364 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



giihat, malayambo, pingit (Tayabas) ; malaranum (Nueva Ecija) ; mulang 

 (Cagayan) ; oksor (Ilocos Norte) ; tagpung-puld (Rizal) ; tagpo (Bulacan, 

 Laguna) ; tnkdl (Laguna). 



The flowers and fruits are cooked as a flavoring with fish. 



Ardisia boissieri is a small tree reaching a height of about 

 10 meters and a diameter of 15 centimeters. The leaves are 

 alternate, rather slender, and pointed at both ends. The flowers 

 are borne on compound, terminal or lateral inflorescences and 

 are about a centimeter in length. They are white or pink, and 

 fragrant. The stalks are about 3 centimeters long. The fruits 

 are dark blue or purple, rounded, and less than a centimeter in 

 diameter. 



This species is very common and is distributed from Luzon 

 to Mindanao. 



Genus EMBELIA 

 EMBELIA PHILIPPINENSIS A. DC. 



Local names: Bimirok (Iloko) ; bisalak, bisudak (Igorot in Benguet) ; 

 dekai-dekaiang (Bukidnon) ; palongpong (Iloko) ; pongpong (Igorot in 

 Bontoc). 



The acid leaves are eaten with fish. 



Embelia philippinensis is a woody vine, the old stems of which 

 are spiny. The leaves are alternate, leathery, smooth, and from 

 7 to 14 centimeters in length. The flowers are small, whitish, 

 and occur in considerable numbers on compound inflorescences. 



This species is distributed from northern Luzon to southern 

 Mindanao. 



Family SAPOTACEAE 



Genus BASSIA 

 BASSIA OBOVATIFOLIA Merr. 



Local name: Maniknik (Camarines). 



The fruit of this species resembles the chico (Achras sapota 

 L.) but it is about twice as large, and has a light-colored skin, 

 which is thin and rough. The flesh is like that of the chico in 

 color, consistency and flavor ; while the seeds are also similar. 



Bassia obovatifolia is a tree about 20 meters in height. The 

 leaves are leathery, rounded at the tip, pointed at the base, larger 

 near the tip than near the base, 7 to 12 centimeters long, and 4 to 

 6.5 centimeters wide. 



This species has been reported only from Camarines. 



