The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) features Oonog (Osmelia philippina (Turcz.) Benth.) as its Plant of the Month for August 2026. Belonging to the family Salicaceae, this species is native to Southeast Asia and parts of the Pacific, including the Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Malaya, New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Vietnam.
Botanical Profile & Characteristics
Oonog is a small tree commonly found in primary and secondary forests at low elevations, most frequently growing near stream banks.
- Bark: Yellowish in color, with a texture ranging from smooth to slightly flaky or marked by narrow horizontal ridges.
- Leaves: Simple, smooth, and glossy leaves arranged alternately along the branches.
- Flowers: Whitish to greenish in color and finely pubescent (covered in fine, short hairs), arranged in terminal racemes (flower clusters along a central stem).
- Fruits: Ovately ellipsoid capsules that hang clustered on pendulous stalks. These fruits are dehiscent (splitting open along three valves) and turn grayish-purple when ripe.
- Seeds: Smooth and whitish seeds coated in a soft yellow aril (an extra fleshy seed covering or pulp).
Uses
- Local Construction: The wood of the Oonog tree is harvested from the wild for local use, primarily serving as construction material.
Poster by Foresters Angela Limpiada and Analyn Malayba
References
Fernando et al. 2004. Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mt. Makiling. AKECU p158.
Pelser, P.B., J.F. Barcelona & D.L. Nickrent (eds.). 2011 onwards. Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines. www.philippineplants.org Copyright © 2011, Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines, Last updated: 19 July 2026
Plants of the World Online. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:365795-1
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-08-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Osmelia%20philippina>
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