Ethnobotany of pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia) on Batak ethnic, North Sumatera

Abstract

Silalahi M, Nisyawati. 2015. Ethnobotany of pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia) on Batak ethnic, North Sumatra. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 743-746. The study was conducted to obtain new information about the ethnobotanical knowledge of pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.) by Batak ethnic, North Sumatra, therefore, can complement or revise the existing data. The research of ethnobotany of pasak bumi on Batak ethnic was conducted by using an ethnobotanical approach. The research was conducted in five villages which were the center region of Batak sub-ethnic. Eurycoma longifolia has the different local names on fifth sub-ethnic of Batak, those were bulung besan by Karo, tongkat ali by Phakpak, horis kotala by Simalungun, tengku ali by Toba and ampahan gunjo by Angkola-Mandailaing. Pasak bumi had been used by Batak ethnic to cure stomachache, fever, malaria, stamina enhancer and to make a concoction. The field survey result showed that pasak bumi could be found in agroforestry of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and the primary forest in the villages of Tanjung Julu and Simbou Baru. In the village of Peadundung, pasak bumi was found in the home garden, agroforestry, and primary forest.