JACOBINA CARNEA (JUSTICIA SPP.)

Common names/Nama tempatan:  Jacobina, Shrimp Plant, Brazilian Plume, Flamingo Flower
Scientific name:/Nama Saintifik: Justicia carnia radiant/Justicia spp.
Family/Famili: Acanthaceae
Genus: Justicia

FENG SHUI PLANT

This is the lovely Feng Shui plant that my former principal, Puan Siti Arfah gave to me as a house warming present.  The plant is growing well and I have noticed new plants sprouting up.  In Chinese it is known as Fatt Choy Suen.  Anyone has any idea as to what it is called in English?  Better still, who knows its Scientific name?

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

POKOK FENG SHUI

Pokok Feng Shui yang cantik ini merupakan hadiah 'house warming' daripada mantan pengetua saya, Puan Siti Arfah.  Pokok ini tumbuh elok dan saya mendapati ada pokok baru yang tumbuh.  Dalam Bahasa Cina ia di kenali sebagi Fatt Choy Suen.  Ada tak sesiapa yang tahu namanya dalam Bahasa Inggeris?  Atau lebih baik lagi, siapa mengenali nama saintifiknya?

POKOK REBEN / RIBBON BUSH

Nama tempatan/Common names : Pokok Reben, Centipede Plant, Ribbon Bush, Tapeworm plant
Nama Cina/Chinese characters: 山羊百科
Nama Botani/Botanic name:  Muehlenbeckia Platyclada (Muell.) Meisn.
Famili/Family: Polygonaceae

Kegunaan:
Daun dan rantingnya ditumbuk lumat dan didtampal pada bisul, luka, lebam, penyakit kulit, kecederaan dan gigitan serangga.  Daun dan ranting juga digunakan untuk merawat gusi bengkak, berdarah atau sakit.  Hanya perlu tambah sedikit garam pada daun dan ranting yang ditumbuk lumat dan menampal pada bahagian yang sakit.
Daun dan ranting direbus dan airnya boleh diminum untuk merawat kecederaan, darah yang bertakung, serta mengurangkan bengkak dan lebam.

Uses:

• The leaves and branches are pounded into a paste and applied to boils, cuts, bruises, skin diseases, injuries and insect bites.
• The leaves and branches are also used to treat gums that are swollen, bleeding or painful.  Just add a bit of salt to the pounded leaves and branches and apply to the affected area.
• The leaves and branches are boiled and the water is drunk to treat injuries, blood clots and also to reduce swelling. 

Rujukan/Sources:
Tanaman Hiasan: Khasia Makanan & Ubtan oleh Ong Hean Chooi
http://www.gardenjoy.co.uk/foliageshrubs/gardenshrub0236.htm

BLOGGING INTERRUPTED

I have not been updating this blog for some time.  My apologies to all my regular visitors.  The reason is that I had to move from my rented house to a house I bought after the house owner told me that he wanted to sell his house. It took me a few months to get everything settled and also to get back to my normal routine.
After weeks and weeks of getting the new house renovated and all the repairs done, I have moved in.  This morning I went and visited a nursery in Ipoh to look at the flowers and plants there.  So, watch out for my new posts about plants.

MALAY VERSION
Dah lama saya tak update blog ini.  Maaf kepada semua pelawat blog setia ini.  Sebab saya tak dapat menulis blog adalah kerana saya sibuk pindah rumah.  Dengan sukacitanya saya maklumkan bahawa saya dah selamat berpindah dan pagi ini saya dapat melawat nursery di Ipoh.
Saya akan blog tentang pokok bunga dan herba yang saya jumpai di nursery ini di post-post akan datang.

POKOK KUNCUR

Nama tempatan herba ini adalah kuncur.  Kuncur dimakan sebagai Ulam.  Pokok Kuncur dalam gambar-gambar di atas ditanam dibelakang Restoran Silaturahim di Teluk Batik, Manjung.
Saya belum dapat menjumpai nama botani pokok herba ini sampai sekarang.

