Oct 212013
 


In our part of the world, August until November is that much-awaited time to collect the edible newly sprouting leaves of the native Alibangbang trees (Bauhinia malabarica). Bulakenyos, especially us who are from the town of old San Miguel, are particularly fond of using this butterfly-looking leaves as a flavoring, notably, for cooking beef shanks (Sinigang na pata ng Baka sa Alibangbang) and chicken (Inalibangbangang Manok). Our friends from Manila have been regularly requesting for Alibangbang leaves and even seedlings after knowing that we have a few wild trees growing in the farm. Our Alibangbang trees are not really remarkable to look at but they are always an attraction to visitors who often have a childhood memory of this tree. Sometimes, we also wrap some fresh leaves to give as gifts when visiting friends or relatives.

This species must not be confused with other tree Bauhinias that exhibit the same leaf shape but has large, often brightly colored, orchid-like flowers. (630)

Oct 052013
 

Photo specimen : Wild trees

Specimen height : 2 - 4 meters

Habitat : Creek banks, open grasslands, roadsides and scrublands

Local name : Bagnang-pula

Botanical name : Glochidion rubrum

Family : Phyllanthaceae

Fruiting season : probably year-round

Traits : Drought-tolerant; Evergreen; Full sun; Grassfire-tolerant; Low to medium altitude tree; Shade-tolerant; Small tree; Tolerant of infertile soil; Undercanopy tree

Recommendations : Bird food; Hedge or screen; Landscaping; Living fence; Ornamental tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Potted; Public spaces; Roadside tree; Urban greening

Used for : Firewood and charcoal

Native range : Southeast Asia (including the Philippines)

National conservation status : Not threatened in the Philippines

 

Further reading :

Flora of China Glochidion rubrum http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242323539

Glochidion rubrum http://www.asianplant.net/Phyllanthaceae/Glochidion_rubrum.htm

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (689)

Sep 012013
 

Photo specimen : Semi-domesticated trees

Specimen height : 20-25 meters

Local names : Narra, Smooth narra, Prickly narra

Trade names : Narra, Smooth narra, Prickly narra

Botanical names : Pterocarpus indicus forma indicus

Pterocarpus indicus forma echinatus

Family : Fabaceae - Faboideae

Traits : Buttressed; Deciduous to evergreen; Drought tolerant; Emergent tree; Fast growing; Large tree; Long-lived species; Low to medium altitude species; Nitrogen-fixing; Spreading crown; Tolerant of infertile soil; Tolerant of occasional water-logging; Wind hardy; With extensive root system

Recommendations : Boundary marker; Erosion control; Fallow improvement; Farms; Green manure; Honey tree; Landscaping; Large avenues; Large gardens; Living fence; Medicinal plant; Ornamental tree; Plantations; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Timber plantations; Urban greening; Windbreak

Used for : Young leaves and inflorescence are edible but rarely eaten; Barks and leaves are used in the preparation of traditional medicines, also made into herbal teas and pills; Timber for boat building, light constructions, interior works, high-class furnitures, musical instruments, decorative veneers and flooring, tools and handicrafts; Red dye can be extracted from the heartwood; Felled branches for fuel wood and charcoal

Native range : Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), Ryuku islands (Japan), Caroline islands, Bismarck Archipelago, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands

National conservation status : Critically Endangered Species (DENR AO 2007-1)

(Note : Difference between Smooth narra and Prickly narra is mainly about their fruit (pod). The latter’s fruit have soft pricks as compared to the former’s being smooth; other vegetative characteristics do not hold)

Further reading :

DENR Administrative Order 2007-1 (Establishing the National List of Threatened Philippine Plants and their Categories, and the List of Other Wildlife Species)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry (Pterocarpus indicus) http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/Pterocarpus-narra.pdf

  (753)

Jul 032013
 

Photo specimen : Wild and cultivated trees

Specimen height : 8-25 meters

Habitats in the wild : Disturbed or secondary forests, dry grasslands, moist and dry thickets

