Nov 012013
 

21 days after typhoon Nari (Santi) struck Central Luzon, fallen century old Mango and Saman trees still litter the roadsides of rural San Miguel, Bulacan. Rice still lay flattened on the fields, some businesses still closed, some properties still unrepaired; there’s evidence everywhere of the devastating deluge that passed. We were one of those early placed under a state of calamity when unbelievable amount of floodwater surged and sank the town proper and nearby low-lying barangays which reached a record high of 2 meters in some areas of the town. The event, I believe, was a first for us.

The farm has taken it’s share of destruction as well : the once pompous Alibangbang (Bauhinia malabarica) and Ligas (Semecarpus cuneiformis) trees had fallen from grace due to intense wind, Binayuyu (Antidesma ghaesembilla) trees were left standing leafless, felled branches and roofing are strewn about, an hectare of our vegetable crops (Long beans and Bottlegourd) ironed out flat and the helper’s quarter plus the adjacent newly renovated visitor’s area were completely brought down. The sight was a big headache!

Rebuilding and replanting in complete surrender to the forces that shape the world and us, we felt cleansed and lucky to be alive and gifted with another work, another plan, another hope.

  (199)

Jun 282012
 

Specimen : Wild trees

Habitat : Open grassland and dry thickets

Local names : Binayuyu, Binayuyo

Trade name : Black currant tree

Botanical name : Antidesma ghaesembilla

Family : Phyllanthaceae

Specimen height : 6-8 meters

Trunk : Erect, branching high or low; Bark deeply fissured, ash to dark grey

Leaf : Alternate; Oblong to obovate, small, dark green;
Veins nearly inconspicuous; Firm or leathery

Fruit : Clusters of tiny drupes, light green to deep purple; Not ripening simultaneously

Fruiting season : April to August

Traits : Dioecious; Drought tolerant; Evergreen; Fast growing; Grassfire tolerant; Small tree; Wind hardy

Recommendations : Backyard fruit; Erosion control; Home gardens; Living fence; Living trellis; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purpose on drier areas; Riparian mangement; Roadside tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting

Used for : Fruits are edible and may be made into wine and preserves; New shoots are cooked as vegetable or are used as spice / flavoring; Leaves have medicinal uses; Timber for small and temporary constructions (house posts and beams); Firewood and charcoal

Native range : Africa, India, Southeast Asia (including the Philippines) to Australia

National conservation status : Not threatened in the Philippines

Threat : Cutting of wild trees for fuel and charcoal production

Further readings :

E-Prosea - Antidesma ghaesembilla http://www.proseanet.org/prosea/e-prosea_detail.php?frt=&id=1575

Food And Fruit Bearing Forest Species 2 Examples From Southeastern Asia Forestry Paper 44-2 (1984)http://www.archive.org/stream/foodandfruitbear034547mbp/foodandfruitbear034547mbp_djvu.txt

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (387)