SAPINDACEAE

- The Sapindaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales known as the
soapberry family. It contains 138 genera and 1858 accepted species, including maple,
ackee, horse chestnut, and lychee. Sapindaceae species occur in temperate to tropical
regions, many in laurel forest habitat, throughout the world.

PICTURES NAME DETAIL

SAPINDACEAE. Endemic. Rare
SIZE: Up to 15m tall

TYPE: Evergreen

HABITAT: Primary forests at

medium altitude from Luzon
to Mindanao

BUILDING MATERIAL: No

IDEAL FOR: medicinal, seeds

KABULI have nutritious element it can
(Cubliacubili) be boiled or roasted while its
leaves – cooked for it is use as
a vegetable.
Botanists identify “nuts” as
“fruits”. Kubili is categorized
as an edible fruit but it is the
nut that is edible. The fruit,
measuring 5 to 6cm long, is
ovoid and dark green, while
the nut, 3 to 4cm long, is
oblong and dark red. Eat the
boiled or roasted nut of the
kubili and not the fruit.
 SAPINDACEAE. Indigenous.
Endangered
SIZE: Up to 30m tall; trunk size
40cm diameter

TYPE: Evergreen

HABITAT: Primary and

secondary forests from sea
level up to 500m altitude

BUILDING MATERIAL: Yes

IDEAL FOR: Used for general

house construction such as
for posts and sills, beams,
joists, rafters, and floorings; for
making primitive Sugar mills,
presses, bearings, wooden
anchors, combs, tree nails,
ALUBAG harrow teeth, and other
(Litcichinensis ssp. agricultural implements; for
Philippinensis) constructing saltwater piles,
keels and keelsons of ships;
and for other purposes where
very hard and very heavy
wood is required.
Alupag is a very tasty fruit
from South East Asia. It is
endemic to the Philippines
but has now reached other
counties too. It is a close
relative of litchi and bears
tasty fruits. It is cultivated
too. However, alupag
cultivation has not been able
to pick up much because it is
always compared with litchi
or longan which is preferred
by consumers over this fruit.
Native to Southeast Asia, with
concentrations in the
Philippines and Indonesia.
SAPOTACEAE
- Sapotaceae is a largely tropical family of evergreen trees and shrubs. There are 53 genera
and about 1,100 species in the family, but generic limits in the family are notoriously difficult
and changeable.

PICTURES NAME DETAIL

SAPOTACEAE. Indigenous.
Endangered
SIZE: Up to 35m tall; trunk size
80cm diameter

TYPE: Deciduous

HABITAT: Luzon, Mindoro and

Mindanao; in primary lowland
forests

BUILDiNG MATERIAL: Yes

IDEAL FOR: It is considered

excellent for purposes
requiring great strength and
durability. It is used for heavy
construction, such as for
wharves, bridges and ship
building; and for posts,
foundation sills, sleepers,
paving blocks and tool
BETIS
handles.
(Madhucabetis) For medicine:
-The bark and the leaves are
used as a treatment for
stomach -
pains in children,
-A latex obtained from the
inner bark is applied to the
abdomen -
in order to expel worms
-The powdered bark is used
as a snuff to provoke
sneezing
Betis, a Pampanga town
famous for its skilled wood
workers, was named after this
tree. It’s hard and heavy
wood is ideal for construction
and woodcarving. Other
uses: its latex is used to expel
worms and seed oil is an
illuminant. However, its bark
powder induces sneezing.
 SAPOTACEAE. May be
endemic
SIZE: Up to 35m tall; trunk size
up to 80cm diameter

TYPE: Evergreen

HABITAT: This species was

found in Sibuyan Island

BILDING MATERIAL: No

IDEAL USES: not yet known

The species identity of the
Madhuca found in Sibuyan
TAR APPLE
remains unknown. This means
(Madhuca sp.) that not very many botanists
have seen or studied this tree.
Sibuyanos call it the “tar
apple”. Sibuyan Island is our
own Galapagos, with a
wealth of yet undiscovered
flora and fauna.

