Buletin Kebun Raya

Ethnobotany of Plant Species Diversity in Moti Island, North Maluku Province, Indonesia

Marwan Setiawan

Pusat Riset Ekologi dan Etnobiologi, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional

Wardah

Pusat Riset Ekologi dan Etnobiologi, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional

Parwa Oryzanti

Pusat Riset Ekologi dan Etnobiologi, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional

Emma Sri Kuncari

Pusat Riset Ekologi dan Etnobiologi, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55981/bkr.2023.738

Keywords: diversity, ethnobotany, Moti island, plant species

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Abstract

Moti Island is a group of small islands in the Halmahera islands and is located west of Halmahera island. The population is scattered throughout the island, especially around the coast, with the main livelihood as fishermen and farmers in nutmeg and clove plantations. However, information regarding the diversity of plant species has not been disclosed yet. Therefore, it is necessary to study the potential and diversity of plant species around the Moti Island area. We collected the data for ethnobotanical studies using qualitative and quantitative methods. Use Value (UV) and Index of Cultural Significance (ICS) were used for data analysis. The results showed 96 useful plant species which is utilized as medicine (35 species), food (18 species), firewood (14 species), crafts (12 species), building (10 species), drinks (2 species), poison (2 species), animal feed, ritual, and ornamental plants (1 species each) was recorded on Moti Island. Moreover, 39 out of 96 useful plant species have UV values (0.2–0.8) and ICS (2–80), while the species of plant that has the highest use value (UV) is Arenga pinnata Merr. (0.8) and plants with high ICS values Arenga pinnata Merr. (80), Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz (48), and Myristica fragrans Houtt. (48).