Tree of the month (Part 1) lingo-lingo Viticipremna philippinensis

CEBU, Philippines - Physical Characteristics

Lingo-lingo is a large tree that grows to 25 meters tall. Its bole is fairly straight, sometimes fluted, and short.

Its stem measures to 80 centimeters in diameter, with a base that is often fissured.

Its leaves are palmately compound, decussate or opposite. Each petiole reaches 10 centimeters in length. It usually has five leaflets, which are unequal in size and about 4-5 x 10 centimeters each. The base is obtusely rounded to sub-cuneate or apex acuminate. The margins are often coarsely jagged or toothed when young, with five to eight lateral nerves on each side of the midrib.

Flowers are yellowish panicles growing either at or near the end of the stem. The fruit is a drupe, somewhat globose, subtended by a cupular calyx, and blackish when ripe.

Distribution

Lingo-lingo is found in primary lowland forests up to 700 meters in altitude in Batanes, Luzon (Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Tayabas, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Camarines, and Sorsogon), Mindoro, Ticao, Leyte, and Mindanao (Surigao and Agusan). Its supply is limited.

Contemporary Use

The wood is used for general construction and production of musical instruments, and household and agricultural implements. It is very durable for interior work and moderately durable when exposed to the weather or when in contact with the ground.

Traditional Use

The leaves and seeds have medicinal values.

How to plant your lingo-lingo 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, maintain a two-meter distance between seedlings if they are planted in a row of a three-meter distance from one strip to the next strip.

How to take care of your lingo-lingo seedling

Remove grass and other unwanted vegetation and cultivate the soil around the base of the seedling (50-centimeter radius) once in every quarter for two to three years. Place mulch around the base of the seedling (maintaining the 50-centimeter 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, e-mail [email protected].

RAFI holds tree nurturance

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) employees will regularly hold a monthly tree nurturance activity, covering one hectare of tree plantation in the RAFI tree plantation located in Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City where last year's Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines event was held.

During the pilot nurturance activity last March 23, employees of RAFI conducted tree plantation maintenance, which includes ring weeding, strip brushing, mulching, and replanting.

Following the pilot nurturance activity, the RAFI employees' tree nurturance initiative will be conducted every last Saturday of the month.

The tree plantation nurturance is an initiative of RAFI under its Integrated Development unit Generation REdemption, and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines (GREENIN) Philippines Program to ensure environmental sustainability by reversing the loss of environmental resources through the utilization of native tree species in its interventions in restoring and rehabilitating degraded forests and idle lands.

For interested groups who want to participate in the nurturance activity, you can coordinate with the RAFI GREENIN Philippines team for the schedules. Please contact Bonifacio Amper at 418-7234 loc. 519, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.rafi.org.ph/greenin-philippines, or follow RAFI on Twitter, @rafiorgph.