Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 81-88 Biosaintifika Journal of Biology & Biology Education http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/biosaintifika Ethnobotany of Bamboo in Sangirese, North Celebes Alin Liana1, Purnomo2, Issirep Sumardi3, Budi Setiadi Daryono4 DOI: 10.15294/biosaintifika.v9i1.7405 1Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Biology, University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia 2Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia 3Laboratory of Plant Structure and Development, Faculty of Biology, University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia 4Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Biology, University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia History Article Abstract Received 5 October 2016 Technology advancement has encouraged development of processing method varia- Approved 30 January 2017 tion and enhanced utilization of natural resources widely. Ethnobotany can be used Published 1 April 2017 to document the local customs involving the practical uses of bamboo for many as- pects of life. The aim of study was to describe utilization of bamboo by Sangirese. A Keywords total of 30 respondents were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and bamboo; biodiversity; cel- personal interviews. Data were descriptively analyzed based on exploration results ebes; ethnobotany; sangirese and interviews with respondents. The result showed 12 species of bamboo had been founded and correlated with the local community in Sangirese, consist of six species of Bambusa, three species of Schizostachyum, and each one species of Dendrocalamus Gigantochloa, and Neololeba. The uses of bamboos were grouped into nine catego- ries, namely construction and materials, handicraft, furniture, ceremonial, musical instruments, transportation, medicine, ornamental plants, and food. Several species had been used more than one purpose and B. maculata was the most commonly used. Bamboo ethnobotany in Sangirese was firstly recorded and expected could enrich bamboo ethnobotany data from Celebes as well as to introduce Sangirese culture. How to Cite Liana, A., Purnomo, Sumardi, I. & Daryono, B. S. (2017). Ethnobotany of Bamboo in Sangirese, North Celebes. Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology & Biology Education, 9(1), 81-88. © 2017 Universitas Negeri Semarang Correspondence Author: p-ISSN 2085-191X Jl. Teknika Selatan, Sekip Utara, Yogyakarta 55281 e-ISSN 2338-7610 E-mail: [email protected] Alin Liana et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 81-88 INTRODUCTION also bordered by Mollucas in the north. It is pos- sible a diversity of biodiversity is affected by the Bamboo is very close to the Indonesian activities of inter-island trade. people’s lives. For example, in the fulfillment Bamboo exploration has been conducted of housing facilities, bamboo is a priority as the in Sangihe. Based on data from specimens at Her- construction material and wood substitute. In ad- barium Bogoriense recorded at the end of 2013, dition to construction material, bamboo also has the type of bamboo in Sangihe island has been an important economic value. Bamboo can serve known includes 10 species, divided into five gene- as a source of renewable energy, fuel, industrial ra, namely Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, fabrics and paper, furniture (Chele, 2012), phar- Neololeba,and Schizostachyum. maceuticals (Senthilkumar et al., 2011), and The use of bamboo by local community foodstuff (Satya et al., 2012). Currently, bamboo fairly influences the fulfillment of everyday ne- is also being developed as a material for making cessity to the community. However, until recent- bicycles and computer case (Chele, 2012). ly the bamboo craftsmen have maintained poor People use bamboo as musical instruments status and products are considered cheap and and various traditional ceremonies. Angklung mu- low quality items. There is a need to develop sical instrument from West Java is one example new livelihood opportunities through bamboo by of Indonesian musical instruments made of bam- improving the quality of products and targeting boo. On the other hand, Ma’dio Tomate ceremony high value markets (Nath & Das, 2008). For this in Tana Toraja, South Celebes (Widjaja, 1988) purpose it is important to learn the concern of uses bamboo as one of the equipment. In the ot- bamboo craftsmen in different region so that ap- her culture, Massolo ceremony held by indigenous propriate actions may be taken for development people in Rongkong, North Luwu, South Cele- of bamboo trade in diverse areas. bes also used bamboo (Wartika et al., 2013). It is In addition, utilities of bamboo and cul- important to learn that information on traditio- tural wealth needs to be explored as to preserve nal uses of