The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) Plant of the Month (POM) for February 2023 is the Kasupangil, scientifically known as Clerodendrum intermedium Cham. The plant is from the family Lamiaceae and is native to the Philippines, Borneo, Sulawesi, Taiwan, and Thailand. Clerodendrum was named by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753 derived from two Greek words, kleros, meaning “chance or fate” or “clergy”, and dendron, “a tree“ while Intermedium came from Latin, intermedius = meaning in between.
Kasupangil is a shrub that grows 1 to 2 meters in height. Stems have four-angled shapes partly woody and green in color. The leaves are heart-shaped with shallowly toothed margins. Its flowers are bright red in panicles located at the upper axil of leaves while its fruit is fleshy, depressed rounded with 3 to 4 seeds, green turning black when mature, and with accrescent red calyx.
The parts of this plant have several uses. Traditional healers use poultices of leaves for sprains and stomachaches. Whole or pounded, it is used as a cataplasm to relieve pains after childbirth. Pounded leaves with salt are applied to mumps, rheumatism, neuralgia, and colic in children. Steamed leaves are used for colds and coughs. Its roots are used as purgative.
To see the plant with a closer look, please watch the dedicated video through this link: https://youtu.be/Z9OchJui5U8 or visit us at the Makiling Botanic Gardens.
By: AALimpiada and ACMalayba