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Traditional knowledge of edible plants among the Temuan Villagers in Kampung

Jeram Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Article in Scientific Research and Essays · March 2011

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Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 6(4), pp. 694-697, 18 February, 2011
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE
ISSN 1992-2248 ©2011 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Traditional knowledge of edible plants among the

Temuan Villagers in Kampung Jeram Kedah, Negeri
Sembilan, Malaysia
Hean-Chooi Ong, Simon Chua and Pozi Milow*
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Accepted 6 April, 2010

The authors report a total of 69 species of edible plants used by the villagers in Jeram Kedah village.
The edible parts were obtained equally from wild plants and cultivated plants. A total of 28 species were
eaten cooked compared to 23 species eaten raw. Fruits and seeds were the most common parts used
with a total of 38 species followed by leafy parts with 15 species. It is important not only to record such
native knowledge and conduct further studies but also to take steps to conserve the genetic diversity of
edible plants before they are lost to human kind forever. Traditional knowledge and usage of certain
edible plants is decreasing due to various factors such as changes in culture, personal preferences, the
tedious process of preparing certain food items, changes in habitat causing certain edible plants to be
unavailable or less available.

Key words: Traditional knowledge, edible plants, Temuan.

INTRODUCTION

The indigenous people (orang asli) of Peninsular is 101° 57.46’ E. This is a traditional native village with the houses
Malaysia are grouped into 3 different ethnic groups; the built in clearings surrounded by vegetation and with a stream
nearby. There are 50 households with a total of approximately 700
Negritos (Semang), the Senoi and the Proto-Malays. The persons living in an area of about 30 ha. Most of the houses are
Temuan tribe is in the Proto-Malay ethnic group. The built in the native style using materials obtained from the
Temuans are a comparatively large tribe and they are surrounding forests. A few houses are more modern, being built
known for their deep knowledge and usage of edible wild using planks, beams, bricks and mortar.
plants (Carey, 1976; Ong, 1991). The Temuans are Information was obtained through general conversation with adult
agriculturists as well as hunters and gatherers. Thus, villagers guided by a predetermined set of questions during each
visit using the method of ethnobotanical enquiry (Chin, 1981;
they make use of the biological diversity available to them Martin, 1995). The sessions are recorded and transcribed later.
for fulfilling various needs (Carey, 1976; Ong, 1991, Plant specimens were collected using standard taxonomical
1994). As modernisation creeps or marches towards the procedures, taking specimens with flowers and fruits whenever
doorstep of the native tribes, knowledge and usage of possible (Womersley, 1981). Photographs of every specimen were
biodiversity decreases and eventually becomes also taken and used together with the plant specimens for
identification and record. Identification was carried by referring to
adulterated or lost to humanity. Thus, it is imperative that
various references such as Henderson (1974a, b), Ng (1989),
the scientific community records and publishes this Ridley (1967).
knowledge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS

This study was conducted in a Temuan village named Kampung This study has recorded a total of 69 species of edible
(Malay word for village) Jeram Kedah, in the state of Negeri plants used in the selected Temuan native village. The
Sembilan, Malaysia. The latitude is 2° 54.33’ N while the longitude
Temuan in this village used edible plants from their home
garden, agricultural plot, wild plants surrounding their
village and also forest plants. Some species occur as
both wild and planted due to two reasons. One is that, the
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
 Ong et al. 695

Table 1. List of edible plants used by villagers in Kampung Jeram Kedah.

Series no. Botanical name Native name Status Method of usage

1 Acrypteris irregularis (Presl.) Holtt. Paku papan Wild Soft young leaves eaten cooked
2 Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. Lengkuas Planted Rhizome used to flavor food
3 Amaranthus viridis L. Bayam Wild Leaves, petioles, soft stems eaten cooked
4 Amomum uliginosum Koen. ex Retz. Tepus merah Wild Ripe fruits eaten raw
5 Anacardium occidentale L. Gajus Planted, wild Ripe pseudo-fruit eaten raw
6 Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. Nenas Planted Ripe fruits eaten raw. Unripe fruits eaten cooked.
7 Areca catechu L. Pinang Planted, wild Seeds chewed in betel quid
8 Artocarpus elasticus Reinw. Terap Wild Flesh of ripe fruits eaten raw. Seeds eaten cooked. Unripe fruits eaten cooked.
9 Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk. Nangka Planted Flesh of ripe fruits eaten raw. Seeds eaten cooked. Unripe fruits eaten cooked.
10 Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr. Cempedak Planted Flesh of ripe fruits eaten raw. Seeds eaten cooked.
11 Averrhoa bilimbi L. Belimbing buluh Planted Ripe or unripe fruits eaten raw or used to flavor food
12 Averrhoa carambola L. Belimbing manis Planted Ripe or unripe fruits eaten raw
13 Baccaurea bracteata Muell. Arg. Tampoi Wild, planted Flesh of ripe fruits eaten raw or fermented to make alcoholic drink..

