PAKIS TANDUK RUSA/STAGHORN FERN

Platycerium superbum

Nama tempatan/Common names: Pakis Tanduk Rusa, Staghorn Fern

Genus: Platycerium
Famili/Family: Polypodiaceae
Spesies/Species: P. wallihi

Penggunaan Pakis Tanduk Rusa

Pakis Tanduk Rusa dapat digunakan untuk mengubati bengkak-bengkak pada anggota badan, iaitu daunnya dihaluskan bersama campuran "adus, pulasari" serta bawang merah, dan kemudian terus ditampalkan pada bahagian yang bengkak.

Medicinal uses

The staghorn fern is used to treat swellings on various parts of the body.

Sumber rujukan/source: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokok_Tanduk_Rusa

MULBERRY PLANT/POKOK SUTERA

There is this mulberry plant in my school Herb Garden which is bearing fruit at the present moment. Besides the delicious mulberries, the leaves can also be eaten as Ulam (eaten raw like salad). The leaves can also be dried and be drunk as tea. You can also use the leaves to make soup. The leaves are said to be an antioxidant and is good for strengthening the eyes.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

Inilah pokok sutera atau pokok malberi yang ditanam di Taman Herba sekolah saya yang kini sedang berbuah. Selain daripada buah mulberi, daun pokok ini juga boleh dimakan sebagai ulam. Daunnya yang dikeringkan dijadikan teh untuk minuman. Daunnya boleh juga dibuat sup. Daun pokok sutera mengandungi antioksidan dan boleh menguatkan mata.

BAKOTO PLUM

Here are five pictures of the Bakoto plum or Flacourtia Inermis plant which I think is what my visitor, the UiTM research student is trying to identify. Its common names are Lovi-lovi and Bakoto Plum.

I am certain that the plant that he is trying to identify is from the Flacourtia genus. However, there are a few more types that resemble the plant in the pictures he sent me. They are Flacourtia indica, Flacourtia rukam (Rukam Masam) dan Flacourtia jangomas.

VERSI BAHASA MELAYU

Di sini adalah 5 gambar pokok Bakoto plum atau Flacourtia Inermis yang saya rasa adalah tumbuhan yang pelajar dari UiTM (yang menghubungi saya melalui emel) cuba mendapatkan nama spesis. Nama tempatan tumbuhan ini adalah Lovi-lovi dan Bakoto Plum.

Saya pasti pokok ini adalah dari famili Flacourtia. Tetapi ada juga beberapa lagi jenis pokok dalam keluarga ini yang lebih kurang sama dengan gambar-gambar yang dihantar oleh pelajar ini. Jenis-jenis yang lain adalah Flacourtia indica, Flacourits rukan (Rukam Masam) dan Flacourtia jangomas.

Image source: http://shitteruhawaii.web.fc2.com/batokoplum.htm

FIG PLANT

This morning, I went to the Herb Garden to have a look at the Fig plant there. Well, I am happy to report that it has grown much bigger. Actually, it had grown a bit too high and the gardener trimmed off about 2 feet of it.

As for plant care, I am not of much help as my job is just to source for the plants, document and provide information about them. There is another teacher who is in-charge of the gardening. Then there is a gardener who comes and prunes the plants. The janitors water the plants in the morning while my librarians do it in the evenings.

For your information, I bought the plant from the Farmer's Market in Kampung Koh, Sitiawan. It cost about RM8.00.

IS THIS PLANT CALLED ASSAM ROKAM?

One student from UiTM in Shah Alam, Razis, wrote in to ask me if I could help him identify the plant above. He is planning on researching this plant for his Masters degree. Well, one of my friends said it looked like a plant called Assam Rokam in Malay. However, I looked for it in the Internet and came up with nothing. So, is there anyone out there who could provide some information for my young visitor who is thinking of doing research on this plant?

I'M WORKING ON IT

A few of the visitors to this blog had written in to ask me for information about some plants during the holidays. Unfortunately, I have been very busy from the second last week of 2009 until now and so was unable to go and look for the information. I am still busy as I have a lot of paperwork to complete and lots of things to plan for the new school year.
However, I will try to find answers to the queries that were put forward by everyone. There was this young lady who wanted to know the name of my school, so that she could visit the Herb Garden. Well, the school that I am teaching in is Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Seri Manjung. It is located in the Manjung district of Perak. Before I forget, New Year Greetings to all of you.

AURORA CHILI PLANT

During the Chinese New Year, the Chinese like to decorate their homes with plant that have flowers and fruits. This symbolises a bountiful harvest for the coming year and also growth. I bought this pot of Capsicum Annuum Aurora at the market this weekend. Initially the trader priced it at RM18.00 but since I'm a regular customer, he sold it to me for RM13.00. Besides being used as an ornamental plant, the chili can be eaten. It seems that they are hot.

Here is some information about the plant:

Family: Solanaceae (so-lan-AY-see-ee)
Genus: Capsicum
Species: annuum
Cultivar: Aurora