The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) Plant of the Month (POM) for October 2024 is the Talitan, scientifically known as Casearina fuliginosa (Blanco) Blanco from the family Salicaceae. This tree is endemic to the Philippines and commonly found in thickets and secondary forests at low elevations.
Talitan bears green to yellow fruits when mature, each with a fleshy red aril enclosing several white seeds. Its capsules are globose and fleshy, typically splitting into 3-4 valves. The tree produces small, clustered flowers that range from greenish to yellowish and are borne on short axillary stalks (peduncles). Its leaves are alternately arranged, green, and glabrous, with fine serrations along the margins.
A fun fact about some species within this genus is that their fleshy arils are edible and contain a small amount of nutrients.
For more information, you may view this video link: https://youtu.be/3oY0dJe8zoQ
By: AALimpiada and ACMalayba