ENGLISH VERSION
The local name for this herb is Kuncur.  It is eaten as a salad or ulam by the locals.  The above photographs of the plants were taken at the back of the Silaturahim Restaurant in Teluk Batik where the herb is planted. 
I have yet to find the Botanical name of this plant.  Can anyone help?

AECHMEA FASCIATA

Common names/Nama tempatan:  Silver-Vase, Urn Plant
Botanical name/Nama Botani: Aechmea fasciata
Genus/Genus: Aechmea
Family/Famili: Bromeliaceae
Species/Spesis: A. fasciata

Reference/Rujukan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aechmea_fasciata

VARIEGATED OYSTER PLANT

Common names/Nama tempatan:  Variegated Oyster Plant, Variegated Boat Lily/Plant, Variegated Moses-in-the-basket, Variegated Moses-in-the-cradle
Botanical names/Nama Botani: Tradescantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’ or Tradescantia spathacea ‘Hawaiian Dwarf’
Family/Famili: Commelinaceae


Reference/Rujukan: http://www.jaycjayc.com/tradescantia-bermudensis-variegata-dwarf/

RUI SIANG

The Chinese name for the plant above is Rui Siang.  Anyone knows its scientific name?

ASHITABA/TOMORROW'S LEAF

Common names:  Tomorrow's Leaf, Ashitaba, Chinese Angelica, Ming Re Ye 明日葉
Botanic name: Angelica keiskei
Family: Apiaceae

Genus: Angelic

How the plant got its name:
Ability of the herbal plant to grow very fast symbolic by its name Ashitaba, means "tomorrow's leaf". Harvesting a leaf at the break of day results often in a new sprout growing over night, being visible the following morning.

Medicinal uses:

• Ashitaba known to purify blood and circulation, cleanse the colon, relieve muscle, joint, and nerve discomfort and enhance lung function. 
• Powerful antioxidants, nutrients, and energetic properties.
• Ashitaba improves skin ("Ashitaba exfoliates the dead skin that causes a dull complexion and / or clogged pores".
• Also, herb heals scrapes, cuts, insect bites, acne, and ulcers and hair quality. Reduces cell damage and increases blood circulation to the skin thus producing wrinkle free skin and hair grows thicker (fuller and stronger) with a color shine and preventing dry or brittle hair.

How to eat the Ashitaba leaves:

1. The dried Ashitaba plants can be used to make tea. 
2. Use your Ashitaba plants as a healthy ingredient in soups.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashitaba
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/588995/ashitaba_chinese_herbal_medicinal_and.html?cat=68
http://www.ehow.com/how_5675823_use-ashitaba-plants.html

DAUN PUDINA / MINT LEAVES

Nama tempatan/Common names:  Daun Pudina, Peppermint

Nama botani/Botanic name:  Mentha Piperita

Spesis/species:  Mentha

Keluarga/Family: Lamiaceae

Kegunaan

1. Selain digunakan dalam masakan, daun pudina juga ada digunakan sebagai teh untuk minuman.
2. Kesemua jenis pudina boleh bertindak sebagai perangsang dan membantu penghadaman serta mengurangkan flatulens.
3. Ia juga bersifat sebagai antiseptik, antiparasit dan anti virus.
4. Pemakanannya boleh meransangkan tubuh badan mengeluarkan peluh.
5. Daun pudina juga digunakan untuk membuat ubat sapu untuk merawat selesema, sakit kepala, kekejangan otot dan sakit-sakit badan manakala minyak yang diperbuat daripada daun pudina boleh menghilangkan rasa loya serta kejutan dan mempertingkatkan konsentrasi.

