REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM - Researchers of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) found some rare plants in Batam forest which can cure HIV/AIDS. LIPI researcher's team found them during exploration to identify the types of plants that are needed in the construction of Batam Botanical Gardens.

"The location is in Sei Temiang forest and Sei Harapan forest. We found a kind of tree Agarwood or Aquilaria hirta which is a rare plant in the world. The team also found Grammatophyllum and Calophyllum lanigerum or Bintangor (local name) which are believed can treat HIV/AIDS," Head of Public Relations of Batam, Ardiwinata said on Thursday.

With the discovery of several rare plant species, local governments hopes Batam Botanical Gardens can be a center of conservation of coastal flora in Indonesia. Head of Bogor Botanical Gardens, Mustaid Siregar said Batam had 80 endemic plants grow in forest conservation. Endemic plant which most special is Bintangor which is believed can treat many diseases.

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