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(Maral), Prionailurus bengalensis rabori

The Visayan leopard cat (Prionailurus javanensis rabori) is a Sunda leopard cat subspecies described in 1997 on the basis of morphological analysis of a skin and skull collected in Negros.[2] It is endemic to the Philippine Islands of Negros, and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2008 as its range is estimated to be less than 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi).[1]

The fur of the Visayan leopard cat is dark ochre to buffy fawn with large and dark spots. Its skull is a little narrower than of Sumatran leopard cat and Bornean leopard cat.

Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Mammalia Order:Carnivora Suborder:Feliformia Family:Felidae Genus:Prionailurus Species:P. javanensis Subspecies:P. j. rabori References:  Lorica, R. (2008). "Prionailurus bengalensis ssp. rabori". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. International Union for Conservation of Nature.^  Groves, C. P. (1997). "Leopard-cats, Prionailurus bengalensis (Carnivora: Felidae) from Indonesia and the Philippines, with the description of two new species". Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde. 62: 330–338.Lorica, M.R.P. & L.R. Heaney (2013). Survival of a native mammalian carnivore, the leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis Kerr, 1792 (Carnivora: Felidae), in an agricultural landscape on an oceanic Philippine island. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(10): 4451–4460

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Baobab [Adansonia digitata]

All Baobabs are deciduous trees ranging in height from 5 to 20 meters. The Baobab tree is a strange looking tree that grows in low-lying areas in Africa and Australia. It can grow to enormous sizes and carbon dating indicates that they may live to be 3,000 years old. One ancient hollow Baobab tree in Zimbabwe is so large that up to 40 people can shelter inside its trunk. Various Baobabs have been used as a shop, a prison, a house, a storage barn and a bus shelter. The tree is certainly very different from any other. The trunk is smooth and shiny, not at all like the bark of other trees, and it is pinkish grey or sometimes copper coloured.

Fiber from the bark is used to make rope, baskets, cloth, musical instrument strings, and waterproof hats. While stripping the bark from the lower trunk of most trees usually leads to their death, baobabs not only survive this common practice, but they regenerate new bark. Fresh baobab leaves provide an edible vegetable similar to spinach which is also used medicinally to treat kidney and bladder disease, asthma, insect bites, and several other maladies. The tasty and nutritious fruits and seeds of several species are sought after, while pollen from the African and Australian baobabs is mixed with water to make glue.

Other names include boab, boaboa, tabaldi, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree.

Where they are found

Baobabs are widely distributed in belts across Africa. They also grow in Madagascar, India, Ceylon and Australia. They grow in many areas of Zimbabwe. In the Northern Province they are found between the Limpopo and the Zoutpansberg range. Messina is indeed a Baobab town. There is a famous `halfway Baobab' between Louis Trichardt and Messina, a reservoir from which many have drawn. Baobabs seem to prefer hot, sandy plains.

Referrence: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_baobab.html

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Red lauan (Shorea negrosensis)

This large, Philippine tree has thick dark brown to nearly black bark with a reddish tinge (2). The trunk is ridged with shallow furrows and bears no branches for the first 20 to 30 metres (2) (3). The tough, leathery leaves measure up to 17 centimetres long and 7.5 centimetres wide and taper toward the tip. The cream-coloured flowers are borne in clusters of four and are said to have a ‘sick-like’ odour (2). The turban-shaped fruits of the red lauan are around 1.9 centimetres wide, covered with silky yellow hairs and each bears five long wings (4).

The red lauan flowers between April and May (2), during which time the blooms are visited by insects for pollen (3). Following pollination, fruits develop and appear between March and June (2).

Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2007.

