THE HERBARIUM

A herbarium is a vital resource for research on biodiversity, ecology, and evolution. It is a primary data source consisting of dried and labeled plant specimens that have been organized to facilitate retrieval and archival storage. A herbarium is similar to a library, but it stores information in biological form as pressed, dried, and annotated plant specimens.Herbarium and museum collections serve as the foundation for learning about the world's biodiversity. Additionally, herbarium specimens provide materials for research on DNA variation, genome structure, and gene expression. The BSED Science Virtual Museum of Natural History has curated a collection of plant specimens from the Philippines to highlight the country's biological diversity.

MORE THAN HALF OF PLANT SPECIES ARE NATIVE TO JUST ONE COUNTRY

Chances are, a plant you find in one part of the world is not currently growing anywhere else. As plant habitat is ruined, there’s little point in hoping that the killed plants could be found and harvested somewhere else in the future.

Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Division: Spermaophyta

Cordyline fruticosa

(A. Chev, 1919)

Domain: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: SpermatophytaClass: MonocotyledonaeOrder: AsparagalesFamily: AsparagaceaeGenus: CordylineSpecies: Cordyline fruticosaCurator: Ma. Allyssa J. Cervantes, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0056
C. fruticosa is a monocotyledon with secondary thickening in the stems and rhizomes. This enables the plant to grow to 3-4 m tall with cane-like ‘trunks’ that occasionally fork. The stem bears a fan-shaped cluster of leaves at the tip. Each leaf blade is about 0.5 m long on a stalk that is somewhat shorter. The blade is broadly elongated and bright green in the wild species. The inflorescence is terminal on the stem and consists of a branched panicle about 20-40 cm long bearing many small white to red flowers. In wild plants the fruit is a round red berry about 8 mm diameter, adapted for bird dispersal, and contains many black seeds.

Epipremnum pinnatum (Linneus)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: SpermatophytaClass: MonocotyledonaeOrder: AlismatalesFamily: AraceaeGenus: EpipremnumSpecies: Epipremnum pinnatumCurator: Ma. Allyssa J. Cervantes, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0057
D. pinnatum is an herbaceous root-climber that can reach 6-8 m long, that is native to temperate Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands. The species has been cultivated as an ornamental throughout the tropics and has spread widely to several areas such as the Pacific region, Florida, South Africa, Tanzania, Hawaii, and the West Indies.

Moringa oleifera

(LAM., 1785)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: SpermatophytaClass: DicotyledonaeOrder: BrassicalesFamily: MoringaceaeGenus: MoringaSpecies: Moringa oleiferaCurator: Ma. Allyssa J. Cervantes, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0058
M. oleifera is a perennial tree thought to be native to India but now widely introduced and naturalized across the tropics and subtropics. It is a small, fast-growing, drought-deciduous tree or shrub, often 8-10 m tall, sometimes to 12-18 m. It has a wide-open, typically umbrella-shaped crown, usually with a single clear bole, with smooth, light coloured or greyish-green bark, and tends to be deep-rooted. 

Division: Tracheophyta

Alternanthera bettzickiana  

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: DicotyledonaeOrder: CaryophyllalesFamily: AmaranthaceaeGenus: AlternantheraSpecies: Alternanthera bettzickianaCurator: Sydie C. Moredo, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0138
Alternanthera Bettzickiana commonly known as a Calico Plant is a terrarium, vivarium, or bog plant that is sometimes used as aquatic plant decoration even though it's not a true aquatic plant. It has light pink to red stem, green to yellow leaf. When growing in strong light, the leaf will turn to intense red color.

Blumea balsamifera

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: AsteralesFamily: AsteraceaeGenus: BlumeaSpecies: Blumea balsamiferaCurator: Sydie C. Moredo, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0064
Blumea balsamifera, also known as ngai camphor or sambong, is an indigenous herb of tropical and subtropical Asia, especially in China. In the Philippines, it is usually used in traditional herbal medicine for the common cold and as a diuretic. It is used for infected wounds, respiratory infections, and stomach pains in Thai and Chinese folk medicine. 

Capsicum chinense

(Jacquin)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SolanalesFamily: SolanaceaeGenus: CapsicumSpecies: Capsicum chinenseCurator: Audrei Loise A. Suilan, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0080
Capsicum chinense, also known as habanero-type pepper or bonnet pepper, is a chili pepper species endemic to America. New kinds are being produced and farmed throughout Asia and Africa as a result of selection in new habitats. Capsicum Chinense comes in a wide variety of flavors. Some plants, such as the habanero, grow in the form of small, compact bushes with little, five-petaled white blooms while other plants are more typical of the species, with tall, rigid stems and broad, thin, wrinkled green leaves with two to six flowers per knot, becoming full and bustling. 