MELIACEAE

- Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and
shrubs in the order Sapindales. They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate
leaves without stipules, and by syncarpous, apparently bisexual flowers borne in
panicles, cymes, spikes, or clusters
PICTURES NAME DETAIL
MELIACEAE. Endemic.
Critically endangered
SIZE: Up to 25m tall; size 70cm
diameter

TYPE: Deciduous

HABITAT: Throughout the

Philippines; in primary
rainforests at low and
medium altitudes

BUILDING MATERIAL: Yes

IDEAL USES: Used in the

manufacture of cigar
boxes. Also used for
decorative applications such
KALANTAS
as timber veneers, paneling,
(Toonacalantas) joinery and furniture. Also
used for building boats,
piano cases and carving.
The kalantas is a good
replacement for its ubiquitous
cousin, the non-native
mahogany (Swietenia
macrophylla and Swietenia
mahogany). It grows
moderately fast, and its red
timber, with a pleasant cedar
smell, is used mainly for
furniture and musical
instruments. The late botanist
Leonard Co highly
recommended the kalantas
as timber species of superior
quality.
MELIACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 30m tall; trunk size
60cm diameter

TYPE: Evergreen
IGYO
HABITAT: Found in forests up
(Dysoxylumgaudichaudianum) to 1,000m

BUILDING MATERIAL: No

IDEAL USES: A decoction of

the fresh bark is used to treat
 coughs.
The finely powdered bark,
with water, is used as a safe
emetic; combined -
with wine it is used to
promote the flow of menses
Dysoxylum is “foul wood” in
Greek. A sprinkling of this
tree’s bark may be used as a
natural insecticide or to stun
fish. Take note how igyo,
malapapaya and lamio look
similar but belong to different
families.

SIZE: Up to 15m tall; trunk size

15cm diameter

TYPE: Semi-deciduous

HABITAT: Rainforest at the

edge and in regenerating
clearings and along
roadsides

BUILDING MATERIAL: No

IDEAL USES: its bark, leaves

and fruit are bitter and have
medicinal value
KALIBAIN
While the kalibaian’s bitter
(Heyneatrjuga) leaves and bark are
medicinal, its seeds are
anathema and poisonous to
some birds. This near-obscure
native species, is a fast-
growing ornamental tree that
should grace our urban
landscapes.
EBENACEAE
- The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants belonging to order Ericales. It includes
ebony and persimmon among about 768 species of trees and shrubs. The family is
distributed across the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world.

PICTURES NAME DETAIL

EBENACEAE. Indigenous.
Endangered
SIZE: Up to 15m tall; size 30cm
diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Found at low
altitude up to 350m
BUILDING MATERIAL: Yes
OTHER USES: This wood is used
for making scale and rulers,
golf club heads, and bowling
balls.
The anang is a favorite
among fruit tree collectors
ANANG and enthusiasts because it’s
(Diospyrospyrrhocarpa) brown and hairy fruit, edible
and sweet, is more luscious
than the mabolo. Its wood is
called “black ebony” and is
used to make bowling balls
and g
olf clubs.
 EBENACEAE. Indigenous.
Vulnerable
SIZE: Up to 30m tall; trunk size
50cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Found in evergreen
forests in low altitude
BUILDING MATERIAL: Yes
IDEAL USES: The wood is close-
grained, very hard, heavy,
very dense and durable, but
liable to split. A high quality
wood, but trees are often too
small to give much yield.
Where size permits, the wood
BANTOLINAU
is used for cabinet work,
(Diospyrosferra) walking sticks, ornamental
carvings, boat-anchors, tool-
handles, sheaths of weapons
and for rafters.
Bonsai enthusiasts gush over
the bantolinau, more so if it is
yamadori (collected from the
wild). The mature tree has a
deeply dark trunk and a
gnarly root system; together
with the tree’s shiny leaves
and yellow/red berries, this
appearance makes the
bantolinau a favorite among
bonsai aficionados.
EBENACEAE. Indigenous.
Critically endangered
SIZE: Up to 15m tall; trunk size
40cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Primary and
secondary forests up to 800m
altitude
BUILDING MATERIAL: YES
KAMAGONG OTHER USES: This wood can
(Diospyrosblancoi) be used in place of ebony. In
the world’s timber market, it
could quality as a kind of
ebony.
Its creamy and sweet, yellow-
deep red fruit is called
mabolo, also known as the
velvet apple or butter-fruit.
The mabolo fruit is not
popular among Filipinos, but it
 is commonly cultivated in the
rest of Southeast Asia.
Kamagong wood is used in
the Philippines by house
builders, carpenters and
artisans. Previously, the
kamagong was thought to
be endemic to our country
until the same species was
found in Taiwan.

EBENACEAE. Indigenous.
Endangered
SIZE: Up to 20m tall; trunk size
50cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Found in peat
swamp forest
BUILDING MATERIAL: Yes
IDEAL USE: This tree is a good
substitute for ebony and
kamagong. It is used for
making furniture, cabinets,
canes, tool handles,
fingerboards and keys of
pianos, guitars, violins,
BOLONG ETA
drawing instruments, shuttles,
(Diospyrospilosanthera) bobbins, spindles, combs and
other novelties.
Members of the Ebenaceae
family are known to produce
ebony wood. While its more
famous siblings produce
black or brown ebony, the
bolong-eta is known among
timber traders for its “streaked
ebony”, very much in
demand for high quality
furniture.
 EBENACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 20m tall; trunk size
50cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Thickets and forests
along the coast and inland
BUILDING MATERIAL: No
IDEAL USES:
Medication:
> The seeds - cure for mental
disorders, nervous
breakdowns and palpitations
of the heart
> The fruits - have a cooling
and an astringent effect
> The dried flowers - useful in
MALATINTA urinary, skin and blood
(Diospyrosmaritima) diseases
> The bark - treatment of
diarrhea.
OTHER USES: used for building,
shoulder poles, mine props
and shafts of carriages
The malatinta may have
earned its name from the
bluish or reddish grey ink-like
texture of its freshly squeezed
juice. The fruit is edible and is
also known as “sea
persimmon” (hence the
species name maritama). The
non-native persimmon fruit
belongs to the Diospyros
(“seeds of the gods”) family.
 CLUSIACEAE
- The Clusiaceae or GuttiferaeJuss. are a family of plants including 13 genera and ca 750
species. Several former members of Clusiacae are now placed in Calophyllaceae and
Hypericaceae. They are mostly trees and shrubs, with milky sap and fruits or capsules for
seeds. The family is primarily tropical.

PICTURES NAME DETAIL

CLUSIACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 15m tall; trunk size
20cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Primary and secondary
forests, open woodland, thickets
and grassland on well-drained
soil
BUILDING MATERIAL: Yes
OTHER USES:
Cultivation Details
-Found in the wild on
various soil types, so long
as they are well-drained
-The plant can flower and
produce fruit all year
round
Edible Uses
-The young fruit is used as
a spice for cooking
-Young shoots - raw.
PAGURINGON
Eaten as a raw vegetable
(Cratoxylumsumatranum) Medicinal
-The roots, bark, and twigs
are used as a medicine
for treating colds and
diarrhoea
-The bark and leaves,
pounded and mixed with
coconut milk, are applied
topically as a treatment
for skin troubles
For Building Material
- Its timber is suitable for
light construction,
furniture, carving,
firewood
and charcoal production.
The paguringon may have a
rough bark, but when used for
treating wounds and scabies, it
smoothens out the skin. Also
called the kansilay, Silay City in
 Negros Occidental was names
after this tree. In turn, the “Paris
of Negros” named the
paguringon its official tree.

CLUSIACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 20m tall; trunk size
80cm diameter
TYPE: Semi-deciduous
HABITAT: Sandy, well-drained soil
in beaches and coastal thickets
BUILDIING MATERIAL: Yes
IDEAL USES: used for flooring,
sheathings, ceilings, ship sterns,
keels, knees and ribs, vehicle-
wheel hubs; and for making fine
furniture, cabinets, gunstocks,
and musical instruments.
BITAOG
“Shade and shelter, food and
(Calophylluminomphyllum) medicine, sea transport and
shore protector; soil improver
and ornamental: this is a tree for
all seasons and many reasons,
for life’s ailments and its
enhancements… the Bitaog
would seem to make it
complete with the coconut tree
for the title ‘Tree of Life’”.
Ed Maranan, writer, author and
journalist; quote from Philippine
Native Trees 101: Up Close and
Persona

DANGKALAN
(Calophyllumobliquinervium)
CLUSIACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 30m tall; trunk size
65cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Secondary and mixed
dipterocarp forests on hillsides,
to 180m altitude
BUILDING MATERIAL: No
The dangkalan is a source of the
packaging used for the popular
edible souvenir from Baguio City
with the wacky name sundot
kulangot. Dangkalan is
becoming a rare tree despite its
wide ecological range
MYRTACEAE
- Myrtaceae or the myrtle family is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order
Myrtales. Myrtle, pohutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca, allspice, and eucalyptus
are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oils, and
have flower parts in multiples of four or five.

PICTURES NAME DETAIL

SIZE: Up tom 25m tall;

trunk size 80cm diameter

TYPE: Evergreen

HABITAT: Very limited

habitat mainly Dinagat
Island, Surigao,
Homonhon Island in
Samar, Leyte, Palawan
and Sibuyan; usually near
seashores in ultramafic
soil.

BUILDING MATERIAL : Yes

The mangkono is
MANGKONO
described as nature’s
(Xanthostemonverdugonianus)
superstar for its lovely red
and white flowers. It is
known as the Philippines
“ironwood” for its
luxurious timber of
extraordinary density. It
attains a 7cm diameter
after only ten years. It
grows best in soil where
minerals like copper and
nickel are present.
Mangkono wood sinks is
water and is immune
from termites.

MAMALIS
(Pittosporum pentandrum)
TOOG
(Petersianthusquadrialatus)
SIZE: Up to 2m tall
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Secondary
and primary
vegetation, thickets
and secondary forests,
especially along
streams at low and
medium altitudes; from
the Babuyan Islands
and northern Luzon to
Mindanao and
Palawan, in most or all
islands and provinces
BUILDING MATERIAL: No
Sometimes planted as
an ornamental for its
profuse berries, the
mali-mali may just be
the cure for the
Filipinos’ fractious
politics. Its leaves are
used for treating bad
blood.
LECYTHIDACEAE. Endemic.
Endangered
SIZE: Exceeds height of 35m
tall; trunk size 100cm
diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Near riverbanks or
on hillsides, in swampy and
cool places
BUILDNG MATERIAL: Yes
IDEAL USES: it is commonly
used for beams, joists,
rafters; posts above stumps;
flooring, sheathing, ceiling;
furniture and cabinetwork
 Toog is considered to be
the talless tree in the
country; it can grow higher
than 40 meters. It is
considered a vanishing
species, due to the high
demand for its wood in the
last 20 years, leading to its
drastic depletion. Its seeds
are edible and, many say,
taste like peanuts.

PUTRANJIVACEAE. Endemic
SIZE: Up to 5m tall; size 20cm
diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Batanes Island and
Camiguin Island; in
secondary forests and
wooded thickets at low
altitude
BUILDING MATERIAL: No
IDEAL USES: not yet known
but, it is very ornamental
GAKAKAN tree can be found wild in
(Drypetes falcate) the island of Batanes. But
somehow they found their
way to landscape gardens
and are becoming a good
choice for growers to rear in
their nurseries
Gakakan is endemic only to
two island groups in the
Philippines: Batanes and
Camiguin. Interestingly,
Camiguin is tropical while
Batanes has a very different
sub-tropical climate.