Baccaurea motleyana (Muell. Arg.)

14 Rambai Planted, wild Flesh of ripe fruits eaten raw or fermented to make alcoholic drink..
Muell. Arg.

15 Bambusa pauciflora Ridl. Buluh padi Planted, wild Shoots eaten cooked.
16 Calamus manan Miq. Rotan manau Planted, wild Flesh of ripe fruits eaten raw.
17 Capsicum frutescens L. Cili api Planted, wild Green or ripe fruits used to flavor food.
18 Carica papaya L. Kepayo Planted Ripe fruits eaten raw. Green fruits and shoots eaten cooked.

Citrus aurantifolia (Christm. and Panzer)

19 Limau nipis Planted Juice used to flavor food
Swing.

20 Clerodendrum villosum Bl. Akar chapak Wild Bark chewed in betel quid
21 Cocos nucifera L. Kelapo Planted, wild Young coconut water as a drink. Coconut milk and oil used to cook food.
22 Colocasia antiquorum Schott. Keladi bera Wild Leaf, petiole and rhizome eaten cooked.
23 Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott Keladi minyak Wild, planted Leaf, petiole and rhizome eaten cooked.
24 Cucumis sativus L. Timun Planted Ripe or green fruits eaten raw or cooked
25 Curcuma longa L. Kunyit Planted Rhizome used to flavor and color food.
26 Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. Serai Planted Leaf base used to flavor food

Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes and

27 Buluh betong Planted, wild Shoots eaten cooked
Schultes.f.) Backer ex Hyne

28 Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. Paku tanjung Wild Young leaf and soft petiole eaten cooked
696 Sci. Res. Essays

Table 1. Cont’d.

29 Diplazium speciosum Bl. Paku kikir Wild Young leaf and soft petiole eaten cooked
30 Donax canniformis (Forst.f.) Schum Bamban Wild Green fruits eaten raw
31 Durio zibethinus Murray Durian Planted, wild Ripe fruits eaten raw
32 Eugenia aquea Burm.f. Jambu air Planted, wild Ripe fruits eaten raw
33 Elettariopsis curtisii Baker Tepus angin Wild Leaf used to flavor food
34 Ficus grossularioides Burm.f. Ropon Wild Young leaf eaten cooked
35 Garcinia prainiana King Pusat berudu Wild, planted Young leaf and ripe fruit eaten raw
36 Garcinia mangostana L. Manggis Planted Ripe fruit eaten raw
37 Gigantochloa scortechinii Gamble Buluh haur Wild, planted Shoot eaten cooked
38 Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. Pokok getah Planted, wild Fermented seed eaten cooked
39 Hodgsonia capniocarpa Ridl. Akar khadam Wild Seeds eaten cooked
40 Ipomoea aquatica Forskal Kangkong Wild, planted Leaf and stem eaten cooked
41 Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamk. Keledek Planted Tuber eaten cooked
42 Limnocharis flava (L.) Buch. Tapak itik Wild Leaf and petiole eaten cooked
43 Lansium domesticum Correa Duku, langsat Planted Ripe fruit eaten raw
44 Mangifera foetida Lour. Bacang Planted Ripe fruit eaten raw
45 Manihot esculenta Crantz. Ubi kayu Planted Young leaf and tuber eaten cooked
46 Melastoma malabathricum L. Kedodok merah Wild Ripe fruit eaten raw
47 Monochoria vaginalis (Burm.) Presl. Pelayau Wild Leaf and petiole eaten cooked
48 Musa acuminata Colla Pisang mas Planted Ripe fruit eaten raw. Inflorescence eaten cooked
49 Musa paradisiaca L. Pisang tanduk Planted Ripe fruit eaten raw. Green fruit eaten cooked
50 Nephelium lappaceum L. Rambutan Planted Ripe fruit eaten raw.
51 Ochanostachys amentacea Mast. Petaling Wild Ripe fruit eaten raw.
52 Oncosperma tigillarium (Jack.) Ridl. Nibung Wild Shoot eaten cooked
53 Oryza sativa L. Padi bukit Planted Ripe grain eaten cooked.
54 Parkia speciosa Hassk. Petai Wild, planted Mature fruit eaten raw or cooked
55 Philodendron sagittifolium Liebm. Batang sandar Wild Petiole eaten cooked
56 Piper betle L. Sirih Planted, wild Leaf chewed in betel quid
57 Piper porphyrophyllum N.E.Br. Kalong Wild Leaf chewed in betel quid
58 Piper ribesioides Wall. Camai Wild Leaf chewed in betel quid
59 Psidium guajava L. Jambu batu Planted, wild Mature and ripe fruits eaten raw
60 Rinorea anguifera Kuntze Janggut baung Wild Shoot used to flavor food
61 Saccharum officinarum L. Tebu Planted Juice taken raw
62 Salacca affinis Griff. Salak Wild Ripe fruit eaten raw
63 Stenochlaena palustris (Burm.) Bedd. Paku larat Wild Young leaf and petiole eaten cooked
64 Sterculia elongata Ridl. Kelompang Wild Ripe seed eaten cooked
65 Tamarindus indica L. Asam jawa Planted, wild Ripe fruit used to flavor food
 Ong et al. 697
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Table 1. Cont’d

