Z

span class="caption" style="width: 280px;">Zodia planted on a pot is placed near a door in Cilandak, South Jakarta. On a mission to rid yourself of marauding mosquitoes?

Today, advances in science have brought us powerful, chemicalbased mosquito repellents or electric “rackets” to zap the pests. Of course, the environmentally conscious prefer a more green friendly option, including plants that are a natural repellent for the insects.

One of the most popular is zodia (Evodia suaveolens), which is endemic to Papua. The plant has small, fl at, green yellowish leaves, and the scent of its fl ower is known to disorient and repel mosquitoes.

In Jakarta, zodia is commonly planted in pots or among decorative plants. For some people, zodia serves as a security blanket to block annoying and potentially dangerous attacks of mosquitoes. Bernadette Kusminah could not stand dealing with mosquitoes from the gutter outside her home in Cilandak, South Jakarta.

“We were having a Christmas party on my terrace when a swarm of mosquitoes attacked my relatives and other guests. They were unable to sit comfortably but had to busy themselves fanning away mosquitoes. Some of them kept scratching their arms, legs, necks and noses. The joy of Christmas was indeed spoiled by the mosquitoes. It was really irritating,” recalled the 75-year-old woman, known as Mrs. Linus.

She found a solution one day. “One Sunday at my regular church there was a display of buds of a plant said to repulse mosquitoes. I bought fi ve buds of zodia because I really wanted my house to stop being a haven for mosquitoes,” she said, pointing to a 2.5-meter-tall plant.

“The buds were not immediately ready, so I had to wait around six months before the plants grew taller and started bearing fl ower. The zodia is now around six years old and has frequently born fl ower and seeds. And when there is breeze or when the wind blows, the fragrant aroma of the fl ower enter the terrace and inside my house.”

The presence of zodia in the front yard, terrace and rooms of her house has lived up to her expectations. “No mosquitoes dare to ruin the joys of Christmas now,” she said with a smile. Like Mrs. Linus, Ella, who lives in Kampong Banjarsari, West Cilandak, has also benefi ted from planting zodiac. Inside closed rooms she still uses chemical mosquito repellent, which she said were more practical.

She says her terrace is now relatively free of mosquitoes thanks to the zodia growing in her front yard. “But the number of mosquitoes is too many to deal with, which forces me to use other devices to repel them,” she said, adding that planting zodia among decorative plants along the fence was also part of her efforts to green her garden.

Sutanto Priambodo, a father of two who lives in Limo, Cinere, South Jakarta, is also a fan of zodia. The founder of Lentara Nusantara Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO), enjoys playing cards with friends on his terrace. Nearby is a spacious yard with starfruit trees and a patch of long grass, which is a breeding ground for the insects.

“We were playing cards when bands of mosquitoes attacked us, leaving us dotted by red bites. It ruined the game of cards. Spraying chemical repellents in an open terrace doesn’t do any good, because it’s blown away by the wind. Around fi ve years ago I planted several zodia plants around my house, particularly in an area close to my house terrace,” said Tanto, 40.

“And the result? We can relax and play cards undisturbed by mosquitoes.”

Fighting Disease Some also advocate zodia as a way to ward off mosquitoes and prevent outbreaks of dengue fever. Dengue fever is transmittted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

“We introduced zodia and other kinds of plants whose fragrant aroma could keep mosquitoes away when we had a gathering of the PKK (Family Welfare Movement) program,” said 80-year-old Harini Bambang Wahono, deputy chairperson of Cilandak subistrict, South Jakarta.

“We not only discuss plants that can repulse mosquitoes but also medicinal plants, plants that can cure hepatitis, plants that can absorb pollutants in the air and plants for re-greening,” Harini has given classes on environment-related issues at her home in Kampong Banjarsari in Cilandak since 1986. The neighborhood is now adorned with zodia and other plants.

“Planting medicinal plants, decorative ones and ones that repulse mosquitoes, including zodia, is part of our effort to conserve the environment,” said Harini, who pioneered community-based waste management in Kampong Banjarsari.

Zodia is preferable compared to lavender, lemon grass, rosemary and other plants that mosquitoes are known to dislike because it is ready for use while others need to be processed, according to Harini. The plant is easily found in Jakarta. Decorative plant nurseries, many of them located on sidewalks the capital, sell zodia, lavender and rosemary. A 30-centimeter- tall zodia costs Rp 20,000 (approx US$ 2).

“When it comes to the mosquito- repellent plants they like, buyers have their own taste. Many prefer zodia and many others like lavender or rosemary,” said one seller on Jl. Asia Afrika, Central Jakarta.

“But several days ago, group of around 30 students came and each bough one pot of zodiac bud. Don’t ask me if I have more. I am short of zodia,” Many confirmed believers in zodia’s powers make sure to spread the word, and the plants. “I don’t know exactly how many buds of zodia that I have distributed to relatives and friends,” said Mrs. Linus.