KingdomPlantae PhylumTracheophyta ClassMagnoliopsida OrderTheales FamilyDipterocarpaceae GenusShorea (1) Referrence: https://www.arkive.org/red-lauan/shorea-negrosensis/

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White Lauan Tree (Shorea contorta)

The white lauan belongs to the dipterocarp family, a group of important timber trees that dominate the lowland rainforests of Asia (3). The white lauan has brown to nearly black bark, although it can look grey when exposed to bright sunlight. The upper part of the trunk may have distinct longitudinal ridges. The leaves of the white lauan have a thin, leathery texture and can measure up to 29 centimetres long and 11 centimetres wide (2). Dipterocarp plants have fairly large and showy flowers, to attract insects, and the fruit is a single-seeded nut enclosed within a winged case (3).

Height: up to 50 m (2)

Trunk diameter: up to 182 cm (2) Little information is available about the biology of the white lauan. This tree flowers between March and May and fruiting takes place from April until September (2). Like other dipterocarps, the white lauan is probably pollinated by insects (3).

Numbers of white lauan have become depleted due to logging and slash-and-burn agriculture (2) (4). The valuable timber of the white lauan is used for general construction and for furniture making (2).

KingdomPlantae PhylumTracheophyta ClassMagnoliopsida OrderTheales FamilyDipterocarpaceae GenusShorea (1) Referrence: https://www.arkive.org/white-lauan/shorea-contorta/

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North-Atlantic Right Whale

The North-Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered of all large whales, with a long history of human exploitation and no signs of recovery despite protection from whaling since the 1930s. It is now mostly found along the Atlantic coast of North America, where it is threatened by entanglement in fishing gear and ship collisions. Some scientists believe these whales have gone extinct in the eastern North Atlantic and now survive only along the east coast of the U.S. and Canada.

The North Atlantic right whale can easily be identified by the white calluses on its head, which are very noticeable against the whale’s dark gray body. It has a broad back without a dorsal fin and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. A baleen whale, it feeds by swimming through a swarm of plankton with its mouth open and the head slightly above the surface. Right whales are found more often in coastal waters, especially during the breeding season.

POPULATION: 300-350 individuals

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eubalaena glacialis

WEIGHT: up to 70 tons

LENGTH: 45–55 feet

HABITATS: Oceans

Referrence: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/north-atlantic-right-whale

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RUFOUS-HEADED HORNBILL

This bird with a lot of weight on its horn, is found only in the Philippines. Yes, you’re right. No other country has this mighty specie.

That fact alone should make us proud. Had it stayed that way. The thing is the Kalaw or rufous-headed is in an extremely rapid population decline or in plain English their numbers are dying. It’s a shame that we can’t take care of such a wonderful bird treasure.

Scientific Name: Aceroswaldeni Common Name:Kalaw Habitat: Panay, some part of Zamboanga del Norte, extinct in Guimaras

Referrence: http://www.topten.ph/2014/10/31/top-10-critically-endangered-species-philippines/

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Philippine Visayan Spotted Deer

The Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi), also known as the Philippine spotted deer or Prince Alfred's deer, is anocturnal and endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negrosthough it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, and Samar. It is one of three endemic deer species in the Philippines, although it was not recognized as a separate species until 1983. An estimated 2,500 mature individuals survived worldwide as of 1996, according to the IUCN, although it is uncertain of how many of them still survive in the wild. The diet of the deer, which consists of a variety of different types of grasses, leaves, and buds within the forest, is the primary indicator of its habitat. Since 1991 the range of the species has severely decreased and is now almost co-extensive with that of the Visayan warty pig.

The deer is small and short-legged yet it is the largest endemic species of deer among the Visayas. Adults range from 125 to 130 cm (49 to 51 in) long from the head to the base of the tail, 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 in) in shoulder height and 25 to 80 kg (55 to 176 lb) in weight. This species is easily distinguished from other species of deer in the Philippines by the distinctive "A" pattern of beige spots which dot its deep brown back and sides. Other distinctive features include cream underparts and white fur on the chin and lower lip. The animal's head and neck are brown, but lighter than the body, and the eyes are ringed with paler fur. Males are larger than females and have short, thick, bumpy antlers.

