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Plants of Philippines

PH · 12.88°, 121.77°

We catalogue 60 plants documented in Philippines — 35 native and 25 introduced. Of these, 60 are edible and 21 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

25

Species naturally occurring in Philippines — best adapted to local climate and soil.

Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Beach Hibiscus
Beach Hibiscus
Talipariti tiliaceum
edible
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Ceylon Blackberry
Ceylon Blackberry
Rubus moluccanus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Fountain Grass
Chinese Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
edible
Chinese Motherwort
Chinese Motherwort
Leonurus sibiricus
ediblemedicinal
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Coast Sandalwood
Coast Sandalwood
Santalum ellipticum
edible
Curled Dock
Curled Dock
Rumex crispus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Duchesnea chrysantha
Duchesnea chrysantha
Duchesnea chrysantha
edible
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Huan wen rong
Huan wen rong
Ficus annulata
Moraceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Ixeris lanceolata
Ixeris lanceolata
Ixeris lanceolata
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Jersey Cudweed
Jersey Cudweed
Gnaphalium luteoalbum
edible
Langsat
Langsat
Lansium domesticum
Meliaceaeedible
Manila Elemi
Manila Elemi
Canarium luzonicum
Burseraceaeedible
Myrtle
Myrtle
Myrtus communis
Myrtaceaeediblemedicinal
Narrow-leafed honeysuckle
Narrow-leafed honeysuckle
Lonicera angustifolia
edible
Pili Nut
Pili Nut
Canarium ovatum
edible
Polygonum runcinatum
Polygonum runcinatum
Polygonum runcinatum
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum yokusaianum
Polygonum yokusaianum
Polygonum yokusaianum
ediblemedicinal
II

Edible for food + foraging

50

Plants with edible parts documented in Philippines. Always identify positively before harvest.

Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema x grandiflorum
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Zingiberaceaeedible
Jimsonweed
Jimsonweed
Datura inoxia
Solaneaeediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Lilyturf
Lilyturf
Liriope graminifolia
edible
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpaceaeedible
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Acacia angustissima
edible
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindaceaeedible
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
ediblemedicinal
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Swamp Morning Glory
Swamp Morning Glory
Ipomoea aquatica
Convolvulaceaeedible
Tropical kudzu
Tropical kudzu
Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Fabaceaeedible
Water Milfoil
Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Haloragaceaeedible
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
Amaranthus polygamus
edible
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthus tenuifolius
Amaranthaceaeedible
Beach Hibiscus
Beach Hibiscus
Talipariti tiliaceum
edible
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Ceylon Blackberry
Ceylon Blackberry
Rubus moluccanus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Fountain Grass
Chinese Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
edible
Chinese Motherwort
Chinese Motherwort
Leonurus sibiricus
ediblemedicinal
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Coast Sandalwood
Coast Sandalwood
Santalum ellipticum
edible
Curled Dock
Curled Dock
Rumex crispus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Duchesnea chrysantha
Duchesnea chrysantha
Duchesnea chrysantha
edible
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Huan wen rong
Huan wen rong
Ficus annulata
Moraceaeedible
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Ixeris lanceolata
Ixeris lanceolata
Ixeris lanceolata
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Jersey Cudweed
Jersey Cudweed
Gnaphalium luteoalbum
edible
Langsat
Langsat
Lansium domesticum
Meliaceaeedible
Manila Elemi
Manila Elemi
Canarium luzonicum
Burseraceaeedible
Myrtle
Myrtle
Myrtus communis
Myrtaceaeediblemedicinal
Narrow-leafed honeysuckle
Narrow-leafed honeysuckle
Lonicera angustifolia
edible
Pili Nut
Pili Nut
Canarium ovatum
edible
Polygonum runcinatum
Polygonum runcinatum
Polygonum runcinatum
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum yokusaianum
Polygonum yokusaianum
Polygonum yokusaianum
ediblemedicinal
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

19

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Jimsonweed
Jimsonweed
Datura inoxia
Solaneaeediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
ediblemedicinal
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Ceylon Blackberry
Ceylon Blackberry
Rubus moluccanus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Motherwort
Chinese Motherwort
Leonurus sibiricus
ediblemedicinal
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Curled Dock
Curled Dock
Rumex crispus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Ixeris lanceolata
Ixeris lanceolata
Ixeris lanceolata
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Myrtle
Myrtle
Myrtus communis
Myrtaceaeediblemedicinal
Polygonum runcinatum
Polygonum runcinatum
Polygonum runcinatum
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum yokusaianum
Polygonum yokusaianum
Polygonum yokusaianum
ediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

25

Non-native species established in Philippines. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
Aletris spicata
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Asiatic tearthumb
Asiatic tearthumb
Polygonum perfoliatum
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Barnyard Millet
Barnyard Millet
Echinochloa crus-galli
Poaceaeedible
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Carex nubigena
Caryophyllaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Lespedeza
Chinese Lespedeza
Lespedeza cuneata
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema x grandiflorum
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Zingiberaceaeedible
Jimsonweed
Jimsonweed
Datura inoxia
Solaneaeediblemedicinal
Korean Mulberry
Korean Mulberry
Morus australis
Moraceaeediblemedicinal
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Lilyturf
Lilyturf
Liriope graminifolia
edible
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpium podocarpum
Podocarpaceaeedible
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Acacia angustissima
edible
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindaceaeedible
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
Smilax riparia
ediblemedicinal
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Swamp Morning Glory
Swamp Morning Glory
Ipomoea aquatica
Convolvulaceaeedible
Tropical kudzu
Tropical kudzu
Pueraria pseudohirsuta
Fabaceaeedible
Water Milfoil
Water Milfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Haloragaceaeedible
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Philippines?

60 speciess — 35 native and 25 introduced. Of these, 60 are edible and 21 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Philippines?

Common edible species include Aletris spicata, Amaranthus polystachyus, Asiatic tearthumb, Barnyard Millet, Carex nubigena. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Philippines?

21 medicinal plants catalogued for Philippines, including Asiatic tearthumb, Carex nubigena, Chinese Lespedeza, Dandelion - Kukraundha, Jimsonweed.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other asia

Georgia
GE
Turkey
TR
United Arab Emirates
AE
Afghanistan
AF
Armenia
AM
Azerbaijan
AZ
Bangladesh
BD
Bahrain
BH
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