Philippines KATMON Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe, Dilleniaceae A medium-sized tree up to about 17 m high. Leaves dark green, ovate to elliptic, leathery and 12-25 cm long. Flowers terminal, large, about 15 cm in diameter and with white petals. Fruit globose to ovoid, yellowish green when ripe and about 5-6 cm in diameter. Greenish, soft, acid flesh enclosed by persistent, fleshy sepals. Propagation mostly by seed. Seedling tree fruits in 5-7 years. Fruit flesh may be eaten raw or used for flavoring dishes or for making sauce, jam and jelly.

KUBILI, EBULI Cubilia cubili (Blanco) Adelb., Sapindaceae Philippines A midsized tree up to 15 m high with pinnate leaves. Leaflets dark green, large and pointed at both ends. Flowers small, in large panicles at shoot tips. Fruit ovoid, dark green, 5-6 cm long, with numerous projections and split open when mature. Aril white and juicy. Nut roundish oblong, dark red and 3-4 cm long. Propagation mostly by seed. Seedling tree fruits in 6-8 years.   Nut is delicious boiled or roasted.

LIPOTE Syzygium curranii (C. B. Rob.) Merr., Myrtaceae Philippines A midsized tree up to 15 m high. Leaves simple, oblong obovate, leathery, dark green, shining and pointed at tips. Flowers small, whitish and in large clusters on stems. Fruit nearly globose, purple to almost black, smooth and in compact clusters. Flesh rather dry, crisp, subacid and encloses a seed. Propagation mostly by seed but can be cleft-grafted. Fruits in 4-5 years. Usually propagated by seed but can be readily cleft-grafted. Grafted plants fruit in 3-4 years.   Fruits may be eaten raw or made into preserve, jelly, jam, juice and wine.

MABOLO, VELVET FRUIT Diospyros blancoi A. DC., Ebenaceae Philippines A midsized to large, dioecious tree up to 30 m high. Leaves simple, oblong, dark green, leathery and 10-25 cm long. Flowers sessile, solitary or in small clusters in leaf axils. Fruit round or oblate, 8-9 cm in diameter, dull reddish to bright red and densely covered with brown hair. Flesh white, rather dry, sweet, strongly aromatic and encloses 0-8 large seeds. Propagation mostly by seed but can be cleft-grafted. Seedling tree fruits in 4-6 years while grafted ones fruit earlier.   Fruits usually eaten raw.

MARANG Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco, Moraceae Southeast Asia A large, evergreen, monoecious tree up to 25 m high. Leaves large (45-60 cm long), entire or more or less trilobate, rough and light green. Small flowers densely crowded on globose (female) to oblong (male), solitary inflorescences. Fruit about 16 cm long, roundish oblong and thickly covered with soft, brittle, greenish yellow or brown spines. Flesh snowy white, very sweet, very aromatic and encloses numerous small, white seeds. Propagation mostly by seed but can be inarched. Seedling takes 5-6 years to fruit.   Fruit is usually eaten fresh and can also be preserved or used in ice cream. Seeds are also edible either boiled or roasted.

PAHO Mangifera altissima Blanco, Anacardiaceae Philippines An erect, evergreen, large tree up to 30 m high. Leaves simple, dark green, glossy, narrow and pointed. Small, white, male and bisexual, fragrant flowers in large panicles on shoot tips. Fruit small, 5-8 cm long at maturity with a scant, resinous flesh and a large seed. Propagation is usually by seed which fruits in 6-8 years. Can also be cleft-grafted on paho and mango rootstocks. Grafted trees fruit in 3-5 years.   Fruits are usually used immature green in salad. They are cut in halves and, after removing the seeds, sliced thinly, mixed with sliced onion and tomato and flavored with salt or salted fish sauce. Mature or ripe fruits are seldom eaten.