The Distribution of Benuang Bini (Octomeles sumatrana) and Its Treats Along Kayan River, Bulungan, East Kalimantan

Benuang bini (Octomeles sumatrana Miq.; Octomeles moluccana Teijsm. & Binn. ex Hassk) is a long-lived pioneer that regenerates on clay or sandy loam soil, primarily on exposed alluvial soil, such as riverbanks which grows in Aceh, West Sumatera, Bengkulu, Palembang, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Maluku. This fast growing spesies is used for pulp, plywood, container wood, light construction wood, boxes, concrete moulds, match boxes, and chipboard. Young leaves are edible as vegetables, a leaf extract is used to cure stomachache and the flowers attract honeybees. Till now, benuang bini in East Kalimantan is more diminish because of some reasons. In other hand, it has many uses mentioned above and possible to rehabilitate logged over area as well as secondary forest. A study, aimed to know the distribution of benuang bini and its threat, was done on October- December 2005 in Kayan River, one of the major river in Bulungan, East Kalimantan. The data were gained by exploring from river’s mouth in Tanjung Selor until reaches of river in district of Long Peso by speedboat. Its specimen was also collected completely: leaf, flower and fruit (if available), stem bark, and others. We asked the local people for guiding the route and giving informations. The result shows that less than 500 trees were still exist. A few of benuang bini grows in a small group, the others alone. Shifting cultivation was the main cause that limited its distribution along the edge of Kayan River.

Keywords: distribution, benuang bini, threat, Kayan River

Source: Syahbudin, A. (2006) The Distribution of Benuang Bini (Octomeles sumatrana) and Its Treats Along Kayan River, Bulungan, East Kalimantan. International Conference on Natural Resources in the Tropics, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology UNIMAS, Serawak, Malaysia.