ALMACIGA

(Agathis philippinensis Warb)

Description and Characteristics

The almaciga is a vast tree that grows up to 65 meters
tall and the trunk up to 3 meters in diameter. It has green,
leathery leaves that are opposite, broad, shaped like an
oval (or sometimes with a narrower portion from middle
to tip) that develop up to seven centimeters (7cm) long
and two centimeters (2cm) wide. It produces cones that
measure up to five cm (5cm) long for male cones which
are usually cylindrical, while up to eight centimeters (8
cm long) for female cones commonly resembling the
shape of a globe but not having the perfect shape of a
sphere or ball. Its bark is gray and smooth, and oozes out
white liquid material called “resin” whenever cut. This
resin is what makes almaciga highly valued in the world.
SOURCE: Almaciga (Agathis philippinensis) – Matic Hub

What is the use of Almaciga?

Almaciga resin is used in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquer, soap, paint, printing inks,
linoleum, shoe polish, floor wax, plastic, water proofing materials, paper sizing and many other
products. Locally, it is used as incense in religious ceremonies, as fuel, torches, caulking
substances, and smudge for mosquitoes.

What is Almaciga wood?

Agathis philippinensis or almaciga, is a tree native to the Philippines that usually grows in
elevated forested areas and produces a high-grade resin. This valuable non-timber forest product
is among the Palaw'an peoples' priced forest possession.
 CHAMPACA
(Magnolia champaca)

Description and Characteristics

 Magnolia champaca, known in English as
champak, is a large evergreen tree in the
family Magnoliaceae. It was previously
classified as Michelia champaca. It is
known for its fragrant flowers, and its
timber used in woodworking.
 In its native range Magnolia champaca
grows to 50 metres (160 ft) or taller. Its
trunk can be up to 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) in
diameter. The tree has a narrow
umbelliform crown. It has strongly
fragrant flowers in varying shades of
cream to yellow-orange which bloom
during June to September. The obovoid-
ellipsoid carpels produce 2−4 seeds during
September to October.
SOURCE: Magnolia champaca - Wikipedia

What is the use of champaca?

Champaca oil carries high value in medicine that treat conditions such as fever, cough, leprosy,
ulcer, wounds, skin diseases, abdominal colic, rheumatism, constipation, dysmenorrhea, and
bronchitis. Also used to calm, reduce stress, aid breathing and induce euphoria.
 PUTAT/POWER PUFF
(Barringtonia racemosa)

Description and Characteristics

 is a tree in the family Lecythidaceae. It is
found in coastal swamp forests and on the
edges of estuaries in the Indian Ocean,
starting at the east coast of Mozambique and
KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) to
Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
Maldives, Thailand, Laos, southern China,
northern Australia, coastal Taiwan, the
Ryukyu Islands and many Polynesian
islands
 Barringtonia racemosa, also known as
Common Putat, has pendulous
inflorescence, up to 1m long. The flowers
are night-blooming and have filamentous
stamens that are white, pink or red. The
bark and fruits are crushed and used as fish
poisons as they contain toxic saponins.
SOURCE: Barringtonia asiatica - Wikipedia

What is the use of champaca?

Timber & Products (The wood is utilized as firewood, and for construction. The bark provides a
source of fibre.) [Others]: The powdered bark and all other parts of the plant were exploited as a
fish poison, while their extracts may be used as an insecticide.
SANTOL
(Sandoricum koetjape)

Description and Characteristics

 Sandoricum koetjape, the santol, sentul[4] or cotton fruit, is a tropical fruit native to
maritime Southeast Asia (Malesia).
 Is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form.
They are listed as vulnerable by IUCN. They are native to Southeast Asia. They have
compound, broad leaves and drupe. Individuals can grow to 17 m.
SOURCE: Santol - Encyclopedia of Life (eol.org)
What are the uses of santol tree?
In addition to raw applications, Santol fruits can be cooked into jellies, jams, and syrups, canned
for extended use, cooked into chutney, or candied as a sweet treat. The rind and flesh are also
used in cooking to add a slightly bitter flavor in curries, sauces, and soups.
SHRUBS

YELLOW ELDERS
(Tecoma stans)

Description and Characteristics

 Tecoma stans is a species of flowering
perennial shrub in the trumpet vine family,
Bignoniaceae, that is native to the Americas.
Common names include yellow trumpetbush,
yellow bells, yellow elder, ginger-thomas
 Like a bush allamanda on steroids, yellow
elder is a big, beautiful, fast-growing shrub
that produces bright yellow trumpet-shaped
flowers. Sometimes called Yellow Bells,
Esperanza or Yellow Trumpetbush, it flowers
on and off all year, more in warmer weather.
What are the benefits of Yellow Elder?
An extract of the flower is used to make medicine. Elderflower is used for swollen sinuses
(sinusitis), colds, influenza (flu), swine flu, bronchitis, diabetes, and constipation. It is also used
to increase urine production (as a diuretic), to increase sweating (as a diaphoretic), and to stop
bleeding.