Local name : Pagsahingin, Patsingin

Botanical name : Canarium asperum ssp. asperum var.asperum

Family : Burseraceae

Traits : Dioecious; Drought tolerant; Evergreen; Fast-growing; Medium-sized tree; Tolerant of infertile soil; Tolerant of occasional water-logging; Wind hardy

Recommendations : Agroforestry; Erosion control; Farms; Landscaping; Large avenues; Living fence; Nurse tree; Paper & pulp tree plantations; Pioneer species reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Timber plantations; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Tapped resin sold as Manila elemi or Elemi which is used in the manufacturing of paint, varnishes, perfumes, incense, aromatherapy and pharmaceutical products; Resin also used as illuminant; Wood for light interior works, furnitures, veneer, plywood, agricultural implements, musical instruments, boxes, crates and toys; Pulpwood; Fuelwood and charcoal

Native range : Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines,New Guinea and Solomon Islands

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for charcoal and fuelwood production

Further reading :

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

The IUCN Red LIST of Threatened Species - Canarium asperum http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/33233/0 (823)

Jun 302013
 

Photo specimen : Wild trees

Specimen height : 4-6 meters

Habitats : Coastal thickets, creekbanks, grasslands, roadsides, wastelands

Local name : Binunga

Botanical name : Macaranga tanarius

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Fruiting season : December to January

Traits : Drought tolerant; Fast-growing; Low to medium altitude tree; Semi-decidious; Shade tolerant; Small tree; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Coastal protection; Cut and carry fodder; Erosion control; Fallow improvement; Farms; Green manure; Home gardens; Landscaping; Living fence; Living trellis; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Paper & pulp tree plantations; Pioneer species for reforetation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting

Used for : Fruits added to palm juice to improve the quality of sugar produced; Bark and leaves are used locally in the preparation of Basi wine; Resin or gum from the bark is used as glue in making musical instruments; Black dye is obtained from the leaves; Tanin from the bark is used to toughen fishnets from seawater exposure; Leaves as cattle fodder; Pulpwood; Firewood and charcoal

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

National conservation status : Not threatened

Further reading :

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

Tropical & Subtropical Trees (M. Barwick)

World Agroforestry http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/AFTPDFS/Macaranga_tanarius.pdf (899)

Jun 202013
 

Photo specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 4-6 meters

Habitats : Open grasslands, creek banks, roadsides and scrublands

Local name : Alim

Botanical name : Melanolepsis multiglandulosa

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Fruiting season : Fruits observed from February to March

Traits : Deciduous; Drought tolerant; Fast-growing; Low to medium altitude tree; Small tree; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Landscaping; Living fence; Living trellis; Medicinal plant; Nurse tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting

Used for: Wood for shoes; Bark and leaves used in traditional medicine; Firewood

Native range : Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, New Guinea, Marianas Islands

National conservation status : Not threatened

Further reading :

Malesian Euphorbiaceae Descriptions (Flora Malesiana)
http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/euphorbs/specM/Melanolepis.htm

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (717)

Jun 192013
 

Photo specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 6-8 meters

Habitat : Creek banks

Local name : Karaksan

Botanical name : Chionanthus ramiflorus

Family : Oleaceae

Fruiting season : April to June

Traits : Evergreen; Fast growing; Shade tolerant; Water-logging tolerant

Recommendations : Landscaping; Living fence; Living trellis; Public spaces; Riparian mangement; Urban greening

Used for : Reports of flowers being edible; Essential oil (from fruit or seed?); Light construction timber; Firewood and charcoal

Native range : India, Bangladesh, Andaman Islands, China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), New Guinea, Australia and Solomon islands

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Firewood and charcoal production

Further reading :

