ASSESSMENT FOR MODULE 4
(UPDATED LIST OF THREATENED PHILIPPINE PLANTS)
Name: Zabila N. Pumihic
Year and Section: BSF-3B
Stipulated in the Module are the complete lists of threatened wildlife species
(flora) in the Philippines. Hence, do the following:
1. From among the critically endangered plant species, select five (5) and
search for their pictures in the internet and describe them as to the
following:
a. present status
b. physical characteristics (morphological and taxonomical)
c. biological characteristics
d. habitat
e. associates
1. Philippine teak (Tectona philippiinensis Benth. & Hook. f.)
a. Present status
Based on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Philippine Teak is
critically endangered due to its continuing decline in area of occupancy and extent
of habitat because of agricultural and urban expansion as well as direct
exploitation of the species. Likewise, it is also in the list of critically endangered
species as per DENR-DAO 2007- 01.
b. Physical characteristics (morphological and taxonomical)
It is a small to medium sized tree with bright purple blooms. The species can
attain a height of 15 to 25 meters and a diameter of around 50 centimeters. It has
leaves which are 8 to 15 cm long and 3 to 6 cm wide elliptical to ovate lanceolate,
acuminate, light green above and pale beneath with rough surface. It has terminal
flowers sometimes in the upper axils around 8 x 10 mm in diameter. The fruits are
very small which are enclosed in enlarged persistent calyx with bony endocarp and
thin exocarp. The seeds are oblong. It has grayish trunk with thin flaking bark similar
to that of guava. The wood is hard and heavy with relative density of 0.710
Taxonomic Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Phylum : Magnoliaphyta
Class : Magnoliapsida
Order : Lamiales
Family : Verbenacea
Genus : Tectona (teak)
Species : Tectona. philippinensis Benth. & Hook. f.
c. Biological characteristics
It has grayish trunk with thin flaking bark similar to that of guava. The wood is
hard and heavy with relative density of 0.710. It is light yellow with slightly wavy
grain. The texture is fine and glossy. The species has a high potential to regenerate by
coppice method. Macroscopic observations and other physical attributes showed that
the wood of Philippine teak is light yellow, grain is slightly waxy and texture is fine,
glossy, hard and heavy. Fibers are medium-sized and thin-walled.
d. Habitat
The species can be found in coastal to lowland limestone forest. It is
usually found in thickets and secondary forests at low altitudes in Batangas, Iling
Island in Mindoro and in Mt. Makiling, Laguna.
e. Associates
The species tends to dominate the semideciduous forests. It occurs in
association with Terminalia polyantha. Others associated species include Vitex
parviflora, Tamarindus indicus, Mangifera indica, Ceiba pentandra, Parkia
roxburghii, Syzygium spp., and Ficus spp.
2. Prickly narra (Pterocarpus indicus Wild. forma echinatus (Pers.) Rojo)
a. Present status
Prickly narra is part of a list of 400 endangered Philippine trees that are
considered critically endangered, with only several thousand left in the wild,
according to studies done by University of the Philippines Los Baños
b. Physical characteristics (morphological and taxonomical)
A large, deciduous tree (up to 30 m high and 2 m dbh), trunks usually
fluted and buttressed, crowns large and arching or drooping in mature trees.
Leaves compound pinnate with 6–12 sub-opposite to alternate leaflets which are
elliptic-lanceolate to obovate, 2.5–7 cm long and 2–4.5 cm wide. Leaflet margins
entire. Flowers orange-yellow, fragrant and borne in large axillary panicles. Fruits
are large, 8–12 cm diameter, disc-shaped, indehiscent pods, green when immature
and light brown when mature and winged; slightly bulging central part 2–5 cm
across, bearing 1–3 seeds, very hard pericarp. Pods of prickly narra are covered
with dense bristles about 1 cm long. Seeds asymmetrical, 10–12 mm long, 7–8
mm wide, 4–5 mm thick and pointed at the micropylar end. Red-brown seed coat
very hard with large cotyledons and no endosperm.
Taxonomic classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Pterocarpus
Species: Pterocarpus indicus
c. Biological characteristics
Pods of prickly narra are covered with dense bristles about 1 cm long.
Seeds asymmetrical, 10–12 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, 4–5 mm thick and
pointed at the micropylar end. Red-brown seed coat very hard with large
cotyledons and no endosperm.
d. Habitat
The species grows in mostly lowland primary evergreen forests up to
600 m but can seemingly thrive in elevations up to 1300 m and prefers
seasonal climate. It is also found to be growing along tidal creeks and rocky
shores and is considered to be a pioneer species performing best in the open.
e. Associates
As with many other Fabaceae species, P. indicus is a nitrogen-fixing
tree that nodulates with Rhizobium bacteria. Within its native range, it
occurs naturally with Antiaris toxicaria, Barringtonia spp., Canarium
indicum, Castanospermum australe, Dendrocnide spp., Dracontomelon
vitiense, Endospermum medullosum and Pangium edule. In New Guinea it
commonly occurs with Kingiodendron alternifolium. In the Philippines it
occurs with Calophyllum blancoi, Intsia bijuga, Syzygium
simile and Vitex parviflora (Thomson, 2006).
3. Kamagong/mabolo (Diospyros blancoi A DC.)
a. Present status
It is critically endangered tree species and protected by Philippine law – it is
illegal to export kamagong timber from the country without special permission
from the Bureau of Forestry.
b. Physical characteristics (morphological and taxonomical)
Kamagong is a tree that reaches a height of 20 m and a diameter of 80 cm.
