This month, the Makiling Botanic Gardens features a plant that embodies the remarkable diversity of Philippine flora: pingol-bato (Begonia nigritarum (Kamel) Steud.), a stunning endemic begonia that has served both culinary and medicinal purposes for generations.
Where It Grows
Pingol-bato is a creeping plant that grows in moist or damp areas along cliffs, river banks, and stone crevices. These habitats are partially shaded inside tropical rainforests, commonly at elevations up to 1,200 meters above sea level, making Mount Makiling an ideal home for this species.
Distinctive Appearance
One of the most striking features of pingol-bato is its distinctive foliage, which displays variations in leaf color and size. The leaves vary from green to dark green with silvery patterns or spots and reddish undersides. New growth is reddish with fine hairs, called trichomes, along the leaf margins and petioles (the stalks that connect the leaf blade to the stem).
Throughout the year, pingol-bato produces white to pinkish florets (small individual flowers). After flowering, the plant develops winged capsules—seed pods common for most begonia species—that contain numerous small seeds.
Culinary Uses
Pingol-bato has a long history of use in Filipino cuisine. The leaves serve as a souring agent in Filipino foods like sinigang. The Aetas traditionally use the leaves to cook fish in bamboo, a method known as binulo.
The leaves can also be mixed in salads, steeped to make teas, and stir-fried.
Traditional Medicine
In traditional medicine, the herb is boiled in water to treat various stomach problems. The leaves are also crushed and applied directly to wounds as a dressing.
A Philippine Endemic
Begonia nigritarum is endemic to the Philippines, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. This makes it part of our nation’s unique natural heritage—a living treasure that exists only within our borders.
When you encounter pingol-bato on the trails of Mount Makiling, whether growing along a cliff, river bank, or stone crevice, take a moment to appreciate this multifaceted species. It’s simultaneously an ornamental beauty with its patterned leaves and delicate flowers, a culinary ingredient that has flavored Filipino dishes for generations, and a medicinal plant trusted by traditional healers.
As we celebrate pingol-bato as our Plant of the Month, we’re reminded that conservation isn’t just about protecting species—it’s also about preserving the relationships between people and plants that have sustained communities and enriched our culture for generations. (Article and photo by For. Angela Limpiada and For. Analyn Malayba)
The Makiling Botanic Gardens showcases a different plant species each month to highlight the incredible biodiversity of Mount Makiling and the Philippines. Visit us to learn more about our endemic flora and the traditional knowledge that helps us understand and value these precious resources.