Hundreds of Semeru Orchids Introduced in the UM Surabaya Virtual Tour

University of Muhammadiyah Surabaya (UM Surabaya) in commemorating its 38th anniversary held various programs. One of them is the 2022 Semeru Literacy Festival (FLS), which will peak on March 23, 2022.

The agenda that was held on the slopes of Semeru, Sumber Mujur Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency consisted of the Alam Raya School, the Orchid Virtual Tour and the Healthy Semeru Movement. One of the interesting events is the Anggrek Virtual Tour.

"The Orchid Virtual Tour is an agenda to introduce various types of orchids and technical methods of cultivating them. The event is guided by local residents who have been dealing with orchids for years, assisted by Matana volunteers (Disaster Response Students)," said Radius Setiyawan, Manager Director of FLS 2022 at the event location. .

Saiful Amiri, a local resident who is also an orchid conservation activist, explained the various types of orchids, especially their post-eruption conditions. He also mentioned that there are approximately 242 species in Semeru.

"After the eruption of Semeru, I monitored the condition of the orchids on the mountain. It was observed that their condition was not too disturbed. I and several student volunteers walked along the mountain to see their habitat one by one. We met various unique and interesting orchids there." said Cak Saif, Saiful's nickname.

Saif also added that of the hundreds of existing orchids. There are three types of orchids that attract attention. Namely the smallest type of orchid in the world, the Jewel Orchid and the Ghost Orchid.

"Corybas Pictus is one of the smallest types of orchids in the world. It has a small green shape and is a rare type of plant." said Saif on live YouTube UM Surabaya

Apart from Saif, UM Surabaya Disaster Response Student (Matana) volunteer Syahril Ali Syabana also explained.

"Macodes Petola or what people call it the Jewel Orchid with its characteristic leaf veins spitting out sparkles like jewels, especially at night. This type of plant in 1990 was one of the most hunted plant species. So the manager of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park declared the status of this type of plant protected," said Syahril.

While the other type is Chilostita Javanica or Ghost Orchid. This type of plant has no leaves. It only has roots and small flowers. The name of the ghost is pinned because the plant is easy to disguise. It is part of adaptation. Besides that, the appearance of the flower resembling a ghost figure.