Antiddessma pleuricum
PHYLLANTHACEAE. Endemic. Limited Distribution
SIZE: Up to 5m tall; trunk size 25cm diameter
TYPE: Evergreen
HABITAT: Primary lowland forests in Luzon, Burias, Samar, Siargao, Mindanao
Traditional Filipino healers immerse and crush bignay berries in a glass of water as a potent drink to bring down a fever. Very rich in anti-oxidants, bignay berries rival their foreign counterparts in usefulness and size. Mabuhay and sariling atin! Unknown to many of us, the Philippines has 24 different species of bignay, of which more than half are found only in our country. But due to its limited distribution and the destruction of habitat, this species could become endangered.