Characterization of plant resource at Kampung Parit Tok ...
13
Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 6(13), pp. 2606-2618, 4 July, 2011 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE DOI: 10.5897/SRE10.442 ISSN 1992-2248 ©2011 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Characterization of plant resource at Kampung Parit Tok Ngah, Perak, Malaysia Milow P.*, Ghazali N. H., Mohammad N. S. and Ong H. C. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Accepted 31 May 2011 A floristic survey, through field observation and semi-structured interviews with villagers, was carried out on plant resource of the villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah. A total of 106 species of plants were grown in holdings of the villagers. These plants were used as ornamental, food, medicine, utensil and handicraft. Fourteen species of plants had multi-uses. Thirteen species of plants were sold to supplement income. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) were grown mainly for income. Annual income generated from these two crops was estimated to be Malaysian Ringgit 829678.08 for the whole village. Key words: Malay, holding, plant utilization, valuation. INTRODUCTION Burkill (1935) was one of the earliest to provide a comprehensive account on plant resource utilization in Malaysia. Similar but slightly more detailed account was provided by Dunn (1975). Later studies focused more on plant resource utilization by the indigenous people. These include studies by Chin (1985) and Ong (1991). Plant resource of the Malays is generally well-known because of their early encounter with ethnobotanists and travelers. These information are, however, still insufficient to identify any trend in plant resource utilization among the various ethnic groups in Malaysia. Among the few recent studies that examined or discussed plant resource in Malay holdings were by Rostam et al. (2006) and Milow et al. (2010). The former describe the impact of urbanization on the choice of plants grown on house compounds in several Malay villages in the state of Selangor. The latter described diversity of plants grown or tended in home gardens of several ethnic groups, including the Malays, in the state of Pahang. The present report is based on a study carried on a Malay village in the north-western part of Peninsular Malaysia. In Malaysia, all Malays are Muslims and together with the indigenous people, they constitute more than half of the *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 603 79676777. Fax: 603 79674178. country’s population. Most Malays still live in villages, known locally as kampungs, in sub-urban and rural areas. The objective of the study is to identify and categorize species of plants that are grown in holdings of villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah, Malaysia. Categorization of these plants facilitates future comparison and valuation of plant resource in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was carried out in a sub-urban village locally known as Kampong Parit Tok Ngah which is located in the district of Ulu Kerian in the state of Perak (Figure 1). Kampung Parit Tok Ngah occupies an area of 218.9 hectares. The village has 132 houses and a population of 618 which is made up of ethnic Malays. The village is subdivided into three Islamic administrative zones with each zone comprising of 44 houses. This study was carried out on one of the zones. The midpoint of the zone where this study was carried out was 5°04.917’ N, 100°26.980’ E and about 29 m above sea level. The soil of the study site is dark grey according to Munsell soil colour charts, with an average pH of 6.15. Visits were carried out on 32 households to record and identify species of plants that were grown in home gardens and to conduct semi- structured interviews on one of the member of each household. This was to gather information on local uses and estimate the market price of each plant. Each household live in a house and owns or tends a land on which the house is located but big enough to grow plants mainly for home use and an adjacent plot of land to grow oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.).
Transcript of Characterization of plant resource at Kampung Parit Tok ...
Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 6(13), pp. 2606-2618, 4 July, 2011 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE DOI: 10.5897/SRE10.442 ISSN 1992-2248 ©2011 Academic Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Characterization of plant resource at Kampung Parit Tok Ngah, Perak, Malaysia
Milow P.*, Ghazali N. H., Mohammad N. S. and Ong H. C.
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Accepted 31
May 2011
A floristic survey, through field observation and semi-structured interviews with villagers, was carried out on plant resource of the villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah. A total of 106 species of plants were grown in holdings of the villagers. These plants were used as ornamental, food, medicine, utensil and handicraft. Fourteen species of plants had multi-uses. Thirteen species of plants were sold to supplement income. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) were grown mainly for income. Annual income generated from these two crops was estimated to be Malaysian Ringgit 829678.08 for the whole village. Key words: Malay, holding, plant utilization, valuation.
