HARDWOODS IN THE PHILIPPINES

INTRODUCTION:
HARDWOOD COMES FROM DECIDUOUS TREES WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY
THEIR WIDE LEAVES. THESE INCLUDE OAK, MAHOGANY, ASH, BIRCH, AND MAPLE
TREES. IN THE PHILIPPINES, HARDWOOD IS TAKEN FROM MOLAVE, KAMAGONG, NARRA,
YAKAL, AND TANGUILE TREES. THESE, ESPECIALLY TANGUILE WOOD, CAN BE MADE
INTO EXTERIOR APPLICATION LIKE FOR THE WINDOW FRAMES, WALLS, FLOOR, DOORS,
AND OTHER DURABLE PIECES OF FURNITURE. YAKAL WOOD IS ANOTHER OPTION FOR
HARDWOOD IN THE PHILIPPINES.
TYPES OF HARDWOODS IN THE PHILIPPINES:

1.  GMELINA (GMELINA ARBOREA)

ALTHOUGH GMELINA IS NOT A NATIVE PHILIPPINE TREE, IT IS THE MOST

IMPORTANT AND WIDELY DISTRIBUTED SPECIES OF FOREST TREE IN THE PHILIPPINES
DUE TO ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND FAST-GROWING CHARACTERISTICS.
GMELINA CAN GROW UP TO 15 METERS ON STEEP LANDS AND CAN REACH A 12-INCH
DIAMETER IN JUST FIVE YEARS.
2. MAHOGANY (SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA)

HONDURAN OR BIG-LEAF MAHOGANY (SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA), WITH A RANGE

FROM MEXICO TO SOUTHERN AMAZONIA IN BRAZIL, IS THE MOST WIDESPREAD
SPECIES OF MAHOGANY AND THE ONLY TRUE MAHOGANY SPECIES COMMERCIALLY
GROWN TODAY. BOTH MAHOGANY AND GMELINA ARE THE TOP CHOICES OF
COMMERCIAL GROWERS BUT THE LATTER GROWS SLOWER THAN THE FORMER AND
CAN BE HARVESTED AFTER 15 TO 20 YEARS.  THE ONLY DOWNSIDE OF MAHOGANY IS
THAT OTHER SPECIES OF PLANTS UNDER IT WILL BE KILLED AS ITS LEAVES SEEM TO
BE TOXIC AND CAN KILL MOST NATIVE SPECIES.

3. NARRA (PTEROCARPUS INDICUS)

NARRA IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE LUMBERS
IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT IS CONSIDERED A NATIONAL TREE AND ALTHOUGH THE TREE
SPECIES IS CONSIDERED “VULNERABLE”, IT CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE.

IT IS A PREMIUM TIMBER SPECIES SUITABLE FOR HIGH-GRADE FURNITURE,

LUMBER, AND PLYWOOD FOR LIGHT CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES. IT IS ALSO USED FOR
CARTWHEELS, WOOD CARVING, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. NARRA IS CONSIDERED
BY THE MAJORITY OF FILIPINOS AS THE MOST SPECIAL WOOD AND LUMBER, AND ONE
OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HARDWOOD TREES IN THE PHILIPPINES.

4. MOLAVE (VITEX PARVIFLORA)

MOLAVE (MULAWIN, HIMUL-AWON IN HILIGAYNON) IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND

HIGH-VALUE PHILIPPINE NATIVE TREE. ITS LUMBER IS MAINLY USED IN PREMIUM
FURNITURE, TOOL HANDLES, AND WOOD CARVINGS, AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION. IT IS
ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE LUMBERS IN THE COUNTRY AND IS VERY HARD TO FIND.
 5. YAKAL (SHOREA ASTYLOSA)