Referrence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayan_spotted_deer

Scientific Classification: 

 Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Mammalia Order:Artiodactyla Family:Cervidae Subfamily:Cervinae Genus:Rusa Species:R. alfredi

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Ashitaba Plant

Ashitaba which has scientific name Angelica keiskei is one of the herbal plant which is native to Japan region which comes from Apiaceae family, so it closes to plant like celery. That’s why instead of being well known as herbs, ashitaba is well known as vegetables and commonly found as pot plant. When talking about this herbal plant is both the health benefits of ashitaba leaves and roots are great to be used to treat diuretic conditions, gastric ulcer, kidney problem, hypertension up to asthma. Furthermore, due to its Vitamin B12 and antioxidants, ashitaba is an excellent herbs for immunity.

How does it work?

There is not enough information to know how ashitaba might work. Some chemicals in ashitaba seem to work as antioxidants. Other chemicals might block secretions of stomach acid. But most research has been done on animals or in test tubes, not people.

However, there is side effects about it.  Special Precautions & Warnings:Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of ashitaba during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Referrence: 1. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1134-ashitaba.aspx?activeingredientid=1134&activeingredientname=ashitaba 2. https://drhealthbenefits.com/herbal/herbal-plant/list-japanese-herbal-medicine

Scientific Name:  Angelica keiskei

Location: Japan region

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Pansit-Pansitan a.k.a. Ulasiman-Bato

Pansit-pansitan (family: Piperaceae) is an herbal medicine also known as Ulasiman-bato, olasiman-ihalas & tangon-tangon in the Philippines. English name: peperomia. It is a small herb that grows from 1 to 1 1/2 feet. Pansit-pansitan can be found wild on lightly shaded and damp areas such as nooks, walls, yards and even roofs. Pansit-pansitan has heart shaped leaves, succulent stems with tiny flowers on a spike. When matured, the small fruits bear one seed which fall of the ground and propagate. The leaves and stalk of pansit-pansitan are edible. It can be harvested, washed and eaten as fresh salad. Taken as a salad, pansit-pansitan helps relive rheumatic pains and gout. An infusion or decoction (boil 1 cup of leaves/stem in 2 cups of water) can also be made and taken orally - 1 cup in the morning and another cup in the evening. For the herbal treatment of skin disorders like abscesses, pimples and boils, pound the leaves and/or the stalks and make a poultice (boil in water for a minute or two then pounded) then applied directly to the afflicted area. Likewise a decoction can be used as a rinse to treat skin disorders. For headaches, heat a couple of leaves in hot water, bruise the surface and apply on the forehead. The decoction of leaves and stalks is also good for abdominal pains and kidney problems.  Like any herbal medicine it is not advisable to take any other medication in combination with any herbs. Consult with a medical practitioner knowledgeable in herbal medicine before any treatment. 

Scientific Name: (Peperomia pellucida Linn.)

Referrence: http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/pansit-pansitan.htm

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MOST COMMON HERBAL PLANTS FOUND IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

1. Euphorbia hirta Plant

Euphorbia hirta is a pantropical weed,  commonly found in our localization. It is a hairy herb that grows in open grasslands, roadsides and pathways. It is widely used as a medicinal herb.

Often used traditionally for female disorders, respiratory ailments (cough, coryza, bronchitis, and asthma), worm infestations in children, dysentery, jaundice, pimples, gonorrhea, digestive problems, and tumors. It is reported to contain alkanes, triterpenes, phytosterols, tannins, polyphenols, and flavanoids.

All parts of the plant are effective in their own way, and are used for specific ailments. The leaves, flowers, and sap from this herbaceous plant, which is also commonly called an “asthma weed”, are all used in different ways and in different forms, depending on the ailment at hand.  

  WikipediaScientific name: Euphorbia hirta

Local name; Tawa-tawa

Rank: Species

Higher classification: Spurges

Referrence: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249903/