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 Baños Laguna

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 m2)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
Scientific Name Common Name
Abelmoschus manihot Lagikway
Ardisia eliptica Tagpo
Begonia sp. Begonia
Canna indica Canna/Tikas
Eleocharis dulcis Apulid
Ficus pseudopalma Niyog-niyogan
Momordica
cochinchinensis
Gac/ Balbas
bakiro
Passiflora foetida Prutas Baguio
Pongamia pinnata Bani
Talinum fruticosum Talinum
Tithonia diversifolia Wild Sunflower

11. Tagpo (Ardisia elliptica)
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, Batangas and Marinduque
Potential Uses
Can be used as an ornamental shrub
Produces edible berries
Plant parts can be used to prepare
traditional medicines

12. Bani (Pongamia pinnata)
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, along seashore of Laguna
Potential Uses
Plant parts are used as traditional
medicine
Possible source of bio-fuel

13. Begonia (Begonia sp.)
MORPHOLOGY
 Terrestrial herbs
 Leaves are simple and alternating
 Mostly monoecious
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna, Palawan, Mindoro, Quezon
Potential Uses
In the Philippines, widely cultivated
for its ornamental foliage; and
Some varieties have edible leaves or
flowers

14. Prutas Baguio (Passiflora foetida)
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
Potential Uses
Sweetish pulp is edible when ripe
Plant part are used for traditional
medicine

15. Wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)
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
Potential Uses
Fodder
Fuel (firewood)
Traditional medicines
Pesticides

16. Apulid (Eleocharis dulcis)
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
Potential Uses
Corms are brown with white flesh that
can be eaten raw, boiled, grilled and even
pickled

17. Talinum (Talinum fruticosum)
MORPHOLOGY
 A fleshy, erect perennial herb
 Leaves are obovate or spatulate and spirally
arranged
DISTRIBUTION
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduque and
Mindoro
Potential Uses
Can be eaten as vegetable salad, stir-fried
greens, sinigang and fried rice.
Animal feed pellets

18. Niyog niyogan (Ficus pseudopalma)
MORPHOLOGY
 It is erect, glabrous, and unbranched
 Leaves are lanceolate that can grow up to 30in long.
 Fruits occur in pairs
DISTRIBUTION
Laguna, Palawan, Mindoro, Quezon
Potential Uses
Used as an ornamental plant
Young shoots are edible
Gintaan, noodles

19. Lagikway (Abelmoschus manihot)
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
Potential Uses
Starchy substance are used for
making traditional paper
In the Philippines, young leaves are
eaten and used as young shoots

20. Balbas bakiro (Momordica cochinchinensis)
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, Marinduque and
Mindoro
Potential Uses
It is used as a natural food colorant
Contains essential oils
Can be cooked or processed as juice

21. Balbas bakiro (Momordica cochinchinensis)
Nutrition (air dried aril)
 Lycopene 357.03±17.76 µg/g
 Β-carotene 110.12±22.84 µg/g
 Vitamin C 1.25 ± 0.25 %
Removal of fresh aril from the seeds of Balbas bakiro

22. Canna (Canna indica)
MORPHOLOGY
 Canna is a mesophyte colonial 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
Potential Uses
Produces edible rhizomes
Burned stem and leaves can be used as
pesticides
Can be used for waste water treatment.

23. Canna (Canna indica)
Processing
Harvested Canna rhizomes were washed, peeled and cut into small pieces before
soaking in 0.5% sodium metabisulfite to minimize browning. Samples were then
dried for 24 hours in an oven at 50º C.
Dried samples were ground using a blender and passed through a 20-mesh sieve
to obtain uniformly sized particles.

24. Canna (Canna indica)
Processing
Processed Canna flour
Ingredients in making Arrowroot cookies were used for making Canna cookies
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!