Indonesian Tropical Medicinal Plants Diversity: Problems and Challenges in Identification

Indonesian tropical medicinal plants are very diverse and because of its diversity, identification of each species becomes problems. Until 2001, only 2,039 species could be identified and provided with relatively completed information and it is only 0.05 % of all plants species in Indonesia. This paper is aimed at describing Indonesian tropical medicinal plants diversity, its problems and challenges in identification, and suggesting on developing methodologies for effective and efficient identification. Diversity of medicinal plants could be categorized into diversity in the family groups, habitat, life form, utilization, and part of plants used as medicine. Problems found in identification of medicinal plants are (1) Limited number of local people who knows, recognizes, and understands medicinal plants diversity and usage that can identify medicinal plants in the field, (2) Limited number of plant identification books/guides with many pages in each books/guide which is troublesome to be brought to the field, (3) Limited number of authorized institution and facilities for plants identification, (4) Limited number of taxonomists in each authorized institution that can scientifically identify enormous plant species, (5) Time and money consuming, as effects of problems (1) to (4). Challenges could be identified are: (1) Encouraging young generations to become taxonomist, (2) Encouraging young generations to continue the legacy of their ancestors, including recognizing and identification of plants species for medicines, (3) Developing more authorized institution for specimens’ identification, (4) Developing technology that reduces problems in identification, (5) Developing networking with stakeholders in technology. In order to reduce problems in identification using technologies, scientists in computers and information technologies need to understand how taxonomists identify plants. Medicinal plants information contained in herbarium specimens is important clues for taxonomists to identify the species as well as for scientists and technologists in developing identification technologies.