Sumber: http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ahmad/tugasan/s3_99/s_norazian.html

RUDRAKSHA TREE

My former student, Sharveen, got a ride from me to go to school this morning as he was invited to Prize Giving Day of our school.  Sharveen scored 5As for the 2009 SPM and was invited back to school to receive a prize.  While I was driving him to school, he commented that the Rudraksha beads that I had hanging in the car were fake.  After the ceremony in school, Sharveen brought me to a shop selling the real Rudraksha beads.  He is holding a strand of 54 prayer beads.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

Bekas pelajar saya, Sharveen, menumpang kereta saya ke sekolah pagi ini kerana beliau dijemput menghadiri Hari Anugerah di sekolah.  Sharveen mendapat 5A dalam peperiksaan SPM 2009 dan dijemput balik ke sekolah untuk menerima anugerah.  Semasa dalam kereta saya, Sharveen menyatakan bahawa manik Rudraksha ayg saya mengantung di kereta adalah palsu.  Selepas upacara di sekolah, Sharveen membawa saya ke satu kedai yang menjual manik Rudraksha yang original.  Di gambar di atas, Sharveen memegang manik rantai yang mengandungi 54 biji manik sembahyang.

I am holding a longer strand of Rudraksha beads whichs is made up of more than a 100 beads. 

Saya memegang rantai Rudraksha yang mengandungi 100 biji manik. 

The prayer beads comes in different sizes and lengths.

Saiz dan panjang manik sembahyang ini berbeza. 

Rudraksha beads are known as Tears of Lord Siva.  They are the original Vedic beads worn by the Yogis of India and the Himalayas for thousands of years to maintain health and gain self-empowement.    The Rudraksha beads are actually the seeds from the fruit of the Rudraksha tree. 

I learnt about these wonderful beads last year and was trying to find out where to find such a tree.  By coincidence, Sharveen saw the fake beads that I bought and he showed me where to buy the real ones.  When I asked him if he knew where to find such a tree, he said that it could be found at an ashram in Sitiawan.  Of course, I made him take me to the place after I bought the prayer beads.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

Manik Rudraksha dikenali sebagai Air Mata Lord Siva.  Mereka ini merupakan manik Veda yang asalnya dipakai oleh Yogi-yogi India di Himalaya selama beribu-ribu tahun untuk mengekalkan kesihatan dan untuk mendapat kekuatan diri.  Manik Rudraksha adalah biji-biji buah pokok Rudraksha. 

Saya mempelajari tentang manik yang hebat ini tahun lepas dan giat mencari dimana boleh menjumpai pokok ini.  Secara kebetulan, Sharveen yang nampak manik tiruan saya di kereta menunjukkan tempat untuk membeli manik yang sebenar.  Bila saya menanya dia di mana tumbuhnya pokok ini, Sharveen memberitahu yang pokok ini tumbuh di satu ashram di Sitiawan.  Selepas membeli rantai manik sembahyang, Sharveen menunjukkan saya di mana ashram itu.

Here is the Rudraksha tree which is planted in front of the Sanathana Dharma Ashram in Sitiawan.  As a matter of fact, they have 3 Rudraksha trees in the compound. The founder of the Ashram told me that they got the seedlings of the tree from Hawaii. The children of the Ashram would pick the fruits and process them to be sold.  This is one of the activities carried out by the children.  I heard that the beads would be sold during religious Hindu festivals.  The beads available are the Four Face and Five Face ones.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

Inilah pokok Rudraksha yang ditanam di depan Sanathana Dharma Ashram di Sitiawan.  Sebenarnya ada 3 pohon pokok Rudraksha di sana.  Pengasas Ashram memberitahu saya beliau mendapat biji benih pokok ini dari Hawaii.  Budak-budak di Ashram akan mengumpul buah dan prosesnya untuk dijual.  Ini adalah satu aktiviti yang dijalankan oleh budak-budak di sana.  Saya difahamkan bahawa manik-manik Rudraksha akan di jual semasa perayaan Hindu.  Manik-manik yang dijual ada 4 Muka dan 5 Muka.