SHOREA ASTYLOSA IS ENDEMIC TO THE PHILIPPINES AND IS KNOWN AS YAKAL IN

THE FILIPINO LANGUAGE. YAKAL IS A MEDIUM TO A LARGE TREE ABOUT 25 TO 30
METERS TALL. ITS WOOD IS HARD AND DARK BROWNISH-YELLOW. BRANCHLETS ARE
RATHER SLENDER, BLACKISH, AND SLIGHTLY HAIRY. YAKAL IS OFTEN USED AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR NARRA AS IT IS CHEAPER THAN THE LATTER. IT IS USED IN
FURNITURE, STAIRS, AND CARVINGS.
6. TOOG (PETERSIANTHUS QUADRIALATUS)

PETERSIANTHUS
QUADRIALATUS (ALSO CALLED TOOG AND PHILIPPINE ROSEWOOD) IS AN EMERGENT
TROPICAL RAINFOREST TREE SPECIES. IN THE VISAYAS REGION CALLED KAPULLAN, IN
THE SAMAR AND LEYTE AREAS – MAGTALISAI. IT IS AN INDIGENOUS TREE SPECIES IN
THE SOUTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES AND ONE OF THE LARGEST TREE SPECIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES ISLANDS.

LEAVES ARE MEDICINAL ESPECIALLY IN TREATING SKIN RASHES. SEEDS ARE

EDIBLE AND TASTE LIKE GROUNDNUT. BECAUSE ITS WOOD IS HARD AND DIFFICULT TO
CUT AND IS AS STRONG AS MOLAVE (VITEX PARVIFLORA), ITS HIGHLY PREFERRED FOR
HEAVY CONSTRUCTION SUCH AS BRIDGES, BEAMS, JOISTS, POLES, WOODPILES OF
WHARVES AND PIERS, VENEER, AND PLYWOOD, ALSO FOR DOOR FACES AND DOOR
COMPONENTS LIKE JAMBS, STOPS, AND CASING.
 7. APITONG (DIPTEROCARPUS GRANDIFLORUS)

DIPTEROCARPUS
GRANDIFLORUS IS A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED COMMON MEDIUM HARDWOOD TREE IN
SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND INDIA. ITS WOOD IS USED TO PRODUCE GOOD QUALITY
CHARCOAL, PAPER PULP, AND TIMBER SOLD UNDER THE KERUING DESIGNATION. ITS
GUM IS USED LOCALLY AS A WATERPROOFING VARNISH. THE TREE ITSELF IS VERY
USEFUL FOR NITROGEN-FIXING, EROSION CONTROL, SOIL IMPROVEMENT, AND
WATERSHED REGULATION.

APITONG IS COMMONLY FOUND IN THE NORTHERN NEGROS FOREST RESERVE IN

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL AND IS HIGHLY PROTECTED.

8. ALMACIGA (AGATHIS PHILIPPINENSIS

AGATHIS PHILIPPINENSIS (IN TAGALOG: ALMASIGA, ALMACIGA, OR DAYUNGON) IS

A SPECIES OF LARGE AGATHIS TREE NATIVE TO THE PHILIPPINES, SULAWESI, AND
HALMAHERA, WHERE IT OCCURS IN UPLAND TROPICAL RAINFOREST AT 450-2,200 M
ALTITUDE, RARELY AS LOW AS 250 M IN NORTHERN LUZON. ALMACIGA IS CONSIDERED
TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST HARDWOOD TREES IN THE PHILIPPINES DUE TO ITS FINE
AND SMOOTH TEXTURE.
 THE TREE IS COMMONLY USED THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES, MELANESIA, AND
AUSTRALASIA AS AN ENRICHMENT CROP. DESPITE BEING LIMITED BY ALTITUDE
CONSTRAINTS IT IS TOLERANT OF MOST DIFFERENT SOIL DENSITIES, THOUGH IT
REQUIRES GOOD DRAINAGE AND PREFERS ACIDIC SOILS. IT HAS A SPECIAL
TOLERANCE FOR SHALLOW, INFERTILE SOILS. THE TREE IS THEREFORE USED TO
SUPPORT AREAS THAT DO NOT EXPERIENCE ADEQUATE CROP GROWTH AND IS ALSO
PLANTED INSIDE OF EXISTING PLANTATIONS TO REPLACE EXISTING TREES.

