Trees of the Southern Philippines

In 2019 a team of Filipino, U.S., &  other international scientists conducted two expeditions to the forests of the southern Philippines to document the plants & lichens there. These expeditions are part of a multi-year survey project funded by the National Science Foundation.

Make 1000s of observations on the occurrence & abundance of species via physical collections for museum study & high-resolution photos, with images & data all digitized & placed online, & develop a DNA biorepository for studies on species origins & relatedness. Whew!

Collections were made at several locations across the islands of Mindanao, Negros, & Camiguin.

These images depict flowers and fruits of Philippines trees & associated species, aiming to bring emphasis to the beauty & wonder of Philippines forest, thereby helping in their management & conservation.

The trees of the southern Philippines produce an array of strange and wonderful flowers. Let's explore their unique trees & their flowers.

This species is Macaranga in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), a fast-growing tree of secondary (disturbed) forests.

The unusual flower of Polyalthia in the Annonaceae family (custard apple family) from Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mindanao Island.

The tree Radermachera, in the Bignoniaceae family. Camiguin Island. This is the same family as the catalpa tree in the eastern U.S.

There are over 100 species of figs in the Philippines, most of them trees.

Palm trees (family Arecaceae) are conspicuous members of Philippine forests. This is a fruiting stalk of the Pinanga palm at Mt. Limbawon, Mindanao Island. Palm fruits are a vital food source for animals like orangutans, elephants, and bats.

Young fruits of the genus Phyllanthus (formerly Glochidion) of the Phyllanthaceae (leaf flower family) at Balinsasayao Twin Lakes, Negros Island.

The leaves and fruit of Fagraea, a tree in the Gentianaceae and close relative of the familiar gentians of the north-temperate regions. Negros Island.

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mindanao Island, 16 June 2019. Although tree ferns (seen here on the right) can be the size of trees, they do not make true wood in the sense of a pine or an oak tree.

Many species of epiphytes, such as this Asian-pitcher plant (Nepenthes), often need large branches and trunks in old-growth forests to survive.

The peaks of Tres Marias and team members in the field on Camiguin Island.

Expedition team member Peter Fritsch looking across Cuernos de Negros while out collecting, Negros Island, December 15, 2019. This area of the mountain is notoriously windy at practically all times of the day.

View of Balinsasayao Twin Lakes on Negros Island, December 11, 2019. This is an important source of clean water for the island’s residents.

The forests of the southern Philippines are more than just trees; they are vibrant ecosystems teeming with life. As deforestation threatens this natural heritage, documenting and conserving these species is critical. Every expedition brings us closer to understanding and preserving the Philippines' rich biodiversity.