Biodiversity and Local Perceptions on the Edge of a Conservation Area , Khe Tran Village, Vietnam (M. Boissière, I. Basuki, P. Koponen, M. Wan, D. Sheil) http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/BBoissiere0601.pdf

Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines - Oleaceae http://www.philippineplants.org/Families/Oleaceae.html

Flora of Taiwan, 2nd Edition Vol. 4 - Oleaceae (YANG, Yuen-Po and LU, Sheng-You) (pages 129-130) or at Plants of Taiwan http://tai2.ntu.edu.tw/ebook/ebookpage.php?book=Fl.%20Taiwan%202nd%20edit.&volume=4&page=129 (568)

Jun 062013
 


Photo specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 8-14 meters

Habitats : Open slopes, grasslands, river banks

Local name : Anabiong

Trade name : Pigeonwood

Botanical name : Trema orientalis

Family : Ulmaceae

Fruiting season : March to July

Traits : Drought tolerant; Evergreen; Fast-growing; Have extensive root sytem; Medium-sized tree; Spreading crown; Tolerant of infertile soil; Wind hardy

Recommendations : Cut and carry fodder; Erosion control; Fallow improvement; Farms; Green manure; Landscaping; Large avenues; Large gardens; Light shade for crops; Living fence; Living trellis; Medicinal plant; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Paper & pulp tree plantations; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine; Bast fibre made into rope; Wood used for paneling, boards, wooden shoes, containers, toys and novelties; Bark and leaves yield black and coffee-coloured dye; Leaves used as animal fodder; Fallen leaves used as mulch; Pulpwood; Firewood and charcoal

Origin : Tropical Africa, India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan; Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), New Guinea, Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia

National conservation status : Not threatened in the Philippines

Possible threat : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use

Further reading :

AgroForestryTree Database (Trema orientalis)http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1654

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (617)

Jun 052013
 

Materials identified by : Ulysses Ferreras (Field Botanist)

Photo specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 2-4 meters

Habitat : Dry thickets and open grasslands

 

Local name : Amumut

Botanical name : Gymnosporia spinosa var. spinosa

Family : Celastraceae

Traits : Deciduous; Drought tolerant; Grassfire tolerant; Large shrub to small tree; Much-branched; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Erosion control; Hedging; Living trellis; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Urban greening

Used for : Fuelwood and charcoal

Origin : Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), New Guinea and Australia

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use

(Note : Synonymous to Maytenus emarginata)

Further reading :

Reinstatement of Gymnosporia (Celastraceae):
implications for the Flora Malesiana region (Marie Jordaan and A.E. van Wyk)
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/72714/Tel10Jor155.pdf

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (605)

May 142013
 

Materials identified by : Ulysses Ferreras (Field Botanist)

Specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 4-6 meters

Habitat : Dry thickets and open grasslands

Local name : Dilap

Botanical name : Doryxylon spinosum

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Traits : Drought tolerant; Grass fire tolerant; Low altitude tree; Small tree; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Erosion control; Hedge tree; Landscaping; Living fence

Used for : Fuelwood

Native range : Indonesia and the Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for fuelwood and charcoal production

Further reading :

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

Smithsonian Institution Collections Search Center - Doryxylon spinosum http://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID%3Anmnhbotany_10093828&repo=DPLA (521)

May 092013
 

Specimen : Wild

Specimen height : 4-6 meters

Habitats : In open grasslands, creek banks

Local names : Kansilay, Lakansilay, Paguringon

Botanical name : Cratoxylum sumatranum

Family : Hypericaceae

Fruiting season : May to July

Traits : Drought tolerant; Emergent tree; Evergreen; Low altitude tree; Small to medium-sized tree; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Erosion control; Farms; Home gardens; Landscaping; Living fence; Medicinal plant; Ornamental tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Leaves and bark have medicinal uses; Timber for light construction, interior work, boards, paneling, furniture, poles, wooden crates, boxes and carving; Pulpwood; Fuelwood and charcoal

