Plants – Page 9 – Tonji and Sylvia's Wildlife Refuge

Cadena de Amor

Antigonon leptopus

Family: Polygonaceae

Common Name: Cadena de Amor, Coral Vine

Origin: Mexico, introduced in the Philippines

References:

Guidebook to Grassland Plants A Resource Material for Biology Teachers

University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

This is a climbing woody vine with heart-shaped wrinkled leaves. It is a perennial and forms underground tubers and large rootstocks. I saw photos of the large roots in Phytoimages. It is a smothering vine and can cover other plants. It is also very pretty and can be used to cover fences or climb trellises. The one photographed is growing on a Madre de Cacao tree.

three-angled seed that can float on water

Aratiles

Muntingia calabura

Family: Muntingiaceae

Common Name: Aratiles, Strawberry Tree, Jamaican Cherry, Mansanita

Origin: tropical Americas, introduced in the Philippines and other areas

Reference: Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk

This tree fruits year round. Many Filipinos of a certain age have childhood memories of eating the fruit straight from the tree! We planted several of these non-native (though naturalized) trees as a year-round food source for birds and bats.

It is a small, spreading tree. According to some websites it can be grown in pots.

Uvaria grandiflora

Family: Annonaceae

Reference: Phytoimages

This is growing by the old bridge. It is a vine. The leaves and stems are fuzzy and velvety. The bigger branches are reddish-brown. It is related to Uvaria rufa, which we also have in the farm.

According to a comment on Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines Facebook group, there is a “typical flower form of Uvaria“. I was able to correctly guess that this plant is an Uvaria by seeing a photo of a different Uvaria species on Facebook. As we learned in our Permaculture course, it’s all about recognizing patterns!

I was unable to find additional information about this plant in my books or online.

Anonang

Cordia dichotoma

Common Name: Anonang

Family: Boraginaeceae

Origin: native to the Philippines, also found in India, Indo-China, Malesia

Reference: Philippine Native Trees 101

This tree has been growing behind the cottage without us noticing it! In Philippine Native Trees 101, it sys that the leaves are “pounded, put in a kerchief soaked in lukewarm water” and placed on the forehead to relieve fevers.