INTRODUCTION Burkill (1935) was one of the earliest to provide a comprehensive account on plant resource utilization in Malaysia. Similar but slightly more detailed account was provided by Dunn (1975). Later studies focused more on plant resource utilization by the indigenous people. These include studies by Chin (1985) and Ong (1991). Plant resource of the Malays is generally well-known because of their early encounter with ethnobotanists and travelers. These information are, however, still insufficient to identify any trend in plant resource utilization among the various ethnic groups in Malaysia. Among the few recent studies that examined or discussed plant resource in Malay holdings were by Rostam et al. (2006) and Milow et al. (2010). The former describe the impact of urbanization on the choice of plants grown on house compounds in several Malay villages in the state of Selangor. The latter described diversity of plants grown or tended in home gardens of several ethnic groups, including the Malays, in the state of Pahang. The present report is based on a study carried on a Malay village in the north-western part of Peninsular Malaysia. In Malaysia, all Malays are Muslims and together with the indigenous people, they constitute more than half of the *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 603 79676777. Fax: 603 79674178.
country’s population. Most Malays still live in villages, known locally as kampungs, in sub-urban and rural areas.
The objective of the study is to identify and categorize species of plants that are grown in holdings of villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah, Malaysia. Categorization of these plants facilitates future comparison and valuation of plant resource in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was carried out in a sub-urban village locally known as Kampong Parit Tok Ngah which is located in the district of Ulu Kerian in the state of Perak (Figure 1). Kampung Parit Tok Ngah occupies an area of 218.9 hectares. The village has 132 houses and a population of 618 which is made up of ethnic Malays. The village is subdivided into three Islamic administrative zones with each zone comprising of 44 houses. This study was carried out on one of the zones. The midpoint of the zone where this study was carried out was 5°04.917’ N, 100°26.980’ E and about 29 m above sea level. The soil of the study site is dark grey according to Munsell soil colour charts, with an average pH of 6.15. Visits were carried out on 32 households to record and identify species of plants that were grown in home gardens and to conduct semi-structured interviews on one of the member of each household. This was to gather information on local uses and estimate the market price of each plant. Each household live in a house and owns or tends a land on which the house is located but big enough to grow plants mainly for home use and an adjacent plot of land to grow oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.).
Milow et al. 2607
Figure 1. Map of Peninsular Malaysia showing the location of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah.
The land which is owned or tended by a household, in this study, is termed holding. Market price of each species of plants was verified through survey of the plants sold at nearby towns and roadside stalls.
Total annual income generated by the villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah from the selling of oil palm fruits are estimated by multiplication of the following: (1) average weight of each fruit bunches; (2) average fruit bunches per household; (3) the number of households; (4) the number of harvest per year; (5) average price of fruit bunch per kilogram.
Market values of the crops are estimated by multiplying average household income from the two crops with the number of households in the village. RESULTS A total of 105 species of plants are encountered at Kampung Parit Tok Ngah were identified (Table 1).
2608 Sci. Res. Essays Table 1. List of species of plants found and used by villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah.
No. Scientific name Local name Category of use(s)
Part(s) used Method of preparation or specific use(s)
Price in Malaysian ringgit
1. Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
Kacang bendi Food Fruits Cooked
Not traded
2. Acorus calamus L. Jerangau Medicinal Leaves,
Rhizomes
Skin disease and fever treatment Not traded
3. Allamanda cathartica L. Bunga loceng Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
4. Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Sprengel
Kucai Food Leaves Cooking ingredient
Not traded
5. Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott.
Keladi gajah Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
6.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Lidah buaya
Medicine Leaves Skin care Not traded
Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
7.
Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd
Lengkuas
Medicinal
Rhizomes
Skin treatment Not traded
Food Rhizomes Cooking ingredient Not traded
8. Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.
Nenas Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
9. Andrographis paniculata (Bum. f) Wall. ex Nees
Hempedu bumi Medicinal Leaves High blood pressure and diabetes prevention Not traded
10.
Annona muricata L. Durian belanda
Medicinal Roots, barks, leaves
Cure for diabetes Not traded
Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
11. Areca catechu L. Pinang Medicinal Fruits Skin care and aging prevention
Not traded
12. Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg
Sukun Food Fruits Cooked
Not traded
13. Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk.
Nangka Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
14. Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr.