9. LAWAAN (SHOREA)

THERE ARE 2 SPECIES OF LAWAAN (LAUAN) TREE IN THE PHILIPPINES – THE RED
AND WHITE LAUAN. THE RED LAUAN HAS AN IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL VALUE AND IS
USED IN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION. THIS WRITER HAS A RED LAWAAN TREE GROWING IN
HIS BACKYARD AND IS ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD NOW.
10. AMUGIS (KOORDERSIODENDRON PINNATUM)

KOORDERSIODENDRON
PINNATUM (RANGGU) IS A SPECIES OF TREE
IN THE PHILIPPINES, LOCALLY KNOWN AS
AMUGIS (AMUGUIS), WHICH IS A RELATIVE
OF THE CASHEW TREE. THIS REDWOOD IS
COMMONLY USED FOR BUILDING HOUSES AND
SHIPS.
11. ACACIA (ACACIA CONFUSA)
 ACACIA CONFUSA IS A PERENNIAL TREE NATIVE TO SOUTH-EAST ASIA. SOME
COMMON NAMES FOR IT ARE ACACIA PETIT FEUILLE, SMALL PHILIPPINE ACACIA,
FORMOSA ACACIA (TAIWAN ACACIA) AND FORMOSAN KOA. IT GROWS TO A HEIGHT OF
15M. THE TREE HAS BECOME VERY COMMON IN MANY TROPICAL PACIFIC AREAS,
INCLUDING HAWAII, WHERE THE SPECIES IS CONSIDERED INVASIVE

ITS USES INCLUDE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, AND

FOOD AND DRINK. THE BARK MAY BE GROUND INTO A POWDER AND SATURATED INTO
THE WATER TO CREATE A TEA OR MAYBE SPREAD ONTO VARIOUS FOODS AS A SPICE
AND TASTE ENHANCER. THE WOOD HAS A DENSITY OF ABOUT 0.75 G/CM³.IN TAIWAN,
ITS WOOD IS USED TO MAKE SUPPORT BEAMS FOR UNDERGROUND MINES. THE WOOD
IS ALSO CONVERTED TO CHARCOAL FOR FAMILY USE.

12. NATO (PALAQUIUM LUZONIENSE)

PALAQUIUM LUZONIENSE (ALSO CALLED RED NATO) IS A SPECIES OF PLANT IN

THE SAPOTACEAE FAMILY. IT IS ENDEMIC TO THE PHILIPPINES. IT IS THREATENED BY
HABITAT LOSS. NATO IS COMMONLY FOUND IN THE VISAYAS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT LUMBER USED IN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION.
 13. LANITE (KIBATALIA GITINGENSIS)

LANITE IS A MEDIUM-SIZED TREE. THE BARK IS GRAY OR DARK DROWN, ROUGH

AND RIDGED WHEN MATURE, SMOOTH WHEN YOUNG. LANITE IS COMMONLY USED IN
HOUSE CONSTRUCTION AND FURNITURE. DISTRIBUTION: LUZON, MINDORO, CULION,
PALAWAN, NEGROS, MINDANAO ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: WOOD USED FOR
FURNITURE AND FUNNEL PRODUCTS.
ECOLOGICAL STATUS: DEPLETED DUE TO LOGGING AND KAINGIN-MAKING.
14. BALAYONG (AFZELIA RHOMBOIDES)

BALAYONG OR TINDALO IS VERY HARD WOOD AND OF MEDIUM SIZE. IT IS A

SPECIES OF LEGUME IN THE FABACEAE FAMILY. IT IS FOUND IN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA,
AND THE PHILIPPINES. IT IS THREATENED BY HABITAT LOSS.

A TINDALO TREE WAS PLANTED BY PRES. MANUEL L. QUEZON DURING THE

INAUGURATION OF BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PHILIPPINES AS A CHARTER
CITY ON OCTOBER 19, 1938, WITH MAYOR ALFREDO MONTELIBANO AND GOV.
VALERIANO GATUSLAO.