The golden blossoms

Which are said to attract butterflies

and hummingbirds - contrast against
the plant's bright green, wide-
spreading foliage to create a very
showy plant.

OLEANDER
(Nerium oleander)

Description and Characteristics

most commonly known as oleander or nerium, is a shrub or small tree cultivated worldwide in
temperate and subtropical areas as an ornamental and landscaping plant. It is the only species
currently classified in the genus Nerium, belonging to subfamily Apocynoideae of the dogbane
family Apocynaceae. It is so widely cultivated that no precise region of origin has been
identified, though it is usually associated with the Mediterranean Basin.
What are the benefits of Oleander?
Despite the danger, oleander seeds and leaves are used to make medicine. Oleander is used for
heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy, cancer, painful menstrual periods, leprosy, malaria,
ringworm, indigestion, and venereal disease; and to cause abortions.

Oleanders (Nerium oleander) are

distinctive and beautiful, large,
flowering shrubs that thrive with little
care. They are very heat and drought-
tolerant once established, and will
grow especially well in seaside
gardens, tolerating salt spray and wind.
Oleanders generally grow best in the
coastal areas of South Carolina. Most
cultivars will be damaged or killed by
winter cold in the Midlands and
Piedmont.

DURANTA ERECTA
(Duranta repens)

Description and Characteristics

Duranta erecta is a species of flowering shrub in

the verbena family Verbenaceae, native from
Mexico to South America and the Caribbean. It is
widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical
and subtropical gardens throughout the world and
has become naturalized in many places. Common
names include golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, and
skyflower.
SOURCE: Duranta erecta - Wikipedia

What are the benefits of Duranta Erecta?

Studies have suggested mosquitocidal, thrombin inhibitory, cytotoxic, antiviral, antimalarial,
antioxidant, antifungal, antiurolithiatic properties. Leaves, flowers, fruits. - Fruit has been used
as febrifuge. - Fruits used for malaria and intestinal worms.

Duranta erecta is a vine-like, evergreen

shrub, native to the Americas. It is widely
cultivated as an ornamental and is also used
as a hedge plant. The seeds of this species
are dispersed naturally by birds that eat the
fruits, and accidentally through garden
waste disposal by humans and the nursery
trade.

HILL GLORY BOWER

(CLERODENDRUM)

Description and Characteristics

Clerodendrum is a genus of flowering plants formerly placed in the family Verbenaceae, but now
considered to belong to the Lamiaceae family. Its common names include glorybower, bagflower
and bleeding-heart.

What are the benefits of Clerodendrum?

Pharmacological studies have shown that these compounds and extracts from the Clerodendrum
genus have extensive activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive, anti-oxidant,
anti-hypertensive, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and
hypolipidemic, memory enhancing and neuroprotective, and other activities.

Clerodendrum. Broadleaf deciduous shrub/tree,

coarse, 10-20 ft (3-6 m). Leaves simple,
opposite, 10-23 cm x 5-10 cm, ovate to elliptic,
tip acuminate, base wedge-shaped to truncate,
margin entire (usually), dark green, soft hairy,
when bruised they have the odor of peanut
butter.

PINK BALL
(Dombeya wallichii)

Description and Characteristics

Dombeya wallichii is a flowering shrub of the family Malvaceae known by the common names
pinkball, pink ball tree, and tropical hydrangea. Its native range includes India, East Africa, and
Madagascar. The plant can grow 20 to 30 feet tall and has a spread of up to 25 feet.

