260 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Vanoverberghia sepulchrei is an erect, coarse, smooth plant 

 reaching a height of 4 meters. It has a strong anise-like odor. 

 The rhizome is 5 centimeters in diameter, with a red exterior. 

 The stems are up to 5 centimeters in diameter. The leaves are 

 alternate and two-ranked. The lower are rather short, and 

 increase in length toward the tip of the stem. The upper leaves 

 are up to 40 centimeters in length and 10 centimeters in width. 

 The inflorescence is terminal, with a flower-bearing portion up 

 to 20 centimeters in length. The flowers are very numerous, 

 about 4.5 centimeters long, pink outside and white within. 



This species has been reported only from Bontoc and Capiz. 



Family PIPERACEAE 



Genus PIPER 



The leaves of several species of Piper are used as substitutes 

 for those of Piper betle for chewing with the seeds of Ai'eca 

 catechu. 



PIPER UMBELLATUM var. SUBPELTATUM CDC. KuBAMBA. 



Local names: Bal-lai (Bontoc); kamdmba (Tayabas) ; kubchnba (Bula- 

 can, Rizal, Laguna, Capiz); kuyo (Davao) ; pugapong (Bukidnon). 



The young leaves and spikes are boiled as a condiment with 

 fish. 



Piper umbellatum is a vine with large, alternate, thin, heart- 

 shaped leaves. The flowers are very small, and are densely 

 crowded on spikes which are about 10 centimeters in length. 



This species is distributed from northern Luzon to the south- 

 ern part of the Sulu Archipelago. 



Family FAGACEAE 



Genus CASTANOPSIS 

 CASTANOPSIS PHILIPPENSIS Vid. (Fig. 11). 



Local names: Bating, bayuktuan (Rizal); talakdtak (Camarines) ; uld- 

 yan (Samar). 



The fruit grows on spikes, and contains an edible, oblong nut 

 up to 3.5 centimeters in length. The flavor resembles that of 

 a chestnut. 



Castanopsis philippe^tsis is a tree which is usually 15 to 25 

 meters in height and reaches a diameter of 50 centimeters. 

 The leaves are alternate, smooth, pointed at both ends, and from 

 4 to 15 centimeters long. 



This species has been reported from Rizal, Camarines, Min- 

 doro, Samar, and Leyte. It is apparently not abundant. 



