In 2008 I had the chance of first meeting with Verman Reyes whom we fondly call “Berns” at the Rarefruit Society of the Philippines. He was the lone founding member of our informal group whose members increase by the dozens each day. I went to his fruit nursery in Angeles City, Pampanga to purchase a few seedlings of some native fruit trees and got a lot of freebies in the end. Among those he gave me were half-germinated seeds of Lipote (Syzygium curranii) and Niyog-niyogan (Ficus pseudopalma). Fast tracked to June 2011 and finally it was his turn, with fellow members TJ Gonzalez, Boy Gonzalez and J.A. Aguirre, to visit the farm for some native fruit hunting and sight-seeing. Whenever we have visitors, I usually ask them to plant whatever native tree seedlings we have at the nursery to make the event meaningful and in line with our advocacy. That time it was these Niyog-niyogan seedlings that I had them out-plant.
Niyog-niyogan is a culturally important food source especially in the Bicol region of the Philippines where its young leaves are usually cooked with fish, chillies and the ubiquitous coconut milk.
Specimen : Cultivated
Local names : Niyog-niyogan, Lubi-lubi
Trade name : Philippine Fig
Botanical name : Ficus pseudopalma
Family : Moraceae
Height : 2 to 6 meters
Fruiting season : Year round
Traits : Evergreen; Fast growing; Prolific fruiter; Shade tolerant; Tolerant of infertile soil; Willowy
Used for : Edible fruits; Leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable; Leaves used as food wrap; Fodder for livestock; Firewood
Recommendations : Backyards; Farms; Home gardens; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Potted; Public spaces; Urban greening; Wildcrafting
Native range : The Philippines
National conservation status : Not threatened
Further readings :
Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo)
Tropical & Subtropical Trees (M. Barwick) (613)