Habitat : Open grasslands, moist and dry thickets
Local name : Kalios
Botanical name : Streblus asper var. asper
Family : Moraceae
Specimen height : 6-8 meters
Trunk : Bole erect, cylindrical; Bark deeply fissured, nearly peeling, grey
Leaf : Elliptic; Small, margin serrate, light to dark green with coarse surface
Fruit : Drupe; Small, plump, greenish yellow to yellow (reminiscent of a corn grain), supported by a persistent tepal
Fruiting season : March to June
Traits : Drought tolerant; Evergreen; Fast growing; Grassfire tolerant; Low altitude tree; Small tree; Wind hardy
Recommendations : Erosion control; Hedging; Living fence; Nurse tree; Ornamental tree; Pioneer species for reforestation purpose; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting
Used for : Edible fruits; Leaves used as tea; Leaves use for scrubbing utensils; Bark, roots, leaves and seeds are used in traditional medicine; Fodder for animal; Bonsai material; Topiary material; Firewood and charcoal
Native range : India, Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia (including the Philippines)
National conservation Status : Not threatened in the Philippines
Threats : Clearing of woodlands for agricultural, commercial or residential use; Collection of wildlings for Bonsai and Topiary markets
Further readings :
E-PROSEA (Streblus asper) http://www.proseanet.org/prosea/e-prosea_detail.php?frt=&id=1312
Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees (J. Rojo) (529)