Cynometra ramiflora
CAESALPINIACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 15m tall; trunk size 30cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Inner or landward fringe of mangrove forests, also found in forest along streams, at low and medium altitudes
Often mistaken for the Australian “handkerchief tree”, the balitbitan’s new leaves are a show of their own. In varying colors of white, green, yellow and pink, its leaves hang from their twigs and sway in the wild like multi-colored bandanas.