by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, April 16: One of the most recognised plants which can be found growing in abundance throughout Sarawak is the wild myrtle rose or kemunting, which is known for its sweet fruit.
Most native Ibans referred to this plant or its fruit as ‘pucuk kemunting’ or ‘buah kemunting’.
It is well known among the natives of Sarawak due to its edible fruit is edible, and medicinal properties.
This shrub can grow to about two metres in height and has distinct light purple flowers and berry-like fruits that turned dark purple when ripe.
These days, the shrub is more appreciated in terms of its ornamental value.
For those who experienced their youth growing up in a village, the abundant fruits from the kemunting shrub, if found, are welcome sources of sweet, fruity treats.
In his younger days, this reporter would select branch forks from the kemunting to make the frame for a slingshot or catapult to use in small game hunting.
Young children would also use the purple-coloured juice from its fruit to make paper bullets as ammunition for homemade bamboo shooters (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/200480620881747072/). The juice-soaked paper bullets would leave purple stains on targets upon impact.
While recently foraging for wild kemunting fruit along a village road, this reporter met an elder man who told him that applying masticated kemunting leaf could stop bleeding from slight cuts or wounds.
“To stop diarrhea or from food poisoning, we can boil a few leaves to make a drink out of it. The boiled roots of the plant can ease body and stomach cramp for women,” he told DayakDaily.
“In those days or even now, people in the village who go out to work their farm or go hunting always pluck some leaves and keep them in their ‘ta-kin’ or baskets,” he added.
Due to its edible fruits, as well as health benefits and ornamental value, many people nowadays grow kemunting shrubs in large pots for their plant collection, personal consumption consume, or commercial purposes.
However, with increasing urbanisation, newer generations may not be familiar with the shrub and its benefits.
On your next walk or drive in the countryside, do keep an eye out and you might just spot a wild kemunting plant.
There is a variety of kemunting plants or rose myrtle plants available at the garden shop, or you may purchase them online, but this reporter still believed that the abundant wild species is still unique. — DayakDaily