A shrub or small tree with cordate,

serrate leaves. Inflorescence an
axillary, drooping, 12-15 cm across,
many-flowered umbellate cyme;
peduncle more than 20 cm long,
hairy. Flowers pink, c. 3 cm across;
pedicel c. 4 cm long, hairy. Sepals
linear-oblong, c. 1.5 cm long, c. 3-4
mm broad, densely patent hairy
outside. Petals obovate, oblique, 2-
2.5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm broad. Fertile
stamens c. 1 cm long; staminodes c.
1.5 cm long. Carpels 5; ovary ovate-
oblong, densely villous; stigma
exserted. Capsule pentagonal, ovate-
oblong, densely beset with rusty hairs, tipped by c. 2 cm long, persistent style.
 INDOOR PLANTS

Kapal-kapal (Calotropis Gigantea)

Kapal-kapal is a medium-sized shrub growing to a height of 2 to 4 meters, the young parts

covered with appressed white hairs. Bark is pale. Leaves are obovate or oblong, 10 to 20
centimeters long, 3 to 8 centimeters wide, cottony beneath, pointed at the tip, heart-shaped at
the base. Flowers have a faint odor, not unpleasant, downy on the outside, arranged in axillary
or subterminal, simple or compound, inflorescences. Corolla is 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters across,
usually white, sometimes dull-purple or purplish-lilac; the lobes are ovate-lanceolate, and
spreading. Fruit is a follicle, recurved, 7.5 to 10 centimeters long. Seeds are ovate, 5 to 6
millimeters long, with a bright, silky-white coma.

Calotropis gigantea, also known as kapal-kapal. Like most Philippine native plants, this one just
naturally thrives in our tropical conditions.

Hoya Cumingiana

Home to over a hundred species of Hoya, the Philippines is considered as the centre of diversity
for this genus. That said, a Hoya would be a good choice for beginner plant parents.

One of the endemic Hoya plants in the Philippines is the Hoya cumingiana, which Ruth
particularly finds stunning. These are relatively easy to grow and propagate; aside from their
remarkable scallop leaves, they produce beautiful flowers as well!

Katmon (Dillenia Philippinensis)

Another native plant, the katmon produces saccharine fruit and graceful white blooms. Because
of its notable leaves and flowers, this evergreen has long been used as an accent tree by Filipino
garden enthusiasts.

When fully grown, the katmon can tower up to 15 metres high. As a seedling, it can properly
thrive indoors as it is shade-tolerant.

Musica Sansevieria Bacularis

A beautiful decorative plant for any household. With this plant standing at your window, you
make every pedestrian stand still, wondering what kind of of plant this is. In the Philippines, This
is commonly sold as indoor plant ideal for air purification and can tolerate low intensity lights
such as bathroom areas , office areas or living rooms. A plant company distributes these plants in
malls and even during plant shows or bazaars. I got our plant from a neighbor which threw away
most of their plants, They are getting messy . They are quite useful as their stiff leaves are used
for cut foliage and are being utilized for ikebana arrangement. There were several experiments
conducted by a lot of scientists from all over the world on the usefulness of having plants in our
home. It can be classified as easy to grow, indoor, patio area, partial shade , full sun etc…

Calathea Zebrina
The Zebra plant (scientific name - Calathea zebrina) is a perennial foliage plant that displays
fairly large ovate leaves at the tips of it's long stalks, growing up to 1 metre tall.
The Zebra plant is from the same family (marantaceae) as the popular indoor prayer plant and
has many similarities, although the Calathea zebrina grows taller and can be slightly more
difficult to grow. It's sometimes named prayer plant when sold at garden stores and its common
name (Zebra) is also given to the Aphelandra squarrosa.
Being a tropical plant native to Brazil the Calathea does require a warm and moist environment
which encourages the foliage to thrive and look its best.
This species is fairly undemanding and suitable for growing indoors if enough light and humidity
is provided, and the correct temperature conditions given. Caltheas love a warm but shaded spot
in greenhouses or conservatories, but anywhere indoors without cold drafts and enough light is
suitable. A bright bathroom large enough to house the plant can be a good location, because of
the higher moisture levels.
 GRASS FOR
LANDSCAPING

Manila Grass (Zoysia Matrella)

Z. matrella is a warm season grass which has been widely planted as a turf grass in tropical and
subtropical regions around the world and has naturalized mainly close to where it was planted in
disturbed areas. It grows slowly and primarily spreads by rhizomes and stolons, but could also
spread by seed. There is no information available on its impacts. It forms dense stands and could
displace native species through competition for resources.
Zoysia matrella, or Manila grass, is considered by many to be the ultimate turf grass. It has an
excellent dark green color, very fine leaves, a low mowing requirement, good wearing ability,
selective herbicide tolerance and tolerance for low-light situations.

Frog Grass
If you’re interested in a low maintenance type of grass, you might want to learn how to plant
frog grass. Frog grass has a more compact lateral growth, which means that you don’t need to cut
your lawn regularly. This type of grass is wonderful for walking and playing on, due to its semi-
course, semi-soft quality.