The bole is irregular, often defective and straight, but oftentimes bending shortly
above the ground. The bark is about 3-5 mm thick, brown, rarely black, the inner
pinkish. Outer bark dark gray to black, rough, sometimes lenticillate. Leaves
simple, alternate, oblong or subelliptic, about 20 x 7 cm, base obtusely rounded,
apex acute to acuminate; dark green above, glaucous and silvery hairy beneath;
petiole thick, to 1 cm long, pubescent. Male flowers axillary, cymes with 3-7
flowers; pedicel short; calyx tubular but deeply 4 lobed, about 1 cm long; corolla
slightly larger than calyx, tubular, 4-lobed, creamy-white; stamens 24-30, united
in pairs at base; female flowers are solitary, axillary, subsessile, slightly larger
than male flowers; with 4-10 stamens.
Taxonomic Classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Ebenales
Family: Ebenaceae
Genus: Diospyros
Species: Diospyros blancoi
c. Biological characteristic
Kamagong timber is extremely dense and hard and is famous for its dark
color. Like many other very hard woods, it is sometimes called "iron wood"
because of the wood's density and hardness
d. Habitat
It can be found in primary and secondary forest with up to 800 meters in
altitude. Specifically, it can be seen on Mt. Makiling on areas up to 400
meters in altitude.
e. Associates
4. Baguilurnbang (Reutealis tn'sperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw)
a. Present status
Based on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Baguilurnbang is
critically endangered due to its continuing decline in area of occupancy and extent
of habitat.
b. Physical characteristics (morphological and taxonomical)
Trees to 15 m tall; trunk to 35 cm dbh. Petiole 14-15 cm; leaf blade ovate or
ovate-cordate, 12-14 × 12-13 cm, abaxial surface with hair-tufts in many vein-
axils, base usually deeply cordate with rounded lobes, sometimes rounded or
obtuse on old trees, apex gland-tipped. Plants dioecious, sometimes monoecious.
Male inflorescences flat-topped, with many cymelets. Male flowers: calyx
cylindric, approximately 13 mm, 2- or 3-lobed, glabrous; petals 5, yellowish
white, obovate, obovate-spatulate, or obovate-lanceolate, 8-16 × 3-5 mm; stamens
10-13, in 2 series; outer filaments free, inner ones connate at base. Female
inflorescences flat-topped, racemose, or thyrsoid. Female flowers: ovary 3-celled,
ovoid-globose-trigonous, densely appressed hairy; styles bifid. Capsule depressed
globose to obtusely trigonous; pericarp 4-5 × 5-6.5 cm, longitudinally 3-angular,
rugose, densely velutinous-pubescent (Flora of China Editorial Committee,
2014).
Taxonomic classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Aleurites
Species: Reutealis trisperma
c. Biological characteristic
A fast-growing tree, it can be 5 metres or more tall when 5 years old.
Trees commence fruiting within a few years. Leaves are glossy, heart-shaped, and
have an abnormally long stalk. Flowers are borne in drooping branched clusters at
the end of branches. Flowers are white, flushed with pink, and have 5-7 oblong
petals which turned backwards. When the flower appears, the tree is nearly
leafless.
d. Habitat
Forests at low to medium elevations.
e. Associates
R. trisperma can easily be distinguished from Aleurites and Vernicia by its
five-angular or five-ribbed rather than terete twigs, the presence of rather
persistent, hooded bracts, and spatulately flattened rather than terete stigmas
(Stuppy et al., 1999).
5. Waling-waling (Euanthe sanderiana (Reichb. f) Schltr.)
a. Present status
Due to the destruction of its wild habitat, the Waling-waling is considered
a critically endangered plant species under Appendix I of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
b. Physical characteristics (morphological and taxonomical)
The blooms are 4 to 6 inches across and are vivid colors of pink, purple,
blue-violet and chocolate. The flowers are flat, to eight centimeters across; the
sepals and petals are obviate, bluish pink, with buff-yellow stain, and dull-
crimson reticulations on the lateral sepals; the lip is small and concave, purple-red
at base, strongly recurved and brownish purple at apex; with three prominent
keels.
Taxonomic Classification
Domain: Eukaryote
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Vanda
Species: V. sanderiana
c. Biological characteristic
Its lateral sepals are yellowish-green with white margins. Its dorsal sepal and
petals are white with purple spots at the base. The labellum has purple dots.
d. Habitat
Waling-waling orchids grow wild in trees in the rain forests of the
Philippines.
e. Associates
Vanda sanderiana var. labello-viridi Linden & Rodigas in Lindenia 1:85, t
(1885) 40. Esmeralda sanderiana var. labello-viridi Will. This variety is similar
to the species, with the exception that the lip or labellum is green with crimson
stripes.
2. Will there still be means by which the above endangered species can be saved from
extinction? How? Explain.
There will always be a way to save these species from extinction. First, we need
to stop abusing and protect their habitat since the greatest threat that many species faces
is the widespread destruction of their habitat. This species habitat should be protected to
be able to minimize its impact. Second, participate in any activities that are related in
protecting endangered species as well as not purchasing products made from endangered
species.
Many of us enjoy spending time in the woods camping, hiking, fishing or hunting.
Others make a living from the forests through tourism or from the responsible harvest of
trees for the pulp and paper and the saw milling industries, building homes or for
firewood. A healthy forest ecosystem contributes to healthy habitat of endangered
species. Every tree adds vibrancy, color, magnitude, and they are vessels of heath and
vigor. Please, for the sake of man’s future, do contribute. All species is important and
benefits us all.
3. As a student and individual, what action can you make to help save
these species from extinction? Explain
As a student and individual, the action I can make to help save these species from
extinction is to help through planting native trees, which is the key in maintaining our
natural ecosystem and by not harming endangered species in the wild. I would also try to
educate my community about these endangered species and how they are important to
our ecosystem. And lastly, by not destroying their habitat because protecting their habitat
saves the entire communities of these endangered species.