We see them, we enjoy their shade, and we breathe the oxygen they produce. But how many of the 3,600 Philippine native trees can you identify? Our featured Native Tree of the Day, is the TIPOLO.
Antipolo or Tipolo (Artocarpus blancoi) is endemic to the Philippines that grows in low and medium elevations. It can grow up to the height of 30m with a trunk diameter of 60 cm where its branches start at the 10 cm height of the tree.
Its flowers are inconspicuous. The male inflorescence is yellowish while the female inflorescence is subglobose. Tipolo’s fruit is oblong, yellowish-green, and covered with spikes, where its fruiting season is from March to May.
Tipolo is propagated by seeds. The timber is used for light construction, furniture, and musical instruments while its bark is found to have high antimicrobial activity.
In Guimaras, boat-makers use Tipolo in building boats.
Source: Philippine Native Trees 101, Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines
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