Lavender

                    Lavender or lavender or Lavandula are a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Lamiaceae which has 25-30 species. This plant origin is from the southern region of the Mediterranean to the African tropics and eastward to India . This genus of plants, including perennials, plants of the types of grasses , short shrubs, and bushes small. This plant also spreads in the Canary Islands , Africa North and East, Europe south (mainly French south), Arabia , and India . Because it has grown and developed in parks around the world, this plant is often found growing wild in areas outside their home areas.

LAVENDER? Wow, very fragrant purple flowers. His Latin name Lavandula afficinalis syn.L. angustifolia (Lamiaceae) form the tree-like grass. Then there is a mention of the Purple, Grass Giants. But there is also a call the weeds. These plants come from Europe, precisely in the area of ​​France. He was used as a perfume. Supplies religious ceremony (ritual) and medicinal plant since ancient Roman times.

Romans called Lavender as lavare which means 'washing' or 'refreshing'. Because they feel that they Lavender flower scent refreshes the brain and purify the soul.These scents derived from oils (extracts) Lavender flowers. Which, for the oil to be used as a perfume, ointments, potions to shower and drugs. Because Lavender many benefits, so he dubbed The Purple Magic and have high sales value.


 BENEFITS and Efficacy FLOWERS LAVENDER

Latin name Lavandula Lavender flowers afficinalis syn.L. angustifolia (Lamiaceae), are small and purple, lavender flowers that sighting. These plants come from Europe, precisely in the area of ​​France. It is used as a perfume. Supplies religious ceremony (ritual) and medicinal plant since ancient Roman times. Lavender flowers designation for the roma is lavare which means refreshing.

It grows well at an altitude of 600 -1350 m above sea level where the higher it grows, the better the quality of the oil it produces. Propagation is usually by using a lavender plant seeds. The seeds are old and healthy in-germinating. When you've grown, transferred to a polybag. When the height reaches 15-20 cm, can be transplanted into pots or planted in the yard. This interesting purple color can be rubbed into the skin, in addition to the scent, you will avoid mosquito bites.

While the main composition in lavender oil are linalool acetate that is able to loosen up and relaxes the working system nerve fibers and the muscles are tense. Because of these properties of lavender are often used as mosquito lotions, aromatherapy, perfumes, ointments, potions to shower and drugs.

For planting lavender flowers as very easy and cheap, live scattered the seeds of old, there is growing her. The price is also affordable, you know, it costs about 5-7 thousand rupiah per plastic bag size 3 x 5 cm, approximately 30-50 contents lavender seeds ready for planting and easily available too, of course, just buy the same aja brother florist who is usually perched on the edge Street.

Flora Indonesia

The flora in Indonesia consists of many unique varieties of tropical plants. Blessed with a tropical climate and around 18,000 islands, Indonesia is a nation with the second largest biodiversity in the world. The flora of Indonesia reflects an intermingling of Asian, Australian and the native species. This is due to the geography of Indonesia, located between two continents. The archipelago consists of a variety of regions from the tropical rain forests of the northern lowlands and the seasonal forests of the southern lowlands through the hill and mountain vegetation, to sub-alpine shrub vegetation. Having the second longest shoreline in the world, Indonesia also has many regions of swamps and coastal vegetation. Combined together, these all give rise to a huge vegetational biodiversity.

There are about 28,000 species of flowering plants in Indonesia, consisting 2,500 different kinds of orchids, 6,000 traditional medicinal plants used as jamu, 122 species of bamboo, over 350 species of rattan and 400 species of Dipterocarpus, including ebony, sandalwood and teakwood. Indonesia is also home to some unusual species such as carnivorous plants. One exceptional species is known as Rafflesia arnoldi, named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and Dr. Arnold, who discovered the flower in the depths of Bengkulu, southwest Sumatra. This parasitic plant has a large flower, does not produce leaves and grow on a certain liana on the rain forest floor. Another unusual plant is Amorphophallus titanum from Sumatra. Numerous species of insect trapping pitcher plants can also be found in Borneo, Sumatra, and other islands of the Indonesian archipelago.

