Living Dictionary of Woody Plants

In Indonesia, there is only a handful of people focusing on the study of basic botanical science in the form of the taxonomy of woody plants. Among that handful is Krisma Lekitoo, a researcher from West Papua.

KOMPAS/ICHWAN SUSANTO

Krisma Lekitoo, a researcher of dendrology or the taxonomy of wood plants at the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s Development and Innovation Agency in Manokwari, West Papua

Among forestry researchers, Krisma is recognized as a reliable dendrologist -- a person who studies woody plants. He has 20 years of experience studying the jungle of remote Papua. From there, he collected at least 1,500 leaf specimens along with various woody plant fruits.

The specimens form a collection at a humble herbarium Krisma founded in Manokwari, West Papua. The herbarium has become a reference for students and researchers studying the morphology and taxonomy of woody plants.