ALUPAG
Litchi chinensis Sonn. ssp. philippinensis (Radlk.)
Leeanh, Sapindaceae
Philippines
A tree up to 25 m high. Leaves pinnate. Leaflets narrow, pointed,
leathery and with prominent veins. Flowers small, whitish or yellow
and numerous in terminal panicles. Fruit round, about 2 cm long and
turn yellowish at maturity. Peel thin, shell-like, rough and marked by
polygonal patches. Seed one per fruit, large, black, shiny, ovoid and
enclosed by a scanty, translucent, very sweet, juicy flesh.
Propagation mostly by seed but can be air-layered or cleft-grafted.
Seedling trees fruit in 5-6 years, while asexually propagated ones in 34 years.
Fruit usually eaten raw.
BALOBO
Diplodiscus paniculatus Turcz., Tiliaceae
Philippines
A mid-sized to large tree up to 20 m high. Leaves
simple, light green, pointed at both ends and about
12-15 cm long. Flowers small, whitish or yellowish
and in large panicles at shoot tips. Fruit in loose
bunches, yellowish green and with 4 seeds.
Propagation mostly by seed which fruits in 6-8 years.
Seed kernel is eaten boiled or roasted.
BINUKAW, BATUAN
Garcinia binucao (Blanco) Choisy, Guttiferae
Philippines
A midsized tree up to 15 m high. Leaves simple,
dark green, leathery and pointed. Flowers small,
red and in small clusters at leaf axils. Fruit oblate,
yellowish, about 4 cm in diameter and with sour
flesh enclosing several seeds.
Propagation mostly by seed but can be cleftgrafted. Seedling tree bears in 6-7 years while
grafted ones in 3-4 years.
Young leaves and fruits may be eaten raw, but are
usually used for souring dishes.
GALO
Anacolosa frutescens (Blume) Blume, Olacaceae
Philippines
An attractive, medium-sized tree up to 15 m high.
Leaves simple, ovate oblong or elliptic oblong, dark
green and 8-12 cm long. Small, pale green,
hermaphrodite flowers densely crowded in small
clusters at leaf axils. Fruit round to ellipsoid, light green,
about 2-3 cm long, with thick, sweet, soft yellow flesh
and white kernel inside a thin shell.
Propagation mostly by seed but can be cleft-grafted.
Grafted plant fruits in 3-5 years.
Thick flesh is eaten raw. Kernel is eaten boiled or
roasted.
HAGIS
Syzygium tripinnatum (Blanco) Merr. Myrtaceae
Philippines
A midsized tree up to 20 m high. Leaves simple, dark
green, elliptic or oblanceolate and 8-13 cm long. Flowers in
lateral inflorescesnces. Fruit matures from white to dark
red, about 1.5 cm in diameter, subacid, juicy and has a
large seed.
Propagation mostly by seed, but can be readily cleftgrafted. Seedling tree bears in 5-7 years, grafted one in 3-4
years.
Fruits may be eaten raw or made into juice, jam and jelly.
HUNGGO
Elaeocarpus calomala Turcz. Elaeocarpaceae
Philippines and Indonesia
A large tree up to 30 m high. Leaves simple, dark
green and pointed at both ends. Flowers white and in
slender inflorescences up to 12 cm long. Fruit oblong,
yellowish to red, rather dry, subacid and somewhat
astringent and encloses a large, oblong seed.
Propagation mostly by seed. Seedling tree bears in 5-7
years.
Fruits are usually eaten mixed with a little salt.
KAMANSI
Artocarpus camansi Blanco, Moraceae
Philippines
A large tree up to 40 m high. Leaves simple, ovate to
oblong ovate, 40-60 cm long, dark green and deeply lobed.
Female inflorescences ovoid or subglobose. Male
inflorescence club-shaped, cylindrical, greenish yellow and
15-25 cm long. Fruit ovoid or subglobose with fleshy
spines, 10-15 cm long and has numerous, large brown
seeds.
Propagation mostly by seed. Seedling tree fruits in 4-5
years.
Immature fruit cooked as vegetable. Seeds of mature fruit
are eaten boiled or roasted. They taste nutty and delicious.