Kajian Etnobotani Pewarna Alami pada Kain Ulos dari Ekosistem Hutan di Kecamatan Pangururan Kabupaten Samosir Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Ethnobotany carried out by the people of Pangururan District, Samosir Regency can provide information on the potential of plants that can be utilized, one of which is as a natural dye. Currently, many are being developed to be applied to woven fabrics such as ulos. The aim of this research is to identify the types of plants used as natural dyes in ulos cloth. Identifying the characteristics of dye plants and characteristics of ulos weavers in Pangururan District, Samosir Regency. Identify how to process plants as ulos dye. Analyzing the use of natural dyes and synthetic dyes in ulos fabric. The method used is field observation with the ulos craftsmen community. The results of the research show that there are 16 types of natural dye plants. The most widely used dye plants come from the Fabaceae family, the most abundant habitus is trees, the part of the plant most used is wood and the source of dye plants comes from nature (wild), cultivated as well as wild and cultivated. Ulos weavers are all women who have received knowledge from generation to generation, training or both. Weavers depend on weaving as their main and side job. Processing of plants as ulos dye is done in two ways, namely by dyeing and immersing the yarn in water mixed with plant parts, then color locking is carried out by dipping in fixing liquid. There are no weavers who use only natural dyes. Weavers who use only synthetic dyes are 46.67% and weavers who use both natural and synthetic dyes are 53.33%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the process of making ulos with synthetic colors is easier than ulos with natural dyes, so ulos with synthetic dyes is easier to market than ulos with natural dyes.