Cempedak Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
15. Averrhoa bilimbi L. Belimbing buluh Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
16. Averrhoa carambola L. Belimbing besi Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
17. Azadirachta indica A. Juss
Mambu Medicinal Leaves Cure for fever
Not traded
Milow et al. 2609 Table 1. Contd
18. Bambusa pauciflora Ridl.
Buluh padi Utensil Stems Fishing rod
Not traded
19.
Bougainvillea x buttiana Holtt. & Standl. var. 'Barbara Karst'
Pokok bunga kertas
Ornamental Whole plant
Home garden landscaping
Not traded
20. Caladium bicolor Vent. Keladi merah Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
21. Cananga odorata L. Kenanga Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
22. Capsicum frutescens L. Cabai melaka Food Fruits Cooking ingredient 6.00/kg
23.
Carica papaya L. Betik
Medicinal Flowers High blood pressure prevention
Not traded
Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
24.
Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don
Kemunting cina
Medicinal Roots, leaves
Blood pressure control, diabetes, period pain Not traded
Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
25. Celosia argentea L. Balung ayam Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
26.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.
Pegaga Medicinal Leaves
Prevention of high blood pressure and diabetes
Not traded
Food Leaves Salad Not traded
27. Chrysanthemum morifolium L.
Kekwa Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
28. Citrullus lanatus(Thunberg) Matsum & Nakai
Tembikai Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
29. Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.&Panzer) Swingle
Limau nipis Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
30.
Citrus hystrix DC. Limau purut
Medicinal Fruits Flatulence 3.00/kg
Food Leaves Cooking ingredient Not traded
31.
Cocos nucifera L. Kelapa
Food Fruits Eaten raw, beverage, cooking ingredient
0.60/fruit
Utensil Leaves Brooms, wrapper Not traded
32. Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Bl.
Bunga puding Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
33. Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth.
Ati-ati Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
2610 Sci. Res. Essays Table 1. Contd
34. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott
Keladi Food Rhizomes Eaten raw
1.00/plant
35.
Cosmos caudatus Kunth
Ulam raja Medicinal Leaves Blood cleansing
Not traded Food Leaves Salad
36. Cucumis melo L. Tembikai susu Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
37. Cucumis sativus L. Timun Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
38.
Curcuma longa L.
Kunyit
Medicinal Leaves Delay aging Not traded
Food Leaves Cooking ingredient Not traded
Rhizomes Cooking ingredient 1.50/kg
39. Cucurbita moschata (Duch. ex Lam.) Duch. ex Poir
Labu merah Food Roots Eaten cooked
1.00/kg
40. Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf
Serai Food Stems Cooking ingredient
1.00/kg
41. Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle
Serai wangi Medicinal Leaves Body odor prevention
Not traded
42. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw
Pucuk paku Food Young fronds Salad
Not traded
43.
Donax canniformis (Forst. f) Schum
Bemban Medicinal Stems High fever treatment Not traded
Handicraft Stems Basket Not traded
44. Durio zibethinus Murray
Durian Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
45. Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Kelapa sawit Food Fruits Income 0.40/ kg of fruit
bunch
46. Etlingera elatior (Jack) Smith.
Kantan Food Flower Cooking ingredient
Not traded
47. Eugenia aquea Burm. f.
Jambu air Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
48. Euphorbia milii Des Moulin var. hislopii Brouss
Pokok bunga deduri
Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping Not traded
49. Euphorbia trigona Haw. Kaktus segi tiga Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
50. Ficus deltoidea Jack Mas cotek Medicinal Leaves, roots Fever and dizziness treatment
Not traded
51. Garcinia mangostana L.
Manggis Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
Milow et al. 2611 Table 1. Contd
52. Helianthus annuus L. Bunga matahari Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
53.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Bunga raya
Medicinal Leaves Headache treatment Not traded
Ornamental Whole plants Home garden landscape
Not traded
54. Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Brittan & Rose
Pokok naga Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
55. Impatiens balsamina L. Kembung Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
56. Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal
Kangkung Food Leaves, stems Salad
Not traded
57. Ipomoea tricolor Cav. Seri pagi Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
58. Ixora chinensis Lamk. Pecah periuk Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
59. Kaempferia galanga L. Cekur Medicinal Leaves Womb healing after childbirth
Not traded
60. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamk.) Pers.
