A Shade Provider
Antipolo is a plant of the Moraceae family which is endemic to the Philippines. It is threatened because its habitat in low lying areas is also threatened by agricultural expansion and conversion to residential areas. Other famous members of the Moraceae are the breadfruit and jackfruit which are non-native to the Philippines but widely cultivated in the tropical Southeast Asia. Antipolo is a large tree, similar in habit, size and leaf character to the breadfruit. Its leaves, twigs and stem produce a milky sap which is used for snaring birds. The fruit of the Antipolo is not edible. The rounded fruit would become blackish brown when mature and we would collect them to get the seeds. The seeds of the mature fruit attract crows, orioles, pigeons and other seed-eating birds. When fully grown, the tree can reach a diameter of more than 100cm. In folkloric medicine, its barks and roots are used for strangularia. Although used in rainforestation farms, it is lesspopular than jackfruit and breadfruit. in urban areas or parks, Antipolo is a good shade provider and is good for urban greening.
Trunk Size: 173 cm & 56 cm
FAMILIAR NAMES: Antipolo, Tipolo
NAMES ECO CLASS: Endemic
DISTRIBUTION: Almost throughout the Philippines but more in Luzon, Mindanao and Negros
HEIGHT: 30m
TRUNK: 60cm with branches starting at 10m
TYPE: Evergreen
STATUS IUCN Red List 2004
GROWTH: Fast growing
LIGHT: Full sun but shade tolerant
LEAVES: Simple, spirally arranged
FLOWERS: Inconspicuous, in separate male and female axillary inflorescences; male inflorescence yellowish, soft spongy; female inflorescence subglobose
FRUIT: Oblong, yellowish green and covered with spikes; seeds brownish and small, less than 1 cm in length; fruiting March to May
PROPAGATION: By seeds
USES: Wood used for light construction, furniture and musical instruments; also used as fibre plant for pulp and paper; bark has high antimicrobial activity
URBAN: Roadside planting as it needs little care: drought tolerant, shade tolerant and tolerant of infertile soil and occasional waterlogging