TAXONOMIC STUDIES AND ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF ZINGIBERACEAE AMONG THE BIDAYUH COMMUNITY IN SINGAI AND JAGOI BAU, SARAWAK

Authors: Jovita E. Ripen*, Meekiong, K & Gabriel T. Noweg

ABSTRACT

The Zingiberaceae is a ginger family, consists of perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes. It is comprised of about 53 genera and more than 1500 species that are distributed throughout Asia and more than 1200 species mostly growing in tropical forests. Borneo itself have more than 250 species of gingers in 19 genera. Sarawak has 141 species in 18 genera. However, these are only the named species as many species are yet to be described or determined. Many species are economically important as spices, ornamental plants and medicinal purposes. Very few studies of the Zingiberaceae had been done. The only study that been done is on the inventory and taxonomy study of the species. The first study was done by Axel Dalberg Poulsen in 2006 to describe 64 species in 18 genera of Zingiberaceae found in Sarawak. The second study was done by Meekiong et.all in 2010 to record 70 species in 15 genera of gingers found n Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Santuary. In his study, he had discovered 5 new species of the wild gingers. However, the study of useful gingers are very limited and many more useful species may still discovered in the forests of Sarawak. This study will document the traditional knowledge of gingers species used by Bidayuh community in Jagoi and Singai Bau District. It is also reports on a pattern of use for the ginger species by Bidayuh in Singai and Jagoi, Bau and provides the information on the microscopic identification of useful Zingiberaceae among the Bidayuh community in Mount Sejinjang Singai and Mount Jagoi Bau, Sarawak

Keywords: Bau, Bidayuh, Sarawak, Species and, Zingiberaceae

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