Endemic Plants
Arfak Mountains Regency, West Papua, has some amazing biological riches. There are three ecotourism potentials in Arfak Mountains Regency: flora, fauna, and culture.
The Arfak Mountains Nature Reserve is an ecosystem inhabited by protected wildlife. There are various types of bird-wing butterflies (Ornithoptera spp.), which are sought after by international collectors. In fact, foreign tourists come to the Arfak Mountains because they want to enjoy its natural beauty, endemic animals, plants and community culture. Within the area, there are 110 species of mammals with 44 species recorded, 320 species of aves, of which are endemic such as the arfak bird of paradise (Astrapia nigra), the western parotia (Parotia sefilata), and the plain bowbird (Amblyornis inornatus).
Bulbophyllum adolinae is an epiphytic plant and is endemic to the Arfak Mountains. This orchid lives on a tree trunk covered with moss at 1,970 meters above sea level. This orchid includes a new type of orchid that was discovered in 2014 by a research team from the University of Papua and Kew Botanical Garden from the United Kingdom, at Lake Anggi Gidi (another name Anggi Giji), Arfak Mountains Regency, West Papua.
March-April, July-September, and November-December are the best times to visit Arfak Mountain regency. Why, because the flowers on Mount Tombrok and Kobre are starting to bloom, one of the types is the Earth orchid.
Anggi district feels so peaceful and comfortable. Around their houses grow perennial flowers Rhododendron sp. colorful. Passion fruit, tomatoes, potatoes and onions are not far from the steps of their houses. It's a really nice sight and atmosphere.
Musa Ingens Giant Banana
The head of the Center for Biodiversity Research (Puslit Kehati) at the University of Papua said that musa ingens is an endemic plant on the large island of Papua or the Neu Genea region. The banana tree, the only largest tree in Indonesia and even in the world. So far, these plants cannot be found other than in some areas in the mountainous regions of Papua and West Papua. The Arfak Mountains, West Papua, are one of the habitats for the tree's growth.
The height of this banana tree can reach 12 to 15 meters with a tree diameter or midrib of more than 50 cm. This tree lives 900 meters above sea level (asl). In addition to Arfak Mountains, this giant plant can also found in the mountain area of Yapen Regency, Puncak Jaya, Cyclops of Papua Province and several highlands in the State of Papua Neu Genea.
Besides amazing compared to banana trees in common, this banana is used by the community as traditional medicine. People believe, bananas are efficacious to treat several types of diseases. In addition, the midrib can be used as craft material. In addition it is quite wide and thick, the midrib is quite strong.
In addition to the giant banana, the Arfak Mountains also have one type of banana plant that can only found in the area. The Latin name of this banana is Musa Arfakiana Argent. Generally, the banana bunches hang down following the earth's gravity. But the bunches of Musa Arfakiana banana tree stick out upwards, this plant is endemic to the Arfak Mountains. There are certain genetics that distinguish Musa Ingens and Musa Arfakiana bananas from banana trees in common. This is an advantage of the biological wealth of Arfak Mountains which must be preserved through conservation efforts.
This area, which 80 percent is a conservation forest area, has a lot of natural wealth that cannot be found in other areas. Besides Musa Ingens and Musa Arfakiana, this mountainous area of Arfak still has many other biodiversity, both flora and fauna.
