MANILA, Philippines - Scientific name: Eucalyptus deglupta Bl.
Family: Myrtaceae
Local name: Bagras (most languages)
Distribution: Philippines: Mindanao and Central and East Malesian region.
Description: Medium-sized to large tree to 50 m tall. Trunk has barks flaking into thin, long strips, greenish blue, with yellow greenish patches. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate, acuminate, aromatic when crushed; petioles are long and twisted. Flowers are in axillary umbels and with many stamens. Fruit is a woody capsule with many small seeds.
Conservation Notes: This species is the only one in the genus Eucalyptus that is naturally growing in the Philippines. The species was previously recorded to occur only in Mindanao but it was later found to occur also in Papua New Guinea and Celebes. All the other Eucalyptus found in the Philippines are not native to the country but are introduced mostly from Australia.
The species is naturally found in the lowland forests in Mindanao and in other parts of Central and East Malesian Region. Its wood is used for general construction. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens because of its multicolored flaking bark. The species is threatened by overharvesting and destruction of habitat. It is propagated by seeds.
For more information contact: Domingo A. Madulid, Philippine National Museum, Botany Division, P. Burgos St., Manila. Tel. 5271218. Email: d.madulid@yahoo.com