Tangal Tree
Tangal (Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Rob.) is a native plant found in Bohol.
Tangal comes from the Rhizophoraceae family called the Yellow Mangrove and this mangrove species is found in Malaysia, Micronesia, and the Philippines. Its local names are Tungog, Tangal-lalaki, Pakat, and Tagasa.
The tangal is a small tree growing up to five to six meters in height with a flanged stem base. The bark is dark red with ovate bright yellow-green leaves which turn dark green in shaded areas. The flowers are white which soon turns brown and developed into hypocotyl (‘fruit’).
The tangal is a very useful plant. The bark can be stripped and used as baklad poles or fish corrals as well as for furniture making. The bark can also be pounded and mixed in Tuba (local coconut wine) for fermentation and as a taste enhancer. The pounded tangal, Tungog, is believed to treat anemia. Tungog can also be used to color rice, and is a good source of tannins used to dye thick leather, cotton, nylon, mats, etc.
Considered as a medicinal plant, leaves, and bark of the tangal can be used as astringent with anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant properties. Juice from stem bark is used to stop bleeding and treat skin inflammations and also as anti-malarial medicine.
The population of this native mangrove tree has been depleted due to excessive harvesting. Let us promote mangrove tree planting and help in the protection and conservation of our mangroves.
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