Diversity of Types of Medicinal Plants and Local Wisdom of the Kaili Tribe in Processing Medicinal Plants Around the Forest Areas of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

The forest area in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, is a habitat for various medicinal plant species. Forest areas must be managed appropriately for the local community and society's welfare and sustainable use. One of the local people living around the forest is the Kaili tribe. The local wisdom of the Kaili tribe, who inhabit forest areas in Central Sulawesi, in managing forests and forest products, especially using plants as medicine, must be documented in research. This study aimed to identify the species, habitat, habitus, and ways of using the plant as medicine by the Kaili people in the Sigi Regency. Prior to data collection, a literature study was conducted to obtain information regarding the condition of the research location around the forest area and the ethnic/ethnic groups who live permanently around and within the forest area. This stage was then followed by interviews and field surveys. The interviews were conducted by combining purposive sampling and snowball methods. The results showed the high potency of medicinal plants around forest areas used by the Kaili tribe, with the discovery of 113 species in 51 families. Herbs are the most common habitus of medicinal plants. The habitat of medicinal plants is mainly found in the yard. The most used plant part is the leaves, which can be boiled in water and drunk directly. Key words: Kaili tribe, Local knowledge, Medicinal plants, Species diversity.