Setawar Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
61. Lansium domesticum Correa
Dokong Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
62. Lantana camara L. Bunga tahi ayam Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
63. Lawsonia inermis (L.) Pers.
Inai Medicinal Leaves Yellow fever treatment
Not traded
64. Lecanopteris sinuosa Wallich ex Hook
Duit-duit Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
65. Leucaena leucocephala (Lamk) De Wit.
Petai belalang Medicinal Leaves Treatment for animal bite or sting Not traded
66. Lycopersicon esculentum Miller
Tomato Food Fruits Eaten cooked
Not traded
67. Mangifera indica L. Mangga Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
68. Mangifera odorata Griffith
Mangga kuini Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
69. Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Pucuk ubi kayu Food Leaves Eaten raw
Not traded
2612 Sci. Res. Essays Table 1. Contd
70. Manilkara zapota L. Ciku Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
71. Mentha arvensis L. Pudina Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping
Not traded
72. Mikania micrantha Kunth ex H.B.K
Selaput tunggul Medicinal Leaves Cure for sore throat
Not traded
73. Mitragyna speciosa Korth
Ketom Medicinal Leaves Kidney ailment treatment
Not traded
74. Morinda citrifolia L. Mengkudu Medicinal Leaves Indigestion, bladder ailment, skin itchiness treatment
Not traded
75. Muntingia calabura L. Ceri Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
76. Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng.
Daun kari Food Fruits Cooking ingredient
Not traded
77. Musa sp. Pisang Food Fruits Eaten raw 0.60/ kg
78.
Mussaenda erythrophylla Schumach. & Thonn. var. 'Dona Luz'
Janda kaya Ornamental Whole plant
Home garden
Not traded
79. Nephelium lappaceum L.
Rambutan Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
80. Oenanthe javanica(Blume) DC.
Selom Food Fruits Cooking ingredient
Not traded
81. Oryza sativa L. Padi Food Grains Cooked 1.12/ kg
unprocessed grain
82.
Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.
Pandan Medicinal Leaves Dandruff treatment Not traded
Food Leaves Cooking ingredient Not traded
83.
Parkia speciosa Hassk. Petai
Food Fruits Eaten raw or cooked Not traded
Medicinal Fruits Treatment for headache
84. Pedilanthus tithymaloides L.
Pokok lelipan Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
85. Phoenix dactylifera L. Kurma Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
86. Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels
Cermai Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
87. Piper betle L. Sireh Medicinal Leaves Treatment for headache Not traded
88. Piper nigrum L. Lada hitam Food Fruits Cooking ingredient Not traded
Milow et al. 2613 Table 1. Contd
89. Polygonum minus Huds
Kesom Food Leaves Cooking ingredient
Not traded
90. Psidium guajava L. Jambu batu Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
91. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.
Kacang kelisa Food Fruits Salad
Not traded
92. Saccharum officinarum L.
Tebu Food Fruits Beverage
Not traded
93. Sansevieria trifasciata Prain
Lidah jin Medicinal Leaves Skin care and treatment
Not traded
94. Sauropus albicans (L.) Merr.
Asin-asin Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
95. Senna alata L. Gelenggang Medicinal Leaves Treatment for skin irritation
Not traded
96. Solanum melongena L. Terung Food Fruits Eaten cooked 1.50/ kg
97. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl.
Selasih dandi Medicinal Leaves Liver ailment treatment
Not traded
98. Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & Perry.
Jambu susu, jambu bol
Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
99. Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry.
Jambu semerang Food Fruits Eaten raw
Not traded
100. Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Br. ex Roem. & Schult
Kembang susu Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscaping Not traded
101. Theobroma cacao L. Koko Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
102. Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews
Anggerik Ornamental Whole plant Home garden landscape
Not traded
103. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.
Kacang panjang Food Fruits Eaten cooked
Not traded
104. Vitis vinifera L. Anggur Food Fruits Eaten raw Not traded
105. Zea mays L. Jagung Food Fruits Eaten cooked 0.50/ear
106.
No.