Native range : Southeast Asia (including the Philippines)

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for fuel and charcoal production

Further reading :

Cratoxylum sumatranum http://www.asianplant.net/Hypericaceae/Cratoxylum_sumatranum.htm

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Trees of Sungai Wain - Cratoxylum sumatranum http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/sungaiwain/ (587)

Apr 212013
 

Specimen : Wild trees

Specimen height : 4-6 meters

Habitat : Creek banks

Local name : Alas-as, Alasas, Pandan-luzon

Botanical name : Pandanus luzonensis

Family : Pandanaceae

Fruiting season : Fruits observed from February to March

Traits : Dioecious; Evergreen; Shade tolerant; Small tree; Water-logging tolerant; Willowy

Recommendations : Landscaping; Ornamental tree; Public spaces; Riparian management; Wildcrafting

Used for : Prop roots have been used as diuretic; Leaves employed in weaving hats, mats and baskets; Firewood

Native range : The Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use

Resources :

Bureau of Plant Industry’s Medicinal Plants Publication - Pandanus luzonensishttp://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/pdf/p/pand (490)

Apr 192013
 

Specimen : Wild and semi-domesticated trees

Specimen height : 20-30 meters

Habitats : In open woodlands, coastal thickets and along natural waterways

Local name : Dita

Trade name : Devil tree, Milkwood, White cheesewood, Milky pine

Botanical name : Alstonia scholaris

Family : Apocynaceae

Traits : Drought tolerant; Emergent tree; Evergreen; Fast growing; Low to medium altitude tree; Medium to large tree; Salt spray tolerant; Shade tolerant; Tolerant of infertile soil; Tolerant of occasional water-logging

Recommendations : Boundary marker; Coastal stabilization; Erosion control; Farms; Large avenues; Large gardens; Living fence; Mangrove management; Ornamental tree; Paper & pulp tree plantations; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Specimen tree; Timber belt; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Latex are made into chewing gum; Fiber are obtained from the bark; Inflorescence yields essential oil; Sap from the bark is used as tonic, vermifuge and anti-malarial drug; Latex and leaves are also medicinal; Wood for interior work, veneer, plywood, wooden crates, bowls, food containers, boxes and shoes, coffins, chalkboards, small wooden items, buoys or floats and carving; Pulpwood; Fuelwood

Native range : India, Sri Lanka, China, Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), New Guinea, Australia and neighboring islands

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Forestry logging

(Note : The wood is made into chalkboards and slates used for school hence the epithet “scholaris”)

Further readings :

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

Tropical & Subtropical Trees (M. Barwick)

World Agroforestry Centre - AgroForestry Tree Database Alstonia scholaris http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=201 (784)

Apr 182013
 


Photo specimen : Wild

Specimen height : About 25 meters

Habitats : Riverine and limestone forests, secondary forests

Local name : Kupang

Botanical name : Parkia timoriana

Family : Fabaceae - Mimosoideae

Traits : Buttressed; Emergent tree; Drought tolerant; Fast growing; Large tree; Low to medium altitude tree; Nitrogen-fixing; Semi-deciduous to Evergreen; Shade tolerant; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Boundary marker; Erosion control; Fallow improvement; Farms; Fodder tree; Landscaping; Large avenues; Large gardens; Living fence; Ornamental tree; Paper and pulp tree plantations; Pioneer species for reforestation purposes; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Fruits reportedly edible and can be eaten raw or cooked; Leaves, root, bark and seeds have uses in traditional medicine; Cut and carry fodder; Firewood and charcoal

Native range : India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Forestry logging

(Note : Literatures claim this is synonymous to Parkia javanica)

Further readings :

ASEAN Tropical Plant Database http://211.114.21.20/tropicalplant/html/print.jsp?rno=145

Parkia javanica http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/pdf/k/kupang.pdf

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

Tropical & Subtropical Trees (M. Barwick)

(632)