Codiaeum variegatum  

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: DicotyledonaeOrder: EuphorbialesFamily: EuphorbiaceaeGenus: CodiaeumSpecies: Codiaeum variegatumCurator: Sydie C. Moredo, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0139
Codiaeum variegatum or graden croton is a tropical, evergreen, monoecious shrub growing to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall and has large, thick, leathery, shiny evergreen leaves, alternately arranged, 5–30 cm (2.0–11.8 in) long and 0.5–8 cm (0.20–3.15 in) broad. It needs a warm, humid and bright environment with some shade. 

Euphorbia tithymaloides

(Pliny)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: DicotyledonaeOrder: EuphorbialesFamily: EuphorbiaceaeGenus: EuphorbiaSpecies: Euphorbia tithymaloidesCurator: Alyssha Angel C. Omolida, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0065
Euphorbia tithymaloides is a succulent, perennial shrub widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Native to the Americas, this species has been introduced in Africa, Asia and Oceania, occurring on rocky soils in dry, sunny habitats such as hillsides, wastelands and roadsides.

Ipomoea batatas

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: Dicotyledonae Order: SolanalesFamily: Convolvulaceae Genus: IpomoeaSpecies: Ipomoea batatasCurator: Rizz Ivy Olive B. Hibe, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0062
The Ipomoea batatas is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are a root vegetable.

Leucaena leucocephala

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: Dicotyledonae Order: SolanalesFamily: Convolvulaceae Genus: LeucaenaSpecies: Leucaena leucocephalaCurator: John Robert F. Cruz, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0061
Leucaena leucocephala is widely cultivated, mostly in farming situations, for forage (leaves and shoots), firewood, poles, medicine (roots), shade, soil conservation and improvement, tannin, dye. It is also planted as a windbreak, a garden ornamental and as an urban shade tree. In Uganda, it was introduced in tea plantations and as a host for the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) and later planted among other crops as a nitrogen fixer.

Momordica charantia

(NODC)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: Magnoliopsida Order: CucurbitalesFamily: CucurbitaceaeGenus: Momordica L.Species: Momordica charantiaCurator: Alyssha Angel C. Omolida, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0067
M. charantia is a tropical and subtropical species belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, and is widely grown for its edible fruit, which is among the most bitter of all fruits. Various names exist for the plant and its fruit, including bitter melon, bitter gourd, goya from the Japanese or ampalayá from Tagalog.

Morus nigra

(Linnaeus)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: RosalesFamily: MoraceaeGenus: MorusSpecies: Morus nigraCurator: Audrei Loise A. Suilan, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0078
Morus nigra is extensively grown in tropical areas and is said to have originated in Southwestern Asia. This is commonly known as black mulberry. The black mulberry's berries, bark, and leaves are all used medicinally, with the berries being used to treat inflammation and stop bleeding, the bark for toothaches, and the leaves being used to treat snake bites and as an antidote to action poisoning. Mulberry leaf is an important economic component in sericulture since the quality and quantity of leaf generated per unit area affects cocoon harvest.

Muntingia calabura

(Linnaeus)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: Magnoliopsida Order: MalvalesFamily: MuntingiaceaeGenus: MuntingiaSpecies: Muntingia calaburaCurator: Audrei Loise A. Suilan, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0076
Muntingia calabura, is a native plant to tropical American, as well as in Southeast Asia, and many other Pacific Islands. It is also known as aratiles in the Philippines, but its common name is Jamaica cherry is a shrub that is 3–12 m tall little evergreen tree with fan-like branches that grow and blossom continuously. Antiseptic qualities are thought to be present in the flowers. The flowers' infusion is used as an antispasmodic, by which it is used to treat headaches and the early stages of a cold

Ipomoea batatas

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: Dicotyledonae Order: SolanalesFamily: Convolvulaceae Genus: IpomoeaSpecies: Ipomoea batatasCurator: Alyssha Angel C. Omolida, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0066
Today, the sweet potato is a popular root vegetable that is grown in vegetable gardens and as a commercial food crop throughout the world. Although species plants and varieties grown as food crops have somewhat attractive green foliage, it is the more recently introduced purple-, chartreuse- and variegated-leaved cultivars that have transformed this vegetable into a popular ornamental foliage plant.

Origanum vulgare

(K. Koch)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LamialesFamily: LamiaceaeGenus: Origanum L.Species: Origanum vulgareCurator: Alyssha Angel C. Omolida, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0068
Oregano is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia. Oregano was used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans in their food. Wild oregano oil is used throughout Mediterranean cultures as a powerful medicine. Mexican oregano is used as an herbal remedy, and was originally used by the Aztecs to treat flatulence. Today many communities use oregano oil as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments, so it mostly has an association of healing. Oregano is rich in antioxidants, which are compounds that help fight damage from harmful free radicals in the body. The buildup of free radicals has been linked to chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. 

Oxalis triangularis  

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: OxalidalesFamily: OxalidaceaeGenus: Solanum L.Species: Solanum melangonaCurator: Sydie C. Moredo, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0141
The leaves of Oxalis triangularis or false shamrock move in response to light levels, opening in high ambient light (in the day) and closing at low light levels (at night). During this movement, the leaflets fold at the level of the central vein. Some plants are hard to take care of but this plant is fairly low maintenance.

Pneumatopteris glabra

(Holttum)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: PolypodiopsidaOrder: PolypodialesFamily: ThelypteridaceaeGenus: PneumatopterisSpecies: Pneumatopteris glabraCurator: Audrei Loise A. Suilan, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0077
It is distributed throughout Luzon, Samar, Bohol, and Mindanao in the Philippines. The dried fronds are differentiated by their green color, thinner pinnae, and the presence of tiny indusia. Ferns have been identified as having economic use in the following areas: food, medicine, ornamental plants, and stage decorations.

Polyscias frusticosa

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ApialesFamily: AraliaceaeGenus: PolysciasSpecies: Polyscias frusticosaCurator: Sydie C. Moredo, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0137
Polyscias fruticosa or ming aralia are versatile, small, indoor, branching trees. They grow in an upright and compact manner, making them suitable even in smaller spaces. Polyscias translates from the Greek as "many" and "shade", a reference to their abundant foliage.They may look fragile, but fortunately this is an adaptable plant so long as it is kept in a warm, humid environment. 

Premna odorata 

(Blanco)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ApialesFamily: AraliaceaeGenus: PolysciasSpecies: Polyscias frusticosaCurator: John Robert F. Cruz, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0060
Common in thickets and secondary forest at low elevations. Thickets and forests near the seashore in Taiwan. In or on the margins of gallery forest at elevations up to 400 meters.

Solanum melangona (Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum L.Species: Solanum melangonaCurator: Rizz Ivy Olive B. Hibe, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0063
As a member of the genus Solanum, it is related to the tomato, chili pepper, and potato, although those are of the new world where the eggplant, like nightshade, is old world. 

Talinum paniculatum

(Gaertner, 1760)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: Dicotyledonae    Order: Caryophyllales   Family: Talinaceae  Genus: GraptophyllumSpecies: Talinum paniculatumCurator: Princess S. Sabela, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0074
Talinum paniculatum is a succulent subshrub in the family Talinaceae that is native to much of North and South America, and the Caribbean countries.

Tradescantia pallida

(D.R. Hunt)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: LiliopsidaOrder: CommelinalesFamily: CommelinaceaeGenus: TradescantiaSpecies: Tradescantia pallidaCurator: Audrei Loise A. Suilan, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0079
This plant originated in Mexico and is now commonly grown as an ornamental and houseplant in many tropical and subtropical areas. Purple queen as it is commonly called is a sprawling groundcover plant with succulent stems and pointed leaves that has lengthy joints. T. pallida has also been utilized as an anti-inflammatory and anti-toxic supplement in the past, as well as to promote blood circulation.

Tradescantia zebrina

(Author)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MonocotyledonaOrder: CommelinalesFamily: CommelinaceaeGenus: TradescantiaSpecies: Tradescantia zebrinaCurator: Sydie C. Moredo, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0140
Tradescantia zebrina or inch plant is a succulent, trailing herbaceous plant, distinguished by its paired, silvery green leaves flushed with purple on the upper surface and purple underneath, asymmetrical at the base. It has bright pink flowers with three petals. The fruit are small capsules containing greyish-brown seeds. 

Zamioculas zamiifolia (Lodd)

Domian: EukaryotaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: TracheophytaClass: MonocotyledonaeOrder: AlismatalesFamily: AraceaeGenus: ZamioculasSpecies: Zamioculas zamiifoliaCurator: Ma. Allyssa J. Cervantes, (2021)Collection Code: BSEDSCPP-0059
Z. zamiifolia is an easy to grow succulent houseplant in the Araceae family native to Africa. It is one of the easiest to grow low maintenance houseplants and is seen frequently in commercial interiorscapes.  It will slowly reach a mature height and spread of 2 to 3 feet. It has bulbous fleshy rhizomes that give rise to pinnately compound glossy leaves with thick petioles that store water and make it highly drought tolerant.

References

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