National Flower of Indonesia

For a pretty long span of time there was no national flower in Indonesian commoner dictionary, but the 5th June 1990 changed the history and made another record for one country having three national flowers. Yes, it was the day when to honor the world environment day, the government of Indonesia officially declared Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis Amabilis), Melati (Jasminum Sambac) and Rafflesia (Rafflesia Arnoldi Indonesia), as the national flowers of the country.

Each of the flowers is blessed with its own qualities-The Moon Orchid is one of the longest blooming orchids, where as Jasminum Sambac which symbolizes the beauty of a girl, is commonly used in religious or cultural ceremony especially in Java and Bali and on the other hand Rafflesia is noted for producing the largest individual flower on earth.

Other Native and Popular Flowers of Indonesia

The vegetation found in Indonesia is typical of the tropics. There are approximately 40,000 species of flowering plants, including 5,000 species of orchids. Among the most notable native plants is the Rafflesia Arnoldi. while some other popular flowers grown on the land are Gladiolus, Chrysanthemum, Aster, Gerbera, Dahlia, Anthurium, Polyanthus tuberose, Lilies, Rose, Lavenders, Eucalyptus deglupta and Amorphophallus titanum

Giving flowers to express greetings is very common in Indonesia and in order to build respect and love for the Indonesian flora and fauna, the government has declared November 5th as the national love flora and fauna day.

Black Orchid

Black orchid is one orchid species are protected in Indonesia as endangered in their natural habitat. Black orchid which in Latin is calledCoelogyne pandurata afloral identity(mascot) East Kalimantan province. The population of black orchid (Coelogyne pandurata ) in the original habitat (wild) are increasingly rare and has decreased quite dramatically due to the shrinking of forest area and hunting to be sold to the collector of orchids.

Black orchid ( Coelogyne pandurata ), as the name implies, has the characteristic of interest which has a tongue ( labellum ) is black. This rare orchid in English referred to as " Black Orchid ". While in East Kalimantan, which is a rare black orchid has a local name " Kersik Luai ".

Although synonymous with the black orchid species of orchids of Borneo but other than in wild forests of Borneo also grows wild in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Mindanao, the island of Luzon and Samar Island Philippines.

The characteristics Angrrek Black . This orchid species orchid called black because it has a tongue(labellum) are black with little green stripes and fluffy.The number of flowers in each cluster between 1 to 14 petals or more. The center line of each flower about 10 cm. The leaves are oblong-shaped petals, tapering, light green colored, long 5-6 cm, a width of 2 -3 cm. Melancip lancet-shaped corolla pale green lips resembling a violin, the middle there is one groove, crimp edges, colored jet black or dark brown.

Black orchid oval-shaped leaves are green with a length ranging between 40-50 cm and a width of between 2 -10 cm. While the fruit elliptic black orchid with a length of about 7 cm and a width of between 2-3 cm. From the overall interest is not much to be fruit.

Other black orchid hallmark that differentiates it from other types of orchids are fragrant odor. The plant usually blooms in March to June. Black orchid as orchids in general, grow ride on other plants ( epiphytes). This rare orchid usually stick to the old trees that live in coastal areas or swamps.

Black orchid ( Coelogyne pandurata ) grow in the shade.Generally fauna species of orchids into the identity of East Kalimantan is grown in lowland the old trees, near the beach or in a swamp area is quite hot lowlands and near streams in moist forests.

Plants are epiphytes (stays in other plants) is to multiply by seed. But the black orchid can also be propagated by separating the quasi bulbs.

The population of black orchid ( Coelogyne pandurata ) in wild habitat is increasingly rare. Although, according to Regulation No. 7 of 1999 orchids are protected and may not be traded freely (except bred in captivity), but hunting is done to take and sell the type of orchid to orchid collectors did not subside.

In addition, starting the shift functions of forests for plantations and settlements as well as the occurrence offorest fires that occur each year are increasingly making black orchid populations in the wild are threatened by extinction.

Perhaps connoisseurs and collectors of orchids before buying black orchid must be careful, if the black orchid that bought it bred in captivity or the hunting of the wild. Although many orchid lovers who collected the black orchid, but the extinction of this species in the wild remains a big loss for biodeversity Indonesia. Do not let the orchid lovers became the main cause of the extinction of the black orchid in the wild.

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Liliopsida; Order: Asparagales;Family: Orchidaceae; Genus: Coelogyne; Species:Coelogyne pandurata ; Binomial name: Coelogyne pandurata

Daun Jinten (Mexican Mint)

Daun Jinten  The leaves have also had many traditional medicinal uses, especially for the treatment of coughs, sore throats and nasal congestion, but also for a range of other problems such as infections, rheumatism and flatulence.

The leaves are strongly flavoured and make an excellent addition to stuffings for meat and poultry. and used to flavour meat dishes, especially beef, lamb and game. Such use as a flavouring and its geographic spread is indicated by some of the common names, and documented for Cambodia and South Africa It is also used as a vegetable, for example in South East Asia.The herb is used as a substitute for oregano in the food trade and food labelled "oregano-flavour" may well contain this herb.


Many traditional medicinal using Mexican mint, especially for the treatment of coughs, sore throats and nasal congestion, but also for a range of other problems such as infections, rheumatism and flatulence. The plant is cultivated in home-gardens throughout India for use in traditional medicine, being used to treat malarial fever, hepatopathy, renal and vesical calculi, cough, chronic asthma, hiccup, bronchitis, helminthiasis, colic, convulsions, and epilepsy, Shenoy and others refer to further Indian traditional medicinal uses such as for skin ulcerations, scorpion bite, skin allergy, wounds, diarrhoea, with emphasis on the leaves being used as a hepatoprotective, to promote liver health.

In Indonesia Mexican mint is a traditional food used in soup to stimulate lactation for the month or so following childbirth. In Cambodia 2 uses are recorded: juice from the leaves is sweetened and then given to children as protection from colds; and leaves are applied to the lips. In Bahia, Brasil, people use the plant to treat skin lesions caused by Leishmania braziliensis. Just to the north, in Paraiba of the same country, the plant was extremely commonly known for use in home medication. As noted above, medicinal use also occurs in Southern India, it also documente  in other parts of South East Asia and South Africa.Other uses include as an ornamental, and for its essential oils.