328 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



small, greenish, with a disagreeable odor, and occur in con- 

 siderable numbers on compound flowering shoots. 



This species is known from only one specimen which was 

 found growing wild on what is now the campus of the College 

 of Agriculture at Los Baiios, Laguna. 



Genus NEPHELIUM 

 NEPHELIUM LAPPACEUM L. (Fig. 55). USAU or Rambutan. 



Local name: Usdu (Jolo). 



The pulp of the fruit has an excellent flavor. 



Nephelium lappaceum is a tree. The leaves are smooth, 

 pointed at the tip, and somewhat rounded at the base. The 

 flowers are very numerous on compound inflorescences. In the 

 Philippines, this species is found only in Palawan and Jolo. It 

 is the well known Rambutan of the Malay region. 



NEPHELIUM MUTABILE Blanco. (Fig. 56). Bulala. 



Local names: Alpdi (Laguna); bakaldu (Pangasinan) ; halimhingan 

 (Lanao) ; hiddla (Camarines, Tayabas, Laguna, Rizal) ; kakao-kakao (Su- 

 rigao) ; karayo (Mindoro) ; laguan (Tayabas) ; malamputian (Samar) ; 

 marangis (Cagayan) ; pangydu (Rizal). 



The fruits are red, about 4 centimeters in length, and com- 

 pletely covered with numerous, rather soft projections. The 

 flesh is white, abundant, juicy, and of very good flavor. It 

 surrounds a single, rather large seed. 



Nephelium mutahile is a tree reaching a height of about 25 

 meters and a diameter of 45 centimeters. The leaves are al- 

 ternate and compound with rather large, smooth, alternate leaf- 

 lets, which are pointed at both ends. The flowers are small, 

 and occur in considerable numbers on simple or compound in- 

 florescences. 



This species is distributed from northern Luzon to southern 

 Mindanao and is very common in Luzon. 



Family VITACEAE 



Genus AMPELOCISSUS 

 AMPELOCISSUS MARTINI Planch. 



The fruits of this species are borne in grape-like clusters, are 

 somewhat less than a centimeter in diameter, greenish salmon 

 in color, fleshy, acid, and of fairly good flavor. 



Ampelocissus martini is a large woody vine with conspicuous 

 tendrils. The leaves are somewhat hairy, three-lobed, with 

 toothed margins, and a russet, velvety lower surface. The 



