Exploring malapari (Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre) from the Eastern part of Indonesia

Abstract Malapari ( Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre) is a plant species widely distributed throughout Indonesia and can be both a renewable energy and medicinal source. Malapari-related research, such as exploration, characterization, seed production capacity, and propagation (both generative and vegetative) has been done in the western part of Indonesia but not in the eastern part. As a result, exploration was carried out in the east part of Indonesia to locate new malapari population. The population’s morphological characters were also examined, and a dendrogram was used to analyze the characters. Plant samples from Bali, the Maluku Islands, and Nusa Tenggara Islands were investigated, characterized, and gathered. The fruits and cuttings (as plant materials) were collected for ex-situ conservation purposes. The natural distribution of malapari in eastern Indonesia are presented, along with their morphological characters and the dendrogram indicating no apparent distinction between them. The conservation and sustainable usage of this plant might benefit from these findings.