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Palo Maria (or Palo Maria de la Playa –Calophyllum inophyllum; is also known in Tagalog as Dangcalan).It grows in Marinduque and throughout the Philippine archipelago, along the seashore and is cultivated as shade tree on lawns, avenues and boulevards particularly along the beach. |
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Palo Maria has many uses in herbal medicine, such as crushed kernels applied
to abdomen for gas pains and indigestion, its oil also used as external
application for indigestion and colic. In Hawaii, bark resin is used for
ulcers; In Java, used for its diuretic properties; In Fiji, leaves are used as
lotion for sore eyes; in Samoa leaves are used for skin inflammations, leg
ulcers and wounds; in India leaves are used for migraines, vertigo, ophthalmia.
There are existing and continuing studies on its medicinal uses.
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| The wood is greatly appreciated for crooks and curves (bends or angles), but is also used for large vessels. Due to the absence of acrid juices, iron bolts do not corrode in it. It is exceedingly tough and not so heavy as Molave. |
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| The leaves
are shiny and leathery, the flowers are fragrant. Fruit is round, yellow and pulpy. |
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| Palo Maria tree reaches a height of 20 meters. Check your Marinduque beach property for these trees. Nice to plant more Palo Maria, alongside Dita and Talisay that grows more easily. Then when you get next time to where the Palo Maria name has been immortalized, check if it still survives along the beaches there - in Maniwaya. |
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| Dita grows side by side with Palo Maria. |
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| The ubiquitous Talisay tree found along the beaches of Marinduque. |
