Selected Indigenous Plants from Southern Tagalog Region of the Philippines

Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) sponsored presentation during the AgriLink Seminar on October 6, 2016 at World Trade Center, Pasay City

1. Selected Indigenous Plants
from Southern Tagalog
Region of the Philippines
Fredric M. Odejar, Ryan Rodrigo P. Tayobong, Maria Charito E. Balladares,
Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Norma G. Medina and Bryan V. Apacionado
Crop Science Cluster, College of Agriculture , University of the Philippines Los BañosLaguna

2. INDIGENOUS PLANTS
plants growing naturally in a location
but can be found elsewhere
adapted to the geography,
hydrology, and climate of the area

3. IN THE PHILIPPINES..
The Philippines is home to a very rich
variety of flora with potential economic
usage but are underutilized.
Many of these plants are still in the wild,
not knowing the possible use, others
may have been domesticated but mass
production is neglected.

4. Southern Tagalog Region
of the Philippines

5. Southern Tagalog Region
of the Philippines
Largest Region
in terms of land area (4,626,490 m
2
)and population (15,354,474)
0 10 20
NCR
CAR
Ilocos
Cagayan
Central Luzon
Southern Luzon
Bicol
Western Visayas
Central Visayas
Eastern Visayas
Zamboanga
Northern Mindanao
Davao
SOCCSKSARGEN
Caraga
ARMM
Population
Total Land Area

6. Southern Tagalog Region
of the Philippines
Varies in landforms
Rich in flora and fauna species
29%
71%
Area
Others
Forest

7. Benefits of
Indigenous plants
Can be utilized as:
Source of food
Products for health and wellness
Natural preservatives, aroma, and
colors
Raw materials for non-food
products

8. Most indigenous plants
are underutilized…
Plants in the wild are threatened by
human activities or by the effects of
global warming.
Limited market for fresh and
processed products
Limited knowledge on their possible
uses, method of propagation,
production and processing practices

9. UTILIZATION AND
PROMOTION OF
INDIGENOUS PLANTS
Research on other possible form of
utilization (increase economic value)
Form of conservation of indigenous
species
Commercialization of these plants can
create new sources of livelihood

10. List of Collected Plants
ScientificName CommonName
AbelmoschusmanihotLagikway
Ardisiaeliptica Tagpo
Begoniasp. Begonia
Cannaindica Canna/Tikas
Eleocharisdulcis Apulid
Ficuspseudopalma Niyog-niyogan
Momordica
cochinchinensis
Gac/ Balbas
bakiro
Passiflorafoetida PrutasBaguio
Pongamiapinnata Bani
Talinumfruticosum Talinum
TithoniadiversifoliaWildSunflower

11. Tagpo(Ardisiaelliptica)
MORPHOLOGY
An evergreen shrub that can grow to a height of 5-6m
Leaves are alternate with an elliptical shape.
Flowers are star-like clustered at the base of the upper
leaves.
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,BatangasandMarinduque
PotentialUses
Canbeusedasanornamentalshrub
Producesedibleberries
Plantpartscanbeusedtoprepare
traditionalmedicines

12. Bani(Pongamiapinnata)
MORPHOLOGY
Smooth tree growing to a height of 8 to 25 meters.
Leaves are compound and flowers have purplish-pink
color
Pods are woody, smooth, and oblong with a single seed
DISTRIBUTION
Quezon,alongseashoreofLaguna
PotentialUses
Plantpartsareusedastraditional
medicine
Possiblesourceofbio-fuel
https://ny.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongamia_pinnata

13. Begonia (Begonia sp.)
MORPHOLOGY
Terrestrial herbs
Leaves are simple and alternating
Mostly monoecious
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Palawan,Mindoro,Quezon
PotentialUses
InthePhilippines,widelycultivated
foritsornamentalfoliage;and
Somevarietieshaveedibleleavesor
flowers

14. PrutasBaguio (Passiflorafoetida)
MORPHOLOGY
Herbaceous vine with slender and rounded stems,
covered with prominent villous hairs
Leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate
Flowers are solitary with white to pinkish coloration
Fruits are dry, inflated ovoid shape
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Marinduque,Rizal
PotentialUses
Sweetishpulpisediblewhenripe
Plantpartareusedfortraditional
medicine

