Ethnobotany of Selected Philippine Indigenous Fruit Tree Species in CALABARZON, Philippines

Abstract

The wealth of indigenous food resources in the Philippines is not adequately documented in published literature. Consequently, an ethnobotanical investigation was conducted to provide baseline information regarding the traditional and current uses of seven Philippine indigenous fruit tree species (IFTS) in Region IV-A (CALABARZON), namely, Katmon (Dillenia philippinensis), Bitongol (Flacourtia rukam), Kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa), Tibig (Ficus nota), Lipote (Syzygium polycephaloides), Binayuyu (Antidesma ghaesembilla), and Libas (Spondias pinnata). The study utilized structured and key informant interviews with 264 informants selected through snowball sampling. Citations were analyzed using ethnobotanical indices: Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Reports (UR), Use Value (UV), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). The URs were grouped into three use-categories—dietary, medicinal, and practical—with more specific sub-categories under each. The most widely identified IFTS in the region was F. nota (RFC = 79%, UR = 145), with utilization dominated by practical purposes (UR = 78). Conversely, D. philippinensis yielded the highest UR (246) across all use-categories region-wide. Most of the UR for F. nota and D. philippinensis came from the province of Rizal. All selected IFTS, except F. nota, were primarily recognized for dietary uses, particularly as fresh fruits. Medicinal uses were cited with high consensus (ICF ≥ 0.75) for A. ghaesembilla, F. nota, and D. philippinensis. The research revealed that while some IFTS were widely recognized and utilized in specific provinces, others remain poorly known and underutilized, indicating varied levels of local knowledge. Nonetheless, the study documented the existing local importance and uses of the selected IFTS in Region IV-A.