bamboos varies between and within traditional knowledge. In order to support the regions. protection and conservation of the species of Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the bamboo and local wisdom, it is necessary to stu- traditional knowledge and customs of a people dy bamboo ethnobotany in the life of local com- concerning plant and their medical, religious, and munity in Sangirese. other uses. Ethnobotanical studies provide a valu- able insight into the potential utilization of plant METHODS resources. Such information may be used to iden- tify particular species worthy of further investiga- The surveys were conducted during Octo- tion, and improvement which contribute towards ber-December 2014 in the bamboo distribution the local and national development (Johnston & center in Sangihe Island. Information on bamboo Colquhoun, 1996). Ethnobotany status as a sci- distribution center was partially obtained from ence does not problems, but the status of the ob- the Forestry Research Institute of Makassar, pre- ject of research is very vulnerable due to the rapid vious research data, and some information was erosion of natural resources, particularly flora obtained from the local community, especially and utilization of traditional knowledge of plants bamboo craftsmen. Fields were selected from five from certain ethnic groups. Documentation of villages in Tabukan Utara district i.e.: Kalekube, ethnobotany such as photographs, magazines, Naha, Kalurae, Likuang, and Bowongkulu. The movies, or specimens are required to support outline of study area is shown in Figure 1. sustainability of culture (Soekarman & Riswan, The sampling was done by purposive 1992). Bamboo ethnobotany studies have been sampling (Tiro & Arbianingsih, 2011). Ethnobo- conducted in some areas in Indonesia such as Su- tany data was obtained through direct observa- matera, Java, Bali, Celebes, as well as Lesser Sun- tion supported by interviews. A total of 30 res- da Island (Yani, 2012; Widjaja, 2001; Arinasa, pondents were interviewed. Two of them were 2005; Widjaja, 2009; Widjaja & Karsono, 2005). traditional leaders, four were bamboo craftsmen, Sangihe Island is an island located in the and 24 were a local community. Interviews were transition zone between the Sunda Shelf and Sa- conducted in a semi-structured questionnaire gui- hul Shelf. Various types of flora and fauna are de (questionnaire were validation using content found to have rather different character than in validity by expert judgment). The information the two other lands (Moss & Wilson, 1998). San- collected includes the type of bamboo growing in gihe Island located in the north of Celebes, and Sangihe (local names of bamboo), type of bam- 82 Alin Liana et al. / Biosaintifika 9 (1) (2017) 81-88 boo used by the community, where the bamboo atra, S. brachycladum), erect with slightly zigzag taken, usefulness in everyday life, parts of the (B. blumeana, B. maculata, B. striata, B. vulgaris, plant used, how to use them, and where the indi- Bambusa sp.2), or erect with drooping (S. blumei). genous knowledge come from. Most culms have cylindrical and hollow interno- The data were descriptively analyzed des, may be with thick (B. blumeana, D. Asper, G. based on exploration results and interviews with Atter) or thin walls (other species observed). The the people. internodes are usually glabrous and smooth with various colors including dark green (B. blumeana, B. maculata, B. vulgaris, Bambusa sp.1, D. Asper, S. blumei), dark green with pale rings on the nodes (G. Atter), light green (Bambusa sp.2, N. atra) light green with pale rings on the nodes (S. brachycla- dum), or yellow with green stripes (B. striata, S. brachycladum). Culm characters determine the uti- lization of bamboo. Bamboo ethnobotany research in Indone- sia has been done on mainland, such as Sumat- ra, Java and Bali as well as Celebes (Dransfield & Widjaja, 1995; Arinasa, 2005; Widjaja, 1988). Although the bamboo ethnobotany is a very old phenomenon, yet the potential of the bamboo in Sangihe unexplaned. Ethnobotany research in Sangihe is very important because it has a lot Figure 1. Research site, Sangihe Island. Tabukan of different cultures with the mainland. In this Utara district marked with a red border island, the interrelationship between the culture of the people and bamboo is very strong. Many RESULTS AND DISCUSSION cultural, social and economic factors, including beliefs, customs, habits, religions and values have Ecologically, bamboo in Sangihe Island been mixed together along with various uses of may be found in the forest floor (e.g. Neololeba bamboos. Many of them are centuries old reflec- atra, Bambusa blumeana), river banks (e.g. Bambu- ting the vast experience and knowledge accumu- sa sp.1, Schizostachyum blumei) or planted in gar- lated both about quality of bamboo species and den (e.g.