According to the Conservation International, there are two biodiversity hotspots in Indonesia: Wallacea and Sundaland. The provinces of West Papua and Papua are also extremely biodiverse. Lorentz National Park, located in the province of Papua, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 by UNESCO.

Wallacea represents the biogeographical transitional zone between the Sundaland to the west and the Australasian zone to the east. This zone covers of about 338 494 km² land area in total, divided in multiple small islands. Due to its distinct and varied geography this region contains many endemic and unique species of flora and fauna and has been divided into a number of distinct ecoregions; the mountain and lowland areas of Sulawesi, North Maluku, Buru and Seram in Maluku, the Lesser Sunda Islands (with Sumba a distinct ecoregion in its own right), Timor, and the islands in the Banda Sea.

Sundaland

Sundaland, which is located on the west part of the Indonesian archipelago, holds about 25,000 different species of plants. 15,000 of them are endemic to this region and cannot be found anywhere else. Scyphostegiaceae is a plant family represented by a single species, Scyphostegia borneensis, which is endemic to Borneo. Another 155 species of Dipterocarpus are also endemic to this island. Borneo also has more than 2,000 species of orchids. The forests in Sumatra include more than 100 species of Dipterocarpus, nearly a dozen of them are endemic to this island. The island Java has about 270 endemic orchid species.

At least 117 plant genera are endemic in this biodiversity hotspot. 59 of them are found in Borneo and 17 in Sumatra. Unique plants from this region are similar to ones from the Asian continent, mentioning Rafflesia arnoldii, the pitcher plants and Javanese Edelweiss (Anaphalis javanica) as examples.

Wallacea

It is estimated, that there are about 10,000 species of plants in this biodiversity hotspot region. The island of Sulawesi has about 500 endemic plant species. The islands of Moluccas have about 300 endemic plant species and the Lesser Sunda Islands consist of at least 120 endemic plant species. Little is known about the flora of this region. Three of these unique species, Agathis, Pterocarpus indicus, and Eucalyptus deglupta, are mentioned as examples.

West Papua and Papua

The flora of this region has somewhat the influence of the Australian continent. This region contain a continuous transect from snow cap mountains, lowland wetlands to tropical marine environment. This is the perfect place for such a huge number of diverse plant species. It has been estimated that Papua and west Papua may contain from 20,000 to 25,000 species of vascular plants. An astonishing 60-90% of them may be endemic to this region. This region has been poorly explored so the actual number of endemic species is unknown.

MOON ORCHID

Moon Orchid or Anggrek Bulan  is the one of exotic flower from Indonesia. Moon Orchid  is one of Indonesia's national flower called "Puspa Pesona". "Anggrek Bulan" or or "Puspa Pesona" included into the Phalaenopsis species. First time for flower discovered by a Dutch botanist, Dr. C.L. Blume. In the world have at least 60 kinds (species) of Phalaenopsis, with about 140 varieties of which there are 60 varieties Moon Orchid in Indonesia.

Moon orchid is widespread ranging from Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua new guinea, to Australia. The way of life Moon orchid as an Epiphytewith a stick on the trunk or branches of trees in tropical forests.  The moluccas is the first discovered for moon orchid  in Indonesia. Moon orchid has several regional names such as "Anggrek Menur (Java)", "Anggrek Wulan" (Java and Bali) and "Anggrek Terbang" (Maluku) .

The Government of Indonesian Republic to set the orchid flower charm accompanied Jasmine and a giant lotus (flower rare)  by Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia number 4 Year 1993.

Orchid months included in the monopodial orchid plants that enjoy a little sun to support life. Moon orchid leaves are green with elongated shape. Moon orchid roots are white and round and elongated fleshy feel. The flowers have a slight fragrance and have long bloom time and can grow up to 10 cm in diameter.

Moon orchid have wide petals and graceful, includes an easy to care for orchid plants and diligent flowering. All flower of the flower is  growing from the stem from the bottom.

With proper care of orchids in highly resistant and not easily fade. From the flower stems have fallen flowers, fresh flowers can grow new branches. As indoor house plants, Moon orchids is very charming nature make fresh room .

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.