15. Wild sunflower (Tithoniadiversifolia)
MORPHOLOGY
is a robust herbaceous and bushy perennial shrub
Leaves are greyish green, alternate, petioled, ovate to
orbicular,
Flower heads are yellow, large and daisy-like
Petals are bright yellow
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Batangas,Quezon
PotentialUses
Fodder
Fuel(firewood)
Traditionalmedicines
Pesticides

16. Apulid(Eleocharisdulcis)
MORPHOLOGY
is a grass-like sedge that is native to Asian countries
including the Philippines
It has upright tubular stems
produces edible corms
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Marinduque,Rizal,Palawan
PotentialUses
Cormsarebrownwithwhitefleshthat
canbeeatenraw,boiled,grilledandeven
pickled

17. Talinum(Talinumfruticosum)
MORPHOLOGY
A fleshy, erect perennial herb
Leaves are obovate or spatulateand spirally
arranged
DISTRIBUTION
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduqueand
Mindoro
PotentialUses
Canbeeatenasvegetablesalad,stir-fried
greens,sinigangandfriedrice.
Animalfeedpellets

18. Niyogniyogan(Ficuspseudopalma)
MORPHOLOGY
It is erect, glabrous, and unbranched
Leaves are lanceolatethat can grow up to 30in long.
Fruits occur in pairs
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Palawan,Mindoro,Quezon
PotentialUses
Usedasanornamentalplant
Youngshootsareedible
Gintaan,noodles

19. Lagikway(Abelmoschusmanihot)
MORPHOLOGY
Is a fast growing, perennial shrub
Leaf shape is inconsistent but generally maintains a
maple-like shape.
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Rizal,Quezon,Mindoro,
Marinduque,Palawan
PotentialUses
Starchysubstanceareusedfor
makingtraditionalpaper
InthePhilippines,youngleavesare
eatenandusedasyoungshoots

20. Balbasbakiro(Momordicacochinchinensis)
MORPHOLOGY
Leaves are alternate with three to five deep lobes.
Flowers are pale yellow and solitary in the axils of the
leaves.
Large fruits are oblong to round in shape
DISTRIBUTION
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduqueand
Mindoro
PotentialUses
Itisusedasanaturalfoodcolorant
Containsessentialoils
Canbecookedorprocessedasjuice

21. Balbasbakiro(Momordicacochinchinensis)
Nutrition (air dried aril)
Lycopene 357.03±17.76 µg/g
Β-carotene110.12±22.84 µg/g
Vitamin C 1.25 ±0.25 %
RemovaloffresharilfromtheseedsofBalbasbakiro

22. Canna (Canna indica)
MORPHOLOGY
Canna is a mesophytecolonial terrestrial plant
It produces underground sympodial rhizomes, 7-11
sheathing leaves that are light green in color
fruit capsules with dark seeds at maturity.
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna,Batangas,Rizal,Palawan,Quezon
PotentialUses
Producesediblerhizomes
Burnedstemandleavescanbeusedas
pesticides
Canbeusedforwastewatertreatment.

23. Canna (Canna indica)
Processing
HarvestedCannarhizomeswerewashed,peeledandcutintosmallpiecesbefore
soakingin0.5%sodiummetabisulfitetominimizebrowning.Sampleswerethen
driedfor24hoursinanovenat50ºC.
Driedsamplesweregroundusingablenderandpassedthrougha20-meshsieve
toobtainuniformlysizedparticles.

24. Canna (Canna indica)
Processing
ProcessedCannaflour
IngredientsinmakingArrowrootcookieswereusedformakingCannacookies
Ingredients Amount for
25% substitution
All-purpose flour 97.5g
Canna flour 32.5
Baking Powder 1 tsp
Egg 1 whole
Butter, softened 1/3 cup
White sugar 1/3 cup

25. Summary
There are many underutilized
indigenous plants with potential
economic uses
Despite their potential uses they remain
underutilized due to lack of awareness
and limited information.

26. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Department of Agriculture –
Bureau of Agricultural
Research (DA-BAR)

27. THANK YOU!
MARAMING SALAMAT PO!