Kecombrang Chosen As The 2020 HCPSN Mascot

Kecombrang flower (Photo: Riza Harahap / Antara)

JAKARTA - The kecombrang plant (Etlingera elatior) was chosen as a mascot on the commemoration of the National Animal and Puspa Love Day 2020.

"This kecombrang plant was chosen because it has become a food ingredient for the community," said Head of the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS), Ahmad Munawir, in Bogor City, as reported by Antara, Monday, November 9.

The National Animal and Puspa Love Day (HCPSN) in 2020 is commemorated every November 5 and in 2020 it features the theme, "Puspa and Satwa, for the Hope of Food Security and Health".

According to Munawir, kecombrang or kantan or honje plants are commonly found in West Java, including in TNGHS. "This kecombrang plant was chosen as a mascot at the 2020 HCPSN commemoration, so that people will know and love it more," he said.

The Head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Botanical Garden and Plant Conservation Research Center, R Hendrian, said that kecombrang flowers, which have a distinctive aroma, have only been used until now only as raw material for traditional culinary, namely raw materials for chili sauce and food preservatives.

According to him, there is a need for further development of the substances contained in kecombrang plants until their optimal utilization is known.

Indonesia is very rich in natural flora and fauna resources, but this wealth is only at the potential stage, it has not yet reached its optimal utilization. "One of them is kecombrang plant, which needs to be done further, so that its utilization can be optimal," he said.

Kecombrang is a spice plant with soft trunk and has a distinctive aroma, so kecombrang flowers are often used as a traditional food ingredient.

Kecombrang plants are also shrubs with a height of about 1-3 meters, erect, fake trunk, and frond to form rhizomes. Kecombrang flowers are about 20-30 cm long and are pink in color.