Diospyros philippensis (Desr.) Gurke

Physical Characteristics

CEBU, Philippines -  Kamagong, also known as mabolo, is a tree that reaches a height of about 25 to 32 meters and a diameter of 60 to 80 centimeters.

 The bole is irregular, oftentimes bending shortly above the ground.

 The bark is about three to five millimeters thick, brown, rarely black, and the inner pinkish.

 The leaves are simple alternate, leathery in texture, and pointed at the base. The upper surface is green and shiny while the lower surface is covered with soft, pale hairs.

 The fruit is large, rounded, fleshy, densely covered with brown hairs, and has a disagreeable odor. It contains a few rather large seeds. It is edible and has a good flavor.

Locations

Kamagong is found in the Philippines and Taiwan. It is cultivated elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

It can be found in primary and secondary forests with up to 800 meters in altitude. Specifically, it can be seen on Mt. Makiling on areas up to 400 meters in altitude.

Kamagong is indigenous to the low and medium altitude forests of the Philippine Islands, from the island of Luzon to the southernmost of the Sulu Islands, and is commonly cultivated for its fruit and even more as a shade tree for roadsides.

Method of Propagation

 Kamagong is usually propagated by seed taking up to 24 days to germinate. It can also be propagated vegetatively by marcotting, budding and grafting; the latter method is being commercially used in the Philippines.

Traditional Use

 The wood of the kamagong is carved into highly prized hair combs.

Contemporary Use

 The dark wood is suitable for carvings. The wood of the kamagong is used for making furniture, cabinets, laying canes, tool handles, finger boards and violins, drawing instruments, and shuttle and bobbins. The tree is often planted for its rather sweet but dry edible fruits, and also as a roadside tree.

How to plant your kamagong seedling

 Clear the area where you want to plant your seedling with unwanted weeds and debris. Make sure that a one-meter radius is kept free from other vegetation. Dig a plant hole with dimensions of at least 20 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm. Plant the seedling at proper depth. Root collar should be at level with or a little below the ground surface with the seedling oriented upward. Fill the hole with top or garden soil and press soil firmly around the base of the seedling. In plantation-making, seedlings should maintain a two-meter distance between seedlings if planted in a row of a three-meter distance from one strip to the next strip.

How to take care of your kamagong seedling

 Remove grass and other unwanted vegetation and cultivate the soil around the base of the seedling (50 cm radius) once in every quarter for two to three years. Place mulch around the base of the seedling (maintaining the 50 cm radius and using cut grass, leaves, and other suitable materials as mulch base). Prune the branches at most 50 percent of the crown depth, preferably during dry season, and ensure that when pruning, you do not injure the bark. Remove infected or infested vegetation nearby to stop plant diseases from spreading and contaminating your seedling. Monitor regularly the growth of the seedling for presence of pests and diseases.

Data about native tree species are featured by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. For comments and suggestions, email [email protected]. (FREEMAN)