66 Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Kacang panjang Planted Young fruit eaten cooked
67 Zea mays L. Jagung Planted Young fruit eaten cooked
68 Zingiber aromaticum Valeton Tepus Planted, wild Ripe fruit eaten raw
69 Zingiber officinale Rosc. Halia Planted Rhizome used to flavor food

natives collect edible parts from forest plants and agricultural plots. Habitat degradation will result in REFERENCES
also from those of the same species that they many wild species becoming less available or not
Carey I (1976). Orang Asli The Aboriginal Tribes of Peninsular
planted. The other is when planted species were available within walking distance. The knowledge Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur, Oxford University Press, pp. 240-
dispersed from cultivation and occurs also as wild and usage of edible plants changes, as new plants 249.
plants and both sources are used. become available to them. Inavailabilty of certain Chin SC (1981). A Guide to Ethnobotanical Collection With
The species in Table 1 in these three categories wild plants can cause the loss of knowledge on the Reference to Malaysia. Sarawak Mus. J., 29(50): 227-238
usage of these species over the generations, if these Henderson MR (1974a). Malayan Wild Flowers Dicotyledons.
have quite similar totals with 24 wild species Kuala Lumpur, Malayan Nature Society, p. 478.
(34.8%), 24 planted species (34.8%) and 21 species are not planted or cannot be planted by the Henderson MR (1974b). Malayan Wild Flowers
species being both wild and planted (30.4%). In natives. Monocotyledons. Kuala Lumpur, Malayan Nature Society. p.
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terms of usage, 28 species are eaten cooked
certain traditional edible plants due to changes in Martin GJ (1995). Ethnobotany A People and Plants
(40.6%), 23 species are eaten raw (33.3%), 15 Conservation Manual. London, Chapman & Hall, pp. 96-
culture, personal preferences, the tedious process of
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preparing certain food items, changes in habitat Ng FSP (ed.). (1989). Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for
while 3 species (4.4%) are eaten raw and also causing certain edible plants to be unavailable or Foresters. Volume 4. Kuala Lumpur, Longman Malaysia. p.
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common parts used with a total of 38 species native knowledge and conduct further studies but Ong HC (1991). A Survey of Temuan Home Gardens. Mal. J
(55.1%) followed by leafy parts with 15 species also to take steps to conserve the genetic diversity of Sci., 13: 13-21.
(21.7%). Others with much lower numbers are Ong HC (1994). The Practice of Traditional Medicine Among
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Womersley JS (1981). Plant Collecting and Herbarium
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DISCUSSION weather and soil conditions.
The results show that, the Temuans in the village
surveyed use equal number of wild and planted ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
species of edible plants with a total of 24 species
for each category. The number of species of We thank the University of Malaya and the
plants that are both wild and planted is only government of Malaysia for providing facilities and
slightly lower with a total of 21 species. This funds that enable such projects to be carried out.
shows that, the Temuans in this study make full We thank Mohd Fadzil for his help in the logistics
use of their ability as agriculturists and hunters/ of the field trips and for being the contact person
gatherers. They are also able to adapt to changes with the Temuan villagers. Special thanks to all
in availability of wild sources of edible plants by the Temuan villagers who have shared their
growing some of these in their home gardens and knowledge willingly.