Mar 192013
 

Specimen : Wild

Habitat : Creek banks

Local names : Sinaligan, Kadlihan, Panakitin

Botanical name : Sterculia rubiginosa (3 varieties occur naturally in the Philippines - var. rubiginosa, var. divaricata and var. setistipula)

Family : Malvaceae

Height : 6-10 meters

Traits : Dioecious; Semi-deciduous to deciduous; Fast-growing; Low to medium altitude tree; Small to medium-sized tree; Tolerant of occasional water-logging

Recommendations : Erosion control; Farms; Honey tree; Landscaping; Large gardens; Living fence; Ornamental tree; Paper & pulp tree plantations; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Urban greening

Used for : Timber for light constructions, interior work, wooden containers, shoe heels, veneer, plywood; Pulpwood

Native range : Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for firewood and charcoal production

Further readings :

ASEAN Tropical Plant Database - Sterculia rubiginosa http://211.114.21.20/tropicalplant/html/print.jsp?rno=873

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (617)

Mar 162013
 

The past few weeks have been very busy for me and Pim with all the doctor’s visits required of her 7th month of carrying, updating public records, acquiring necessary documents and filing her immigrant visa application that we never had much time to visit the farm except to make short stops to check the work done. With a baby coming along I miss the times when I spent most of my free time making the rounds at the farm and sometimes, when I’m feeling more adventurous, even going out far into the open grassland and woodlands beyond our fence; not even deterred by the sun’s heat or occasional rains.

Yesterday gave me free time so Val, my farm overseer, and I walked to check the partially shaded trees we’ve planted the past years along the shallow creek that borders the farm. We don’t usually collect fruits during the first quarter of the year because most trees we observe are not in fruit this season. It slipped my mind though that one particular cauliflorous and water-loving tree displays its magenta to deep-purple berries from January to March. And so there they were, ready for the picking! We have about a dozen of this wild trees scattered along the same natural waterway.

Val helped himself in sampling this season’s harvest; the shiny berries are sweet but they leave a little astringency on the tongue; truly a forest fruit! (504)

Feb 222013
 

Specimen : Wild

Habitats : Creek banks, open slopes, grasslands

Local name : Mulawin-aso, Alagaw-gubat

Botanical name : Premna nauseosa

Family : Lamiaceae

Height : 6-8 meters

Fruiting season : June to July

Traits : Drought tolerant; Evergreen to semi-deciduous; Small tree

Recommendations : Erosion control; Farms; Light shade for crops; Living fence; Living trellis; Nurse tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purpose; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting

Used for : Leaves reportedly used in folk medicine and as substitute to Piper betel for chewing “Nga-nga”; Fuel wood and charcoal

Native range : The Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, residential or commercial use

Further reading :

Bureau of Plant Industry’s Medicinal Plants Publication - Premna nauseosa http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/pdf/a/alagau-gubat.pdf (486)

Feb 152013
 

Specimen : Wild

Habitat : Creek banks

Local name : Tanglin

Botanical name : Adenanthera intermedia

Family : Fabaceae

Height : 8-12 meters

Fruiting season : May to August

Traits : Fast growing; Nitrogen-fixing; Shade tolerant; Small to medium-sized tree; Tolerant of occasional waterlogging

Recommendations : Erosion control; Fallow improvement; Farms; Honey tree; Light shade for crops; Living fence; Living trellis; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Timber plantations; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Bark and seeds have medicinal uses; Seeds used as beads in making ethnic-styled jewelries and ornaments; Leaves as animal fodder; Timber for general construction, posts, flooring, paving blocks and furniture; Timber as substitute to Ipil (Intsia bijuga); Fuelwood and charcoal

Native range : The Philippines

National conservation status : Other Threatened Species (DENR AO 2007-1)

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for fuelwood and charcoal production

Further readings :

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (527)

