Each type of plant does have different levels of carbon dioxide absorption. There’s many factors influence the capability of plant to this capability, among others, based on the quality of existing chlorophyll in the leaf, which is determined by the extent of magnesium at the heart of chlorophyll. The greater level of magnesium contained in plant chlorophyll, leaf color will be more dark green. Thus helping to optimize the process of photosynthesis. Besides the plants / fruit trees belong to best carbon sinks class. This is because of fruiting plants (Spermatophyta) requires more energy to produce flowers and fruit.
Alternative Tree for Conservation
Trembesi Tree
Environmental problems are hot issue recently. And these are no exaggeration to say that. We know that without environment we can not life and any environmental problems that occur, like weather change, acid rain, the reduce of ozon layer and the most familiar “global warming” are very disturb our life. That’s why, all of us race to conserve environment with any slogan, for example “ Save Our Earth”, “Let’s Go Green” and “Make Green Our Earth”.
Most of institution has dedicated their self as eco-friendly or conservatory institution. For example Semarang State University declared itself as a conservation university. On earth day last year, Indonesian government had been verbalizing and “One Man One Tree” program. Did you know what tree is selected to be icon in this program? The answer is Trembessi tree. Why did they choose Trembesi tree? What are the potential advantages of this tree compared with another trees? How is the description of this tree? Are there any alternative conservation trees?
Trembesi tree, do you know about this tree? It has big stem, spherical and high between 10-20 meters. The surface of the steam is rough, groove and brown-blackness color. The leaf is complex leaf and double pinnatus. A leaf has oblongus shape with length 2-6 cm, width 1-4 cm, flat leafside, green color and slippery surface.
Trembesi has red-yellowness flower. It produce black pea-shaped fruits with 30-40 cm in length. Inside the fruit there are some hard oval-shaped seeds with length about 5 mm and brown blackness color.
This tree is supposed originate from Mexico, Peru and Brazil. But it has been dispersed in all of tropical climate zone, include Indonesia.
Trembesi tree ( Albizia saman or Samanea saman) also known as “Ki Hujan”. It because the capability to absorb is very strong, so water is often dripping. At some districts in Indonesia, this tree also called as Kayu Ambon(Malay), Trembesi, Munggur, Punggur, Meh (Java). In English Trembesi has some name, such as: East Indian Walnut, Rain Tree, Saman Tree, Acacia Preta, and False Powder Puff. And in other countries it called as Pukul Lima (Malaysia),Jamjuree (Thailand), Cay Mura (Vietnam), Vilaiti Siris (India), Bhagaya Mara(Canada), Algarrobo (Cuba), Campano (Colombia), Regenbaum (Germany),Chorona (Portugal).
Trembesi has special characteristic that make our government choose it to conserve Indonesia. Its canopy like umbrella with leaf size is no more than Rp 100 coin. But it is the most excellent to absorb CO2.
All of us know that every green plant absorb CO2 to photosynthesis. But, do you know that one tree can absorb 20-30 gr a day. So, how about Trembesi? Doctor of forestry of Bogor Institute of Agriculture Dr. Ir. Endes N. Dahlan has researched 43 kinds of trees that is often be used to reforesting project. And the result proved that Trembesi tree is the most superior to absorb CO2. Besed on the research, one Trembesi tree could absorb 28.488,39 kg CO2 a year. It mean 78,05 kg CO2 could be absorbed by this tree a day. It’s big numeral, isn’t it?
Look at the table of comparison about absorption capability of trees.
| | Local name | Scientific name | Absorption Capability CO2(Kg/tree/year) |
| 1 | Trembesi | Samanea saman | 28.448,39 |
| 2 | Cassia | Cassia sp | 5.295,47 |
| 3 | Kenanga | Canangium odoratum | 756,59 |
| 4 | Pingku | Dysoxylum excelsum | 720,49 |
| 5 | Beringin | Ficus benyamina | 535,90 |
| 6 | Krey paying | Fellicium decipiens | 404,83 |
| 7 | Matoa | Pornetia pinnata | 329,76 |
| 8 | Mahoni | Swettiana mahagoni | 295,73 |
| 9 | Saga | Adenanthera pavoniana | 221,18 |
| 10 | Bungkur | Lagerstroema speciosa | 160,14 |
| 11 | Jati | Tectona grandis | 135,27 |
| 12 | Nangka | Arthocarpus heterophyllus | 126,51 |
| 13 | Johar | Cassia grandis | 116,25 |
| 14 | Sirsak | Annona muricata | 75,29 |
| 15 | Puspa | Schima wallichii | 63,31 |
| 16 | Akasia | Acacia auriculiformis | 48,68 |
| 17 | Flamboyan | Delonix regia | 42,20 |
| 18 | Sawo kecik | Manilkara kauki | 36,19 |
| 19 | Tanjung | Mimusops elengi | 34,29 |
| 20 | Bunga merak | Caesalpinia pulcherrima | 30,95 |
| 21 | Sempur | Dilena retusa | 24,24 |
| 22 | Khaya | Khaya anthotheca | 21,90 |
| 23 | Merbau pantai | Intsia bijuga | 19,25 |
| 24 | Akasia | Acacia mangium | 15,19 |
| 25 | Angsana | Pterocarpus indicus | 11,12 |
| 26 | Asam kranji | Pithecelobium dulce | 8,48 |
| 27 | Saputangan | Maniltoa grandiflora | 8,26 |
| 28 | Dadap merah | Erythrina cristagalli | 4,55 |
| 29 | Rambutan | Nephelium lappaceum | 2,19 |
| 30 | Asam | Tamarindus indica | 1,49 |
| 31 | Kempas | Coompasia excels | 0,20 |
| | | | |
Statistics:
1-2 : Very high
3-5 : High
6-10 : Rather high
11-16 : Medium
17-24 : Low
24-31 : Very low
According the table above we know that Trembesi is the most superior tree to absorb CO2 and the second place is Cassia tree. The comparison of absorption capability of Trembesi tree with oter trees are significant. This ia the first reason why Trembesi is the best choice for conservation.
Trembesi also multifunctional tree. Its roots can absorb water maximally. It suitabel for critical land or mountain to prevent landslide and flashflood. The stem is used as material building. The seed usually called “Mindhik” (Siter or Godril) not only as snack (like kwaci) but also function as laxative. And the leaf also can be used for skin disease medicine.
But unfortunately, this tree has so big and wide root lines, so it often damage buildings around it. Beside that, it has thick foliage that usually cover other plant under it, so the plant can not grow well.
From the explanation above, with all positive and negative side Trembessi is the best plant to reduce air pollution and to keep global warming down than any trees in the world. It is the greatest CO2 absorbing plant. And all of its body parts are useful for us.
To See the plant picture, go to Part 2
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