Bitoon (Barringtonia asiatica). Photo by Eli J Obligacion
Ayon sa ilang komento tungkol sa naisulat ko kahapon "Anong misteryosong puno at bulaklak ito?", ito raw ay ang tinatawag sa Pilipinas na "Bitoon" (sa Ingles, "Stars", sa Tagalog "Bituin".
Mula sa 'Internet Archive Wayback Machine', ang sumusunod na artikulo ay umaayon sa kalahatan sa mga nabanggit kong katangian ng 'misteryosong' puno at bulaklak na ito.
Pero tulad ng suspetsa ko, wala akong makikitang larawan sa dami ng larawan sa Internet na katulad ng nakabiting cylindrical lantern na kumpol ng bulaklak na nakunan ko ng larawan (nasa itaas). Naroon ang hiwaga.
Base sa impormasyon, ang ilang bahagi pala nito tulad ng prutas ay ginagamit bilang gamot para sa mga karamdaman tulad ng sakit ng tiyan at rayuma. May gamit din sa mga buto nito.
Para sa ilang traditional users ang scraped contents ng prutas nito ay puwedeng magpagaling sa mga cysts, goiter, tumor, boils at iba pa. May gumagamit pa ng 'miracle plant' patungkol dito.
Ang iba pang tawag dito sa Pilipinas ay bitung, boton at botong.
Image from Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
Sea Poison Tree
Scientific name: Barringtonia asiatica
Fish Poison Tree, Putat Laut/Butun/Butong/Pertun (Malay)
A large tree that grows on sandy and rocky shores, it has
large leaves held in rosettes at the ends of branches. The young leaves are a
beautiful bronze with pinkish veins. Old leaves turn yellowish.
The flowers are delightful puff balls of
white stamens tipped with pink. They open at night and attract large moths and
nectar-feeding bats with their heavy scent.
The next morning, the flower stamens are usually found
strewn beneath the tree.
The fruits have a typical lantern shape and float on the
water. The fruit can survive drifting on the sea for long distances and for
periods of up to 2 years. They were among the first seeds to arrive on the
island of Krakatau when it first emerged out of the sea.
The outermost layer of the fruit wall is green turning brown
when ripe. The middle layer is spongy and contains air sacs to help the fruit
float. The innermost layer is hard and thick to protect the seed (the layers of
spongy and hard coverings are somewhat similar to the coconut).
Uses: All parts of the tree contain, saponin, a poison. The
seeds and other parts of the plant are pounded, pulped or grated to release the
poison and used to stun fish in freshwater streams. The floating seeds are sometimes
used as fishing floats. A colourful shady tree, it is commonly planted as a
roadside tree in Singapore.
Traditional medicinal uses: The heated leaves are used to
treat stomach ache and rheumatism (Philippines); seeds are used to get rid of
intestinal worms.
Role in the habitat: It is among the plants that host the
magnificent Atlas Moth. - by Ria Tan, 2001
Bitoon fruits. Photo: Eli J Obligacion
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