Vitex parviflora
LAMIACEAE. Indigenous
SIZE: Up to 20m tall; trunk size 80cm diameter
TYPE: Deciduous
HABITAT: Secondary and primary forests over limestone and seasonally dry forest and sometime along the sea coast
This tree must have made a great impression on President Manuel L. Quezon, who said in his speech: “I want our people to be a molave tree. Strong and resilient, standing on the hillside and unafraid of the rising tide, lightning and the storm, confident of its strength”. Molave timber is tough and durable, used for high grade construction and woodcraft. It is a source of pride among Filipino homeowners if their houses and furniture are made of molave.