SUAIBAH (ABIE)

Beautiful Flora sights In My Country

My country has some of the most beautiful sights you will ever see. The flora sights which my country has are reminding us of the important role of indonesia as custodian of the most important safehouse of tropical biological biodiversity in the world. We will travel around my country through my description, from west to east to know how my country has so many attractive beautiful flowers as its beautiful flora sights.
Our first destination will start from the very west side, Sumatra, to see Styrax benzoin in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province as the best benzoin-produced tree in the world. There are many kinds of plants that produce aromatic substance, but Styrax benzoin is the best benzoin-producing tree in the world. Benzoin has been the most important commodity from Indonesia since the 8th century. The benzoin plantation has started since 19th century in Sumatra, including Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Although this plant exists in Southest Asian countries and in India, Indonesia has dominated the world market for benzoin, especially the one produced by Styrax benzoin tree. This plant can reach 30 meters in height and 1 meter in diameter of the trunk. The resin of the benzoin produced by wounding the tree trunk, when the tree is about 7 years old. The harvest can last 6 to 7 years until the tree dies. The benzoin is used as a blend of cigarettes, traditional medicines, aromatic, theraphy, perfume, and fragrance in religious ceremonies.
One step to east, we are now in Kalimantan where we will find Dimorphorcis lowii in West Kalimantan Province which is still one of the orchid families. This epiphyte orchid grows hanging on high trees or at the bank of a river. The hanging flowers can reach 3 meters long. It is called dimorphorchis, a Greek word meaning that this orchid can have two kinds of flowers, The first flowers at the stem-base are yellow and the following ones are yellow with dark red spots. The aromatic flower has a diameter of around 6 cm. This orchid is endemic in Kalimantan Island. The name lowii comes from Hugh Low, a British botanist who found this orchid more than 15 centuries ago.
Let us continue our journey to Sulawesi Island to visit South Sulawesi Province to admire Passiflora edulis. One of the well-known souvenirs from passion fruit. The creeping plant was introduced to Indonesia from tropical regions in American continent cultivated for its juicy fruits. Different from its kin planted in Medan, this species has finger-like leaves. The flower is very attractive with yellow and white colours. Its stamen has long stick striped with white and purple colours.
After admiring Passiflora edulis, we will be more amazed by giant orchid in Papua Province, Grammatophyllum speciousum. Dubbed is one of the epiphytes that have huge size in terms of plant and flower, so it is called the Queen of Orchids or Giant Orchid. Since the shape of its knuckles resembles sugar cane, this plant is called Sugarcane Orchid. Its pseudo-branches hang down and can reach 3 to 7 meters long. The flowers, whose number can reach 80, may have the length of up to two meters and clump can weigh one ton. The flowers have various pattern of brown markings which make them more attractive. This plant has small, rigid and upward roots so that they catch the falling manure from the tree on which it grows.
West Java province is the last destination to visit to see Begonia robusta. Begonia usually grows in the moist, tropical and subtropical and subtropical areas. This tropical herb is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is of medium size, its stem are soft and watery, often creeping high up to 1 meter, with knuckles and hairs like brush. The leaves are typical for its asymmetrical position, have egg-round shape with sharp edges. The surface of the leaves is covered with red hair, especially on the young ones. This plant is usually found in the moist base area in the forest with proper drainage system. The stem are usually consumed as dish of raw vegetable and as tamarind substitute especially in cooking fish or meat.
The flowers are those which have historically played a dominant role in various sectors such as trade, symbolization, particular uniqueness, garden ornaments, and many others. It is such a pride for my country to depict many varieties of flowers as the beautiful sights of flora you’ll ever see.