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Halia Medicinal Rhizomes Flatulence treatment 6.00/kg
Food Rhizomes Cooking ingredient 6.00/kg
Villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah use these plants for ornamental, food, medicinal and utensils. Several species has diverse uses. 12% of the total number of plant
species in Table 1 is regularly or sporadically sold by the villagers for income. The table also includes the unit price of the plants. Only two species of plants, E. guineensis
2614 Sci. Res. Essays
Table 2. Number of holdings with each species of plants grown at Kampung Parit Tok Ngah.
No. Species Number of holdings
1. Acorus calamus L.
1
2. Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Sprengel
3. Andrographis paniculata (Bum. f) Wall. ex Nees
4. Azadirachta indica A. Juss
5. Caladium bicolor Vent.
6. Cananga odorata L
7. Chrysanthemum morifolium L.
8. Citrullus lanatus (Thunberg) Matsum & Nakai
9. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott
10. Cucumis melo L.
11. Helianthus annuus L.
12. Lansium domesticum Correa
13. Lantana camara L.
14. Lecanopteris sinuosa Wallich ex Hook
15. Leucaena leucocephala (Lamk) De Wit.
16. Lycopersicon esculentum Miller
17. Mentha arvensis L.
18. Mitragyna speciosa Korth.
19. Muntingia calabura L.
20. Mussaenda erythrophylla Schumach. & Thonn. var. 'Dona Luz'
21. Parkia speciosa Hassk.
22. Pedilanthus tithymaloides L.
23. Phoenix dactylifera L.
24. Piper nigrum L.
25. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.
26 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl.
27. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.
28. Vitis vinifera L.
Total number of species = 28
1. Annona muricata L.
2
2. Celosia argentea L.
3. Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth.
4. Cucumis sativus L.
5. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw
6. Ficus deltoidea Jack
7. Garcinia mangostana L.
8. Impatiens balsamina L
9. Mikania micrantha Kunth ex H.B.K
10. Piper betle L.
11. Sauropus albicans (L.) Merr.
12. Senna alata L.
13. Theobroma cacao L.
14. Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Total number of species = 14
1. Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
3
2. Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott.
3. Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.
4. Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Br. ex Roem. & Schult
5. Cosmos caudatus Kunth
Milow et al. 2615
Table 2. Contd.
6. Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle
7. Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Brittan & Rose
8. Kaempferia galanga L.
9. Mangifera odorata Griffith
10. Polygonum minus Huds.
11. Solanum melongena L.
Total number of species = 11
1. Allamanda cathartica L.
4
2. Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg
3. Ipomoea tricolor Cav.
4. Psidium guajava L.
5. Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews
Total number of species = 5
1. Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.
5
2. Bambusa pauciflora Ridl.
3. Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don
4. Etlingera elatior (Jack) Smith.
5. Euphorbia milii Des Moulin var. hislopii Brouss
6. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamk.) Pers.
7. Lawsonia inermis (L.) Pers.
8. Saccharum officinarum L.
Total number of species = 8
1. Cucurbita moshata (Duch. ex Lam.) Duch. ex Poir 6
2. Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry.
Total number of species = 2
1. Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.
7 2. Areca catechu L.
3. Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr.
4. Sansevieria trifasciata Prain
Total number of species = 4
1. Averrhoa carambola L.
8
2. Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.&Panzer) Swingle
3. Euphorbia trigona Haw.
4. Manilkara zapota L.
5. Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC.
6. Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.
Total number of species = 6
1. Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Bl.
9 2. Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng.
3. Zea mays L.
Total number of species = 3
1. Averrhoa bilimbi L.
10 2. Citrus hystrix DC
3. Eugenia aquea Burm. f.
2616 Sci. Res. Essays
Table 2. Contd
4. Ixora chinensis Lamk.
5. Morinda citrifolia L.
Total number of species = 5
1. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. 11
Total number of species = 1
1. Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.
12 2. Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk.
