body. Based on research, there are 983 types of medicinal plants in Papua. Of that number 529 species have been identified as efficacious.
Foods from Papua that contain high vitamin C can be consumed to increase immunity and avoid viral attacks. Therefore, Papua is often referred to as a natural resource that has abundant advantages
Although the land of Papua has an amazing wealth of medicinal plants until now most of them are still used traditionally. The government should provide support to the community to use plants widely.
Indonesia can face the pandemic without having to rely on chemical drugs. Medicinal plants in Indonesia, especially in West Papua, have great potential. We can only increase and maintain immunity by consuming medicinal plants.
The Papua Provincial Health Office has asked all health centers in districts/cities to increase the cultivation of family medicinal plants in their yards. In addition to treating disease, medicinal plants can also add to the nutrition of the people in West Papua.
It is known that the land of Papua not only has beautiful underwater scenery, but also has a lot of floral wealth, but few people know about it. There are still many types of plants that have not been recorded because of the difficulty of access to get there.
Plants in the Papua Region that are Threatened with Extinction
Of the types of plants on the island of Papua, there are approximately 14 species that are threatened and must be protected on the island of Raja Ampat. The first plant species in Raja Ampat is the Raja Ampat Palm or Wallaceodoxa Raja Ampat.
This waigeo milkwood plant is found on hilltop limestone and ultramafic areas in the northern and southern parts of Waigeo Island. There is also a pitcher plant of the type Nepenthes danseri which is only found on Waigeo Island and is found on ultramafic hills.
One of the most attractive plants in West Papua is the blue orchid, which was declared extinct because it had no new records for 75 years and was only recorded in 2013. In addition, many other plants have not been described due to lack of information.
Endemic plants on the island of Papua which are only found on the island of Waigeo are Rhododendrons and are known as miser. Local people have long used this leaf as a pack for cigarettes.
With a variety of uniqueness and types of plants that exist in Papua, we can learn more deeply about floral in Indonesia. In addition, we can better understand and understand other functions of plants that exist on the island of West Papua.