Common names:  Rudraksha
Scientific name: Elaeocarpus ganitrus
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Genus: Elaeocarpus
Species: E. ganitrus

Information:
Rudraksha Mala has been used by Hindus (as well as Sikhs and Buddhists) as rosary for thousands of years for meditation purposes to sanctify the mind, body and soul. The word Rudraksha is derived from Rudra (Shiva—the Hindu God of all living creatures) and aksha (eyes). One Hindu legend says that once Lord Shiva opened his eyes after a long time dyana or yoga, because of extreme fulfillment he shed out tear. This single tear from Shiva’s eye grew into the Rudraksha tree. Rudraksha fruit is blue in color but turns black when dried. The central hard Rudraksha uni-seed has 1 to 108 faces and 2 to 21 faces Rudraksha are available, 1 faced Rudraksha is scarcely available, Rudraksha having 22 to 108 are almost extinct, there are people sayings that 22 to 108 faced Rudrakshas plants are still there at the foot hills of Himalayas and Manasa-sarover regions, but still no one has seen them.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraksha

POKOK GAJUS

Nama tempatan: Pokok gajus, jambu golok

Nama saintifik: Anacardium occidentale

Famili: Anacardiaceae.

Keterangan:
Pokok ini berasal dari negara Brazil dan ditanam untuk mendapatkan bijinya. Biji buah gajus yang digoreng atau dipanggang adalah sejenis makanan ringan yang boleh didapati di pasaran. Ia juga boleh digunakan sebagai hidangan masakan dan kuih.
Ia mempunyai daun yang lebar dan licin. Pucuknya boleh dimakan dan sering diambil bagi dimakan dengan dicicah budu. Pucuknya mempunyai rasa yang kelat sedikit tetapi sedap.

Sumber: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokok_Gajus

POKOK ARA

Pokok Ara (bahasa Inggeris: ficus) merupakan genus untuk kira-kira 800 spesies pokok berkayu, pokok renek, dan pokok menjalar dalam famili Moraceae. Pokok ini berasal dari seluruh kawasan tropika, dengan beberapa spesies yang bertumbuh juga di kawasan iklim sederhana yang hangat.

ENGLISH VERSION

FICUS
Ficus (Malay language: Ara) is a genus with about 800 species of woody plants, shrubs and climbing plants in the Moraceae family.  This plant originates from the tropics, with a few species in temperate climates. 

Sumber/Source: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokok_Ara

TEMU PAUH

Common names/Nama tempatan: Temu Pauh, Temu Labab, Mango ginger

Botanic name/Nama botani: Curcuma Alba Rhizoma

Family/famili: Zingiberaceae

Genus: Curcuma

Keterangan/Information:
Rasa ubi temu pauh seperti bau mangga tetapi tidak masam. Dimakan untuk membuka selera.
The temu pauh tastes like mangoes but it is not sour. It is used as an appetizer.

Kegunaan/Uses:
Temu Pauh bersama daun inai, temu lawak dan halia bara mampu membakar lemak dibadan.
Caranya/Temu Pauh together with inai leaves, temu lawak and halia baru can help to burn body fats:

Method/Cara:

1. Bahan-bahan diatas dipotong serong dan kecil kecil./Cut all the ingredients in a slanting manner. Make sure they are cut into small pieces.
2. Goreng tanpa minyak selama 5 minit./Fry without oil for 5 minutes.
3. Masukkan garam./Add salt.
4. Gaul sebati./Mix evenly.
5. Goreng hingga 1/2 jam, sehingga bahan berbau harum./Fry for half an hour until the ingredients smell fragrant.
6. Ramuan yang digoreng tadi diletakkan pada tuala, ikat seperti bonjot./The fried ingredients are then placed on a towel and tied like a ball.
7. Tekapkan perlahan-lahan pada perut, peha dan betis./Apply it slowly on the stomach, thighs and shin.
8. Do this for a week each night before going to bed.
   

Secara tradisional digunakan dalam proses penyembuhan kanker payudara, maag, gangguan pencernaan./ Traditionally it helps to treat breast cancer, gastritis and digestive system problem.

References:

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/produk-premium/
http://www.sidomuncul.com/bb_simplisiakering.php