3. Donax canniformis (Forst. f) Schum
Total number of species = 3
1. Nephelium lappaceum L. 13
2. Syzygium malaccense (L.)
Total number of species = 2
1. Carica papaya L. 14
2. Manihot esculenta Crantz.
Total number of species = 2
1. Mangifera indica L. 16
Total number of species = 1
1. Bougainvillea x buttiana Holtt. & Standl. var. 'Barbara Karst' 17
Total number of species = 1
1. Capsicum frutescens L. 18
Total number of species = 1
1. Curcuma longa L. 21
2. Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf
Total number of species = 2
1. Cocos nucifera L. 25
Total number of species = 1
1. Musa sp. 29
Total number of species = 1
1. Elaeis guineensis Jacq. 32
2. Oryza sativa L.
Total number of species = 2
Jacq. and O. sativa L. , were grown by the villagers mainly for income. DISCUSSION Table 2 shows that most of the plant species that were recorded during this study were found only at a certain
holding. Only E. guineensis Jacq. and O. sativa L. are found in all the village holdings. These two crops are the main source of income for the villagers and assistance to grow them is provided by the government. Estimated total annual income from the two crops is Malaysian Ringgit 829678.08 for the whole village (Table 3). Other plants in Table 2 are believed to be grown at leisure or their growth does not need intense care. According to the
Milow et al. 2617
Table 3. Estimated income of villagers in Kampung Parit Tok Ngah from the selling of oil palm fruits and rice.
Species Annual production in kilogrammes Income in Malaysian ringgit
Elaeis guineensis Jacq. 13.6×7×132×18 =226195.2 226195.2×0.4 =90478.08
Oryza sativa L. 1250×2×132×2=660000 660000×1.12 =739200.00
Total income 829678.08.
Medicinal 3 Ornamental
24 16
Food
51
9
Utensil
1
Handicraft
1 1
Figure 2. Number of species for each category of plants that are planted in Kampung Parit Tok Ngah.
villagers, surplus from home use of these plants are sold for income. However, other trends in Table 2 need further study.
Most species of plants that are utilized by villagers in Kampung Parit Tok Ngah have specific use. Fourteen species or about thirteen percent of the total number of utilized plant species in Kampung Parit Tok Ngah were multi-purpose. Most of the plant species utilized by villagers at Kampung Parit Tok Ngah were used for food. Only one species of plants were used for handicraft, whereas the number of plant species for making utensil was only two. These are summarized in Figure 2.
Plant resource has direct economic value, indirect economic value, aesthetic value and ethical value. Direct economic value is derived from the food, construction, materials, medicinal plants and other goods harvested from natural areas, as well as from recreational facilities and other services (Martin, 1995). An indirect value is
mainly in the form of benefit derived from other environmental services provided by the plants (Primack, 2008). Aesthetic and ethical values are more subjective and inclusive of appreciation for and right to existence. Villagers of Kampong Parit Tok Ngah were aware of direct economic value of their plant resource as all the respondents could describe the uses and roles of each of the plants that they grow. Perception of other values could not be inferred from this study.
Several conclusions are drawn from this study. Firstly, villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah emphasize income-generating crops to grow in their holdings; secondly, most of the species of plants were grown for specific purpose of which food plants dominated in term of number of species; thirdly, on the other hand, since direct economic value of plants can be derived from crop yield, market price, plant and uses, different study techniques need to be devised to elicit other values of plant resource upheld
2618 Sci. Res. Essays by the villagers of Kampung Parit Tok Ngah. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are grateful to the University of Malaya for supporting this study through its research grant RG044/09SUS. REFERENCES Burkill IH (1935). A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay
Peninsula. 1st Edition. Dept. of Agriculture. Kuala Lumpur.
Chin SC (1985). Agriculture and Resource Utilization in a Lowland
Rainforest Kenyah Community. Sarawak Museum J., 35(4): 1-11. Dunn FL (1975). Rainforest Collectors and Traders A Study of
Resource Utilization in Modern and Ancient Malaya. MBRAS M, p .5. Martin GJ (1995). Ethnobotany: A methods manual. Chapman and Hall.
London, Weinheim, New York, Tokyo, Melbourne, Madras. Milow P, Ramli MR, Ong HC (2010) Preliminary Survey on Plants in
Home Gardens in Pahang, Malaysia. J Biodiversity, 1 (1): 19-25. Ong HC (1991). A Survey of Temuan Home Gardens. Malaysian J. Sci.,
13: 13-32. Primack RB (2008) A Primer of Conservation Biology. Fourth edition.
Sinauer Associates Inc. pp. 43-70. Rostam K, Ahmad R, Hussain MY (2006) Urbanization and the
changing habitat: the case of Malay of housing compounds in Malaysia. J. e-Bangi., 1(1): 1-14.
