INDOOR

PLANTS
KAPAL-KAPAL
(Calotropis Gigantea)

SOURCE: Pic 1 https://www.instagram.com/crazyplantladyph

KAPAL-KAPAL
(Calotropis Gigantea)
Description and Characteristics
Kapal-kapal is a medium-sized shrub growing to a height of 2 to 4 meters, the young parts
covered with appressed white hairs. Bark is pale. Leaves are obovate or oblong, 10 to 20
centimeters long, 3 to 8 centimeters wide, cottony beneath, pointed at the tip, heart-shaped
at the base. Flowers have a faint odor, not unpleasant, downy on the outside, arranged in
axillary or subterminal, simple or compound, inflorescences. Corolla is 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters
across, usually white, sometimes dull-purple or purplish-lilac; the lobes are ovate-lanceolate,
and spreading. Fruit is a follicle, recurved, 7.5 to 10 centimeters long. Seeds are ovate, 5 to 6
millimeters long, with a bright, silky-white coma. Kapal-kapal, like most Philippine native
plants, this one just naturally thrives in our tropical conditions.

Minor products of Philippine forests, ed. by William H. Brown. [Vol. 1, no. 3] https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer
KAPAL-KAPAL
(Calotropis Gigantea)

What are the use/benefits of Kapal-kapal?

The flowers are long lasting, and in Thailand they are used in floral arrangements. The extract of
flowers and leaves has shown hypoglycemic effect in preclinical studies.

Calotropis yields a durable fiber (commercially known as bowstring of India) useful for ropes,
carpets, fishing nets, and sewing thread. Floss, obtained from seeds, is used as stuffing. Crown
flower cotton can also be used to make a pillow. A fermented mixture of Calotropis and salt is
used to remove the hair from goat skins for production of nari leather and from sheep skins to
make leather which is much used for inexpensive book binding.

SOURCES: http://www.omjournal.org/fultext_PDF.aspx?DetailsID=80&type=fultext
Dictionary of economic plants in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
HOYA CUMINGIANA
(Nerium oleander)

SOURCE: Pic 1 https://www.instagram.com/urlocalplantboy

Pic 2 https://plantophiles.com/plant-care/hoya-cumingiana/
HOYA CUMINGIANA
(Hoya Cumingiana)
Description and Characteristics

Hoya cumingiana is a type of succulent plant that is native to the Philippines, Java, and Borneo. It is also
known by other names like Porcelain flowers or Wax plants due to the waxy look of their leaves and flowers.
It belongs to the Apocynaceae plant family and is categorized as a tropical plant. Since they are tropical
plants, they tend to favor warmer conditions and cannot tolerate cold, frosty climates.

The Hoya cumingiana plant has waxy, succulent leaves. In the summer, it produces beautiful yellow, star-
shaped flowers with purple centers or coronas. They grow in small clusters that contain 5-10 flowers each.
They give off a sweet scent at night that resembles the smell of tropical fruits and spices.

SOURCE: https://www.evergreenseeds.com/hoya-cumingiana/
 HOYA CUMINGIANA
(Hoya Cumingiana)
What are the use/benefits of Hoya Cumingiana?
The Hoya cumingiana is a great addition to any indoor garden because of its unique
appearance. They are also extremely easy to care for, so they make perfect houseplants for
people who are new to gardening.

Hoya Cumingiana thrives on bright, indirect light indoors. It also does not might medium to
partial shade. But, the more light the better as long as you avoid direct sunlight.

SOURCE: https://www.evergreenseeds.com/hoya-cumingiana
https://soilseedandgarden.com/hoya-cumingiana/
KATMON
(Dillenia Philippinensis)

SOURCE: Pic 1 https://www.instagram.com/philnativetreest

Pic 2: https://www.facebook.com/qachlifestylegarden/
Pic 3: https://flavoursofiloilo.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-fruit-of-catmon-tree.html
KATMON
(Dillenia Philippinensis)

Description and Characteristics

Katmon (Dillenia philippinensis), locally called bolobayaua, belongs to a family of flowering plants that grown
in low to medium altitude forests.

The tree is endemic to the Philippines and it can be found on Babuyan Islands, Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro,
Masbate, Leyte, Negros Island, Guimaras, Cebu and Basilan.

It grows on an evergreen tree that grows as tall as 15 meters. Its trunk is erect and the bark is smooth with
shallow fissures. The leaves are leathery, shiny and oblong in shape, measuring 12 to 25 centimeters long,
and coarsely toothed at the edges. Its flowers are white, large, showy, and about 15 centimeters in diameter
with reddish pistils and stamens. The edible fruits are round, about six to eight centimeters in diameter, with
large fleshy sepals tightly enclosing the true fruit. Its fruit is also known as elephant apple. A red dye is also
obtained from the bark of this tree.

SOURCE: https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/katmon/
KATMON
(Dillenia Philippinensis)
What are the uses/benefits of Katmon?
The plant is perfect for container and indoor culture, with showy tropical leaves, beautiful flowers, shