Ethnographic and plant utilization: A case study of the Penguluh Tribe, Jambi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract The Penguluh Tribe is a local community in the Bukit Bulan Karst mountain area in Limun District, Sarolangun Regency, especially in the Limun River basin. Four villages comprise the Penguluh Tribe: Napal Melintang, Meribung, Mersip, and Temalang. Muslim members constitute the majority of the Penguluh Tribe. While the general language of the Penguluh community is Jambi Malay, the Jambi dialect of Padang is utilized in daily life. Agricultural livelihoods, gardening, gold panning, and forest and non-timber products. The knowledge system of the Penguluh Tribe is characterized by the discovery of artefacts (ancient writing or drawings) in Kandang Kerbau Cave, Air Lului Cave, Kasai Cave, Sekdes Cave, Lumut Cave, Limau Kape Cave and Gunsiu Cave. Primary data about the utilization of food and medicinal plants were acquired via snowball sampling techniques and in-depth interviews with informants concerning the varieties of food and medicinal plants employed by the Penguluh Tribe. Village communities still use traditional methods to treat various diseases, such as durian (Durio zibethinus), the leaves used as a potion to treat fever, and the fruit, which is also used as food.