New Plant Species Discovery Named in Honor of IPB Professor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Professor Tatik Chikmawati of IPB University has been honored by having a new plant species from the Araceae (aroid) family named after her. The new species was successfully discovered by a research team from the Center for Biosystematics and Evolution Research of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) in the Riau Province.

The plant is named Homalomena chikmawatiae as a form of tribute to Tatik Chikmawati for her contributions to the development of plant biosystematics in Indonesia.

Tatik is a professor at IPB University in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. As a doctoral graduate in plant science from the University of Missouri, USA, she is actively involved in teaching various courses and mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.

The research results have been published in the international journal Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography, Volume 80(1), pages 99-104, April 2025, under the title "Nomenclatural Changes and New Species in Malesian Homalomena (Araceae)" (Irsyam et al, 2025).

"The paper was written by two IPB University alumni under my guidance during my postgraduate studies at IPB, namely the first author Arifin S.D. Irsyam and the last author Muhammad R. Hariri," Tatik said in a written statement on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Unique Characteristics of Homalomena Chikmawatiae

Tatik revealed that Homalomena chikmawatiae has various advantages both in terms of aesthetics and ecological function. "The maintenance of Homalomena chikmawatiae is very minimal, suitable for beginners, and excellent as an indoor ornamental plant. Its leaves are unique, with contrasting colors and prominent leaf veins resembling a painting," she said.

According to Tatik, the plant is easy to cultivate due to its high adaptability. It prefers low light or shade and does not require excessive watering. "It can grow well even in infertile soil, which saves on maintenance costs and labor," she added.

Its natural habitat is in rocky, sloping, and somewhat shady areas, indicating that the plant is not suitable for open areas exposed to direct sunlight.

Aside from being an ornamental plant, Tatik mentioned that Homalomena chikmawatiae is also believed to have great potential in the health and industrial sectors. The plant is known to absorb air pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene, making it ideal for enclosed spaces such as offices or homes. Furthermore, its fragrant leaves have the potential to be developed into basic perfume ingredients.

"In addition to absorbing pollutants, this plant also has the potential as an air remediation agent. In the long run, it could also be developed for health or medicinal products, although further research is still needed," Tatik said.

Plants from the Homalomena family have long been utilized by the community as traditional medicine, especially for treating swelling and infections due to their secondary metabolite content with antibacterial properties. However, the potential of this new species in this regard still requires further scientific investigation.

Tatik emphasized the importance of preserving species through sustainable utilization. She believes that when a plant has utilitarian and economic value, the community will be motivated to cultivate it, ultimately supporting its preservation.

"If this plant continues to be utilized, whether as an ornamental plant, medicine, or perfume, the community will take care of it. This is a form of needs-based conservation," she stated.

The discovery of Homalomena chikmawatiae not only enriches Indonesia's floral diversity but also paves the way for the sustainable and economically valuable utilization of local plants.

"We are researching how communities utilize plants in their surroundings, especially in remote areas. From there, we filter, test in the laboratory, and publish. It depends on how the industry can seize these opportunities," she concluded.

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