Lipote Fruit Tree
Lipote (Syzygium polycephaloides (C.B. Robinson) Merr.
Lipote is a small to medium-sized tree, reaching up to 14 meters tall. It grows in primary forests at low to medium elevations.
Endemic to the Philippines, its fruit grows in clusters and is small and round, red to dark purple, and sweet to sour in taste.
Rich in vitamin C, they can be eaten raw or cooked, usually processed into jams, jellies, juice, and wine.
Its wood is used for the general light construction of houses.
The flowering and fruiting stages of Lipote!
Did You Know? that Lipote has been listed under “Rare and vanishing fruit trees and shrubs in the Philippines” by Dr. Domingo Madulid?
Most of us know of duhat that blooms and fruits during summertime. It is so common that many of us think it’s native to the Philippines, but it’s not. Lipote, on the other hand, is a staple to the summer days of those in Isabela, Quezon, and Palawan.
It is a relative of duhat, but one that is found in the Philippines and only in the Philippines!.
Despite being endemic to the Philippines, lipote is not considered an endangered species. However, it has been included in Dr. Domingo Madulid’s list of “Rare and Vanishing fruit trees and shrubs in the Philippines”.
Lipote is a native and indigenous tree in the Philippines. It originated from the low to medium elevated forest in Luzon and in some parts of the Visayas.
Its fruit is commonly associated with duhat or Java plum due to its clustered look and its color when it ripens-black to a dark red color and even purple.
It contains vitamin C and antioxidant that can reduce high blood pressure, and cholesterol. It can be made into jelly, jam, and even wine.
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