Studi Etnobotani Ritual Erpangir Ku Lau pada Masyarakat Karo di Kecamatan Kabanjahe Kabupaten Karo

Dinda Syahfitri; Tri Harsono; Cicik Suriani; Wina Dyah Puspita Sari; Dina Handayani; Ahmad Shafwan S. Pulungan

doi:10.36312/biocaster.v6i2.1126

Authors

Dinda Syahfitri Program Studi Biologi, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan William Iskandar Ps. V, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20221, Indonesia
Tri Harsono Program Studi Biologi, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan William Iskandar Ps. V, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20221, Indonesia
Cicik Suriani Program Studi Biologi, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan William Iskandar Ps. V, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20221, Indonesia
Wina Dyah Puspita Sari Program Studi Biologi, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan William Iskandar Ps. V, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20221, Indonesia
Dina Handayani Program Studi Biologi, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan William Iskandar Ps. V, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20221, Indonesia
Ahmad Shafwan S. Pulungan Program Studi Biologi, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan William Iskandar Ps. V, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20221, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36312/biocaster.v6i2.1126

Keywords:

Erpangir Ku Lau, Ethnobotany, Karo, Local Wisdom, Ritual Plants

Abstract

The Erpangir Ku Lau ritual is a Karo people's self-purification ritual that has traditionally utilized plants as the main element. This study aims to examine the belief system (cosmos), local knowledge (corpus), and plant utilization practices (praxis) in the Erpangir Ku Lau ritual in Kabanjahe District. The study was conducted in January 2026 in Lau Cimba Village using a qualitative and quantitative descriptive approach through semi-structured interviews with 10 key informants selected by purposive sampling. The results identified 17 species from 11 plant families. The Rutaceae family dominated with 4 species (23.53%), followed by Rosaceae with 3 species (17.65%), and Poaceae with 2 species (11.76%). The most commonly utilized organs were fruits and flowers (29.41%), followed by leaves (23.53%). Shrub habitus dominated with 47.06%. The Karo people view plants as symbolic and spiritually significant, with the kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix D.C.) as a key plant. Plant use reflects holistic local wisdom, combining ecological, chemical, and spiritual aspects. Documenting this traditional knowledge is crucial to prevent its extinction due to modernization.

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