Some Trees Suitable for Roadside Planting in the Philippines By TEODORO DELIZO The roads of the Philippines particularly be selected for planting along the roads through the lowland country with few ex­ near the shore and those that should be ceptions are bare due to lack of trees planted planted far from the beaches are different. along their sides. The patches of roadside While there is no such thing as an ideal trees only heighten the discomfort after they tree for roadside planting to meet the essen­ are passed. In order to make travel com­ tial qualities, yet some of the species have fortable and the country picturesque, the special characteristics for particular condi­ government should not neglect the plant­ tions of the planting area. Such species as ing of trees along our roads. In selecting the following aside from those described la­ the species for roadside planting, the fol­ ter in this paper are suitable for roadside lowing characteristics should be considered: planting near the beaches where the soil is (1) Wind and drought resistance. In con­ fairly deep and friable. Dungon late, Heri­ sidering trees for planting the resistance tiera littoralis Dry., Banuyo, Wallaceoden­ from windthrow is of prime importance be­ dron celebicum Koord., Supa, Sindora supa cause once a tree falls on the roadbed, traf­ (Blanco) Merr., Akle Albizzia acle (Blanco) fic is disturbed. Also it has to be drought Merr., Amuguis Koordersiodendron pinna­ resistant because once a tree is planted it tum (Blanco) Merr., Katmon, Dillenia phi­ is seldom if ever watered during summer. lippensis Rolfe, Sakat, Terminalia nitens (2) Persistent leaves. It should be ever­ Presl., and Boton, Barringtonia asiatica (L) green. The leaves should be able to resist Kurz. the effect of strong winds during storms. Species suitable for locations that do not (3) Strong limbs. The branches should be exceed 200 meters in elevation are Duhat, tough to withstand the strong winds during Syzygium cumini (L) Skeeb; Kalumpit, Ter­ storms and able to carry the leaves properly minalia edulis Blanco; Kupang, Parkia java­ and avoid too much drooping. ( 4) Non­ nica (Lam.) Merr.; Pagsahingin, Canarium poisonous. Some trees although they have villosum (Blume) F. Vill.; Pili, Canarium good crown form and leaves, possess poison­ luzonicum (Blume) A. Gray. ous properties. Ligas, Semecarpus cuneifor­ mis Blanco, is a good example. ( 5) Should The most popular tree planted along our be deep rooted. Shallow lateral roots are national highway is the Rain tree, Samanea u~desirable because they interfere with the saman (Jacq.) Merr. which is often erron­ roadbed. (6) Resistant to disease. The road eously called Acacia. This species is found trees are subject to many kinds of injuries in practically all situations of low altitude. so they must be hardy and resistant. (7) It is a fast growing tree which endures a lot Easy to grow. o~ abuse. Whenever it is pollardW, new In the selection of a roadside tree, the sprouts readily develop. The crown is wide important qualities should be considered for spreading and when grown in situations each case as for example, trees that should where the water table is high, it is easily Page 22 FORESTRY LEAVES blown down by strong winds. Agoho, Casua­ when they are mostly needed make its ex­ rina equisetifolia Linn. is a medium sized tree tensive use undesirable. Certain cater­ adapted to planting along roads that are pillars provided with poisonous, stinging near the seashore. The leaves are small hairs, feed on the young leaves. When these and scale-like so that the shade is not dense. caterpillars are in season, it is undesirable The conical crown during the early life to stay under the trees. Mahogany, Swiete­ and the straight, tapering bole flutted at the nia macrophylla King. It is an introduced spe­ base are points in its favor for a roadside cies from South America which has rapid tree. It is windfirm. Banaba, Lagerstroe­ rate of growth, and provided with straight mia speciosa (Linn) Pers is a medium sized bole and deep green leaves. At the begin­ tree from 25 to 30 meters high. The large ning of summer, the leaves turn yellowish and profuse purple blossoms are practically or pinkish and fall within a short period, the only reason for planting this tree. The but in a few days new leaves are formed. flowers make a wonderful display when the The dropping of the leaves in summer is trees are in blossom. On the other hand not a great drawback as the tree remains the dry fruits if not removed are ugly to bare for a short period only. It is fairly easy look at. It is deciduous during the dry to handle, and when grown in