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Plants of Philippines

PH · 12.88°, 121.77°

We catalogue 50 plants documented in Philippines 35 native and 15 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 20 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

35

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
Russian Tarragon
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculoides
ediblemedicinal
Russian olive
Russian olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Roseaceaeedible
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Spiny Bamboo Spiny bamboo
Spiny Bamboo Spiny bamboo
Bambusa blumeana
Poaceaeedible
Tassel Flower
Tassel Flower
Emilia coccinea
edible
Trapa japonica
Trapa japonica
Trapa japonica
edible
Tropical Kudzu
Tropical Kudzu
Pueraria phaseoloides
Fabaceaeedible
Vetiver
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides
edible
Vitis parvifolia
Vitis parvifolia
Vitaceaeedible
Winged Prickly Ash
Winged Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum planispinum
edible
II

Edible for food + foraging

50

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

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
Russian Tarragon
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculoides
ediblemedicinal
Russian olive
Russian olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Roseaceaeedible
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Spiny Bamboo Spiny bamboo
Spiny Bamboo Spiny bamboo
Bambusa blumeana
Poaceaeedible
Tassel Flower
Tassel Flower
Emilia coccinea
edible
Trapa japonica
Trapa japonica
Trapa japonica
edible
Tropical Kudzu
Tropical Kudzu
Pueraria phaseoloides
Fabaceaeedible
Vetiver
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides
edible
Vitis parvifolia
Vitis parvifolia
Vitaceaeedible
Winged Prickly Ash
Winged Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum planispinum
edible
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
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

20

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

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
Russian Tarragon
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculoides
ediblemedicinal
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
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
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

15

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
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Philippines?

50 speciess — 35 native and 15 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 20 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Philippines?

Common edible species include Amaranthus polygamus, Amaranthus tenuifolius, Beach Hibiscus, Bugle, Ceylon Blackberry. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Philippines?

20 medicinal plants catalogued for Philippines, including Bugle, Ceylon Blackberry, Chinese Motherwort, Citrus reticulata, Citrus sinensis.

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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