Casearia grewiaefolia

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Feb 102013
 


Specimen : Wild tree

Habitat : Forested creekbank

Local name : Kaluag, Kaluag-linis, Kaluag-abohin

Botanical name : Casearia grewiaefolia

Family : Salicaceae

Specimen height : 3-5 meters

Fruiting season : July to September

Traits : Evergreen; Low altitude tree; Shade tolerant; Small tree; Tolerant of occasional water-logging

Recommendations : Home gardens; Ornamental tree; Potted; Public spaces; Riparian management; Urban greening; Wildcrafting

Used for : Leaves have medicinal applications; Timber for posts and beams

Native range : Southeast Asia (including the Philippines) and New Guinea

National conservation status : Not threatened in the Philippines

Threat : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use

(Note : Rojo listed 3 varieties naturally occuring in the Philippines : var. grewiaefolia, var. deglabrata and var. cinerea)

Further readings :

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and other useful plants of Muruts in Sabah, Malaysia (J. Kulip)

Ethnobotanical studies of Shompens – A critically endangered and degenerating ethnic community in
Great Nicobar Island (M. U. Sharief and R. R. Rao)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (525)

Feb 082013
 

My short 4 years of membership in the e-group “Rare Fruit Society of the Philippines” (RFSP) brought good friends and acquaintances despite occasional meetings and even rarer farm visits. More fascinating to think though that online and mobile communications with members I haven’t even met yet and exchange of planting materials with them have lived through the years. My correspondence with one such member, Mr. Alfredo Navarro or “Al”, is precisely just that. When we were developing the farm in 2008, RFSP founding member Verman “Berns” Reyes gave me a few leads where to source Philippine native trees seedlings; Al was one of those he referred. It wasn’t very hard to connect with this guy; a prompt reply came very soon after my introductory email and later that year I was already on my way to pick-up a batch including a lone Katmon-bayani (Dillenia megalantha), a Baling-agta (Diospyros sp.) and a Bantulinaw (Diospyros sp.). A lot more followed soon after which gave me the chance to reciprocate the generosity by giving back native seedlings from my own nursery and yet meetings remain elusive.

A row of 10 nearly matured Lanete trees (Wrightia pubescens ssp. laniti) now stands in the farm; thanks to Al. This beautiful tree is naturally found in numbers scattered along the woodlands and scrublands of our native Bulacan but the seeds have quite eluded us for many seasons already. It bears fruit that splits open in maturity, allowing the elements to disperse the airborne miniature seeds which proves seed collection quite testy and challenging.

Just recently, Al sent a text message to ask for Putat (Barringtonia racemosa) seedlings; a tree which he ‘d read about on a piece I contributed for the book “Philippine Native Trees 101″. Al, if you’re reading this, I still owe you the Putat seeds/seedlings.

Specimen : Wild trees

Observed habitats: Open slopes and dry grasslands

Local names : Lanete, Laniti

Trade name : Lanete

Botanical name: Wrightia pubescens ssp. laniti

Family : Apocynaceae

Height : 8-10 meters

Fruiting season : Fruits observed from August to December

Traits : Drought tolerant; Deciduous; Fast growing; Medium-sized tree; Tolerant of infertile soil

Recommendations : Erosion control; Farms; Landscaping; Large avenues; Large gardens; Living fence; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purpose; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Timber plantations; Urban greening; Windbreak

Used for : Timber used for general constructions; Wood for carving, furnitures, musical instruments, small wooden articles and interior works; Fuel wood and charcoal

Native range : Southern China, Southeast Asia (including the Philippines), Australia to Solomon Islands

National conservation status : Not threatened in the Philippines

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for fuel wood and charcoal production

(Note : Difference between other subspecies is that the calyx is 1/4 as long as corolla tube)

Further readings :

Philippine Woods : Principal Uses, Distribution & Equivalent Woods in Asia Pacific (A. Ella, A. Tongacan, R. Escobin & F. Pitargue)

Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)

World Agroforestry Centre http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=18173 (721)