deep soil it season when the shade is most wanted. It is windfirm and up to the present there is could be planted in all locations wliere the no known fungus or insect enemies. lpil, soil is deep and at elevations below 200 me­ Intsia bijuga 0. Ktz. This tree reaches a ters. Talisai, Terminalia catappa Linn. Ta­ height of 30-45 meters. The crown is large lisai is specially suitable for planting near and irregularly vaseshaped. The leaves are beaches. It develops a flat broad crown. a deep green. It prefers a sandy loam soil The big leaves are supported by branches although it is also found in deep loamy clay that are whorled in horizontal planes. Dur­ soil. The wood is strong but the branches ing summer, however, certain species of ca­ are brittle and sometimes are broken in terpillars feed on the leaves and are a nuis­ strong winds. Narra, Pterocarpus, sp. This is ance to people resting or walking beneath a fairly fast growing tree with low branch­ them. Sampaloc, Tamarindus indica Linn. ing and wide spreading crown. It sheds its is a medium sized tree. While the leaves leaves during the latter part of summer are small, the branches are dense so that a which character is somewhat against its use fairly dense shade ts formed. It is wind­ as a roadside tree. Aside from this disad­ firm with tough limbs and a symetrical vantage, however, it is wind resistant and crown. The fruits are edible. It is resistant makes a nice shade tree once the new leaves to injury and takes a lot of abuse. Palo­ are formed. It is easily propagated from maria de la Playa, Calophyllum inophyllum seeds, and endures a lot of abuse. The leaves Linn. The bole is generally short, reaching are small. Mango, M angifera indica Linn. a diameter of over a meter and has a wide This tree has a wide spreading, dense, as crown. It is windfirin when grown in deep globe crown. The lower branches must soil. The branches are tough and irregular. be pruned early in life in order not to inter­ Well adapted to situations near beaches and fere with traffic. When grown in deep soil, above high tide limit. it is windfirm. The most obvious objection Anchoan, Cassia javanica Linn. A deci­ to this species is that children attempting to duous tree which produces whitish pink knock down the fruits are deaf to the warn­ flowere; that are showy and imposing. Aside ing horns of passing cars and trucks. The from the beautiful flowers in its favor, the leaves drop off constantly in small num:bers fact that the shade is light and the tree de­ so that constant sweeping is necessary. void of leaves during a part of summer Araucaria, Araucaria excelsa R.Br. This GRADUATION ISSUE-March, 1953 Pap 23 is an introduced species found to be doing bium dulce (Roxb) Benth. It is medium sized well in the Philippines. The horizontal tree reaching a height of about 15 meters. branching, conical form and the pers:stent The leaves are small and supported by few leaves makes it a picturesque unit of an branches which are armed with numerous avenue. While it is not yet extensively thorns. The crown is wide spreading and planted, it may prove to be a choice species semi-open. Actually this species is planted for roadside planting in the future because along the sandy roads-s:.des in northern of its hardiness and beauty. Liusin, Pari­ Luzon. The fruit is edible but the children narium corymbosum (Blume) Miq. Th~s do not usually bother with the tree because tree reaches a height of 45 meters. The of the thorns. crown is large and irregular. The leaves Tuai, Bischofia javanica Blume. It is a me­ are evergreen and the branches have dium sized tree reaching a height 25-30 me­ a tendency to be drooping. Sometimes the ters. It has a fairly regular, unbuttressed, branches break in strong winds because of short holed with scaly bark. The crown is the thick foliage. Lago, Pygeum vulgare wide spreading. It is, however, deciduous, (Koehne) Merr. It is a tree reaching a and becomes completely bare. A pile of height of 40 meters. The crown is irregular leaves accumulate under the tree. Star Ap­ and has similar characteristics to liusin. ple, Ch:rysophyllum cainito L. It is an intro­ Camagon, Diospyros discolor Willd. It is a medium sized tree reaching a height of 32 duced medium-sized tree up to 15 meters tall. meters. The leaves are leathery green and It is a handsome evergreen tree with striking shiny on the upper surface. The branches dark green leaves which are tawny yellow are tough and withstand strong winds. It beneath. It is planted mostly in yards and is vergreen and could be planted at elevations orchards for fruits but those along the roads not exceeding 200 meters above sea level.