<< back to Philippine Indigenous Plants
.
Click on the gallery pictures below to enlarge:
Botong/Butong – Barringtonia asiatica
Family: Lecythidaceae
Description: A tree growing up to 8-15m. Bark is pinkish, greenish, not scaly or ridged; inner bark is thick, white, with pale yellowish streaks. Beautiful and showy leaves are large often alternating with smaller ones, thick, and shiny. Fruit is broadly pyramidal, 4-angular, 8-14 cm by 8-2cm, thick pericarp, brown, with a tough corky hurk and has 1 seed.
Distribution: Philippines, Tropical Asia
Habitat: Along the seashore throughout the Philippines.
Economic Importance: Ornamental shade tree, Indoor plant for condos, malls, apartments.
Ecological Status: Depleted due to shoreline developments.