English: Horse raddish tree
Tagalog: Malunggay
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Archive for March, 2009
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Makahiya – Scientific name: Mimosa pudica L
English: Sensitive plant
Tagalog: Makahiya
Makahiya is found throughout the Philippines and is found wild everywhere on Mt. Banahaw. It is not cultivated, and is considered a weed. The Tagalog name, and suggested by the scientific name, means “sensitive.” The reason it is given this name is that upon human touch the leaves contract and appear to wilt, but then open up again a short time later. Makahiya is known as a diuretic, and is considered alterant and anti asthmatic. It is used for urinary complaints, and is useful in diseases arising from corrupt blood and bile.
Mais – Scientific name: Zea mays L.
English: Corn;
Tagalog: Mais
Coarse, erect, tall grass, 1-2 meters high. Leaves are numerous, 30-100 cm long and 2-10 cm wide, linear lanceolate. The individual fruit is is roundish or reniform, compressed, shiny.
Luya – Scientific name: Zingiber officinale Roscoe
English: Ginger
Tagalog: Luya
Luya is a root stock grown in many places in the Philippines, and is very common on Mt. Banahaw. Luya is one of our four “power herbs” having a long history and proof of being a very effective medicinal herb. It is commonly used in treating colds and flu in children, because of it effectiveness and safety in large doses. Japanese researchers have found that Luya causes the heart to beat more strongly and slowly and that blood pressure lowers by 10 to 15 points after Luya is ingested. Indian researchers have found that Luya is also effective in removing cholesterol from both the blood and liver.
Labanos – Scientific name: Raphanus sativus Linn.
English: Radish
Tagalog: Labanos
Radish, common name for any member of a genus of annual or biennial herbaceous plants of the cabbage family, particularly the common garden radish. Radishes apparently originated in China. They are grown throughout the North Temperate Zone for their pungent root, commonly used as a relish. Varieties differ in size and shape, and range from white to red or yellow in colour, depending somewhat on the growing season. Thus, spring radishes are small and round, whereas summer varieties are larger and more slender; both are usually eaten raw, but the still larger autumn varieties are generally boiled. The Japanese large, white radish called the daikon, mooli, or muli may also be pickled or eaten raw.
Langka – Scientific name: Artocarpus heterophylla Lmk.
English: Jackfruit
Tagalog: Langka
The langka, nangka or Jackfruit is perhaps one of the largest fruits in the world. It grows to about 1-1/2 – 2 feet long with short spines covering its body. When ripe, it gives off a very distinct aroma. The fruit is often wrapped with plastic while still hanging from the tree to prevent birds and insects, which cannot resist the sweet smell, from feasting on the succulent flesh.
Lagundi – Scientific name: Vitex negundo L.
English: Five-leaved Chaste tree
Tagalog: Lagundi
Lagundi is a common medicine shrub in the Philippines, and is found on Mt. Banahaw. The use of Lagundi for medicinal purposes has a long history in the Philippines. Today, pharmaceutical companies sell it in capsule form at drug stores. The root is reported to be tonic, febrifuge, and expectorant. The root is also used in a great variety of diseases: dyspepsia, colic, rheumatism, worms, boils, and leprosy. The flowers are used in diarrhea, cholera, fever, and diseases of the liver, and are also recommended as a cardiac tonic. The seeds make a cooling medicine for skin diseases and leprosy, and for inflammation of the mouth. The leaves are reported to be used for coughs and asthma.
Kulitis – Scientific name: Amaranthus spinosus L.
English: Amaranth
Tagalog: Kulitis
Amaranth, common name used for plants with blossoms that do not readily fade when picked, but especially for about 50 species of one genus found in the Tropics and temperate regions where many are widely naturalized. They are herbaceous annuals with simple leaves, and flowers in heads or spikes. The spikes are sometimes several centimetres long. Love-lies-bleeding has dry red bracts that surround the flower which allows them to retain their freshness for some time. For this reason the plant is a symbol of immortality. The annual tumbleweed of the United States belongs to this genus. The globe amaranth, of the same family but a different genus, has purple flowers that retain their beauty for years.