THE WOOD IS GOOD FOR CARVINGS, FURNITURE, AND HIGH-GRADE

CONSTRUCTION WORK. THE BALAYONG BARK IS USED FOR TANNING CATTLE HIDES,
GOATSKIN, AND SHEEPSKIN. YOUNG SEEDS ARE EDIBLE DUE TO FATTY COTYLEDONS .

15.  IPIL (INTSIA BIJUGA)

 IPIL (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH IPIL-IPIL – LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA), IS A
LARGE TREE GROWING UP TO 50M IN HEIGHT AND A DIAMETER OF 150CM. THE BARK IS
SMOOTH, SOMETIMES FLAKY, AND GRAYISH-GREEN WITH OCCASIONAL WHITISH
PATCHES. THE LEAVES ARE SHINY GREEN. OBSERVED TO HAVE WHITE FLOWERS IN
JUNE.

ITS FRUIT AND BARK HAVE REPORTED MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. WOOD IS USED
IN INTERIOR DECOR AND FURNITURE MAKING.

OTHER HARDWOOD TREES IN THE PHILIPPINES TO CONSIDER GROWING:

KAMAGONG – KAMAGONG IS ACTUALLY A FRUIT CALLED MABOLO. KAMAGONG IS HARDER

THAN MOST LISTED ABOVE AND ITS WOOD IS FAMOUS IN MOVIES BEFORE AS IT IS USED TO
MAKE ARNIS WEAPONS.

MOLAVE – MOLAVE IS A PREMIUM TIMBER SPECIES THAT DOMINATES THE LIMESTONE

FORESTS IN THE COUNTRY. MOLAVE WOOD IS VERY HARD AND SERVES AS PRECIOUS WOOD
IN MAKING HIGH-END FURNITURE. THE TRADITIONAL RAILROAD TIES WERE ALSO MADE OF
MOLAVE OWING TO THE WOOD’S INHERENT ALL-WEATHER STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. IT IS
ALSO A GOOD ORNAMENTAL TREE WITH A WIDE SPREADING CROWN PERFECT FOR SHADE.
NUMEROUS VIOLET FLOWERS BLOOM AT THE TERMINAL PORTION OF THE TWIGS. IT IS ALSO
CALLED MULAWIN IN TAGALOG, AND HIMOL-AWON IN HILIGAYNON/ILONGGO.

TANGUILI – TANGUILI/TANGUILE IS MODERATELY HARD REDDISH WOOD, TANGUILI IS ONE OF

THE SEVEN LOCAL KINDS OF WOOD OFTEN REFERRED TO AS PHILIPPINE MAHOGANY. THIS
ABUNDANT WOOD TYPE BOASTS FINE RIBBONS OR STRAIGHT GRAIN. IT IS RELATIVELY SOFT
AND EASY TO WORK ON, BUT RESILIENT ENOUGH FOR OUTDOOR CONSTRUCTION.

MANGKONO – MANGKONO OR PHILIPPINE IRONWOOD, IS A SPECIES OF PLANT IN THE FAMILY

MYRTACEAE. IT IS ENDEMIC TO THE ISLANDS OF THE VISAYAS, PALAWAN, AND NORTHEASTERN
MINDANAO. IT IS VALUED FOR ITS EXTREMELY DURABLE AND HEAVY TIMBER. IT IS
THREATENED BY HABITAT LOSS. IT IS OFTEN USED AS A CHOPPING BOARD AND IS
CONSIDERED TO BE THE HARDEST HARDWOOD TREE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

AGARWOOD – AGAR TREE, LANETE, OR LAPNISAN (AQUILARIA MALACCENSI), IS A NON-TIMBER

TYPE OF WOOD THAT IS USED FOR ITS SAP OR RESIN, WHICH IS USED IN THE PERFUME AND
SCENTS INDUSTRY. THE TREE IS VERY RARE AND IS FOUND IN THE DEEPEST PARTS OF THE
JUNGLES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, INCLUDING THE PHILIPPINES. AGARWOOD IS CONSIDERED
TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE NON-TIMBER TREE DUE TO ITS USES AND RARITY.
SOFTWOODS IN THE PHILIPPINES
INTRODUCTION:

SOFTWOOD IS FROM CONIFER TREES WHICH HAVE NEEDLES INSTEAD OF

LEAVES. EXAMPLES OF SOFTWOOD TREES ARE CEDAR, FIR, HEMLOCK, SPRUCE, PINE,
AND REDWOOD. THESE TREES DO NOT PRODUCE SEEDS. THEY ALSO BEAR CONES
WHICH EMIT POLLEN AND EVENTUALLY DROP TO THE GROUND AND GROW INTO
TREES.
TYPES OF SOFTWOODS IN THE PHILIPPINES:
1. CEDAR

CEDARWOOD IS ONE OF THE WOOD TYPES UNDER SOFTWOODS. IT CAN GROW

ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT THE MOST POPULAR SPECIES ARE NATIVE TO NORTH
AMERICA. THIS WOOD TYPE CAN LAST UP TO 15-20 YEARS, WHEREAS ITS PRESSURE-
TREATED WOOD CAN HAVE A 15-YEAR LIFESPAN. BECAUSE CEDAR BELONGS TO THE
SOFTWOOD FAMILY, IT IS CONSIDERED A VERSATILE NATURAL WOOD WITH NATURAL
BEAUTY, STRENGTH, AND SPICY AROMA.

2. PINE

PINE WOOD IS A FREQUENTLY USED MATERIAL FOR FINE AND ECONOMIC

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ALIKE. THE PROPERTIES OF PINE MAKE IT A POPULAR
CHOICE BECAUSE OF ITS EASY CULTIVATION AND WIDESPREAD AVAILABILITY. PINE
WOOD IS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNITURE, CABINETRY, WINDOW FRAMES,
PANELING, FLOORS AND ROOFING. KNOTTY PINE WAS A POPULAR CHOICE IN HOME
DECORS IN THE 1960S. THAT SAME ORANGE-RED FINISHED WOOD IS OFTEN USED IN
MODERN CABINETRY TO CREATE A RETROSPECTIVE STYLE LINKED TO THAT DÉCOR
FROM BEFORE.

3. DOUGLAS FIR

DOUGLAS FIR IS THE MOST WIDELY WOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION. AMONG

INTERNAL AND ETERNAL USES, DOUGLAS FIR SEEMS TO BE A GOOD CHOICE DUE TO
ITS DURABILITY, STABILITY AND STRENGTH IN TERMS OF APPEARANCE AND COLOR
VARIETY. IT IS OFTEN USED FOR WOODEN FRAMES, EXTERIOR VENEER, INTERIOR
VENEER, FURNITURE AND DECORATION DESIGN.
4. SPRUCE

THE TYPICAL END-USES FOR SPRUCE WOOD ARE FOR STRUCTURAL END USES,
INDOORS AND OUTDOORS, THUS IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION TIMBER IN EUROPE. IT IS ALSO USED FOR DECORATIVE PLYWOOD,
DECORATIVE VENEER, DOMESTIC FLOORING, FACTORY FLOORING, GENERAL
CARPENTRY, INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION, JOINERY (EXTERNAL).
 5. FALCATA

PARASERIANTHES FALCATARIA (FALCATA) IS A FAST-GROWING TREE SPECIES,

GROWN COMMERCIALLY IN THE PHILIPPINES PARTICULARLY IN BISLIG OR IN SURIGAO
DEL SUR EVENTUALLY SPREADING TO NEARBY PROVINCES. ACACIA FALCATA,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS SICKLE WATTLE AND BY OTHER VERNACULAR NAMES
INCLUDING SALLY, IS A PERENNIAL SHRUB OR TREE NATIVE TO EASTERN AUSTRALIA.
HARDY AND ADAPTABLE TO CULTIVATION, IT IS USED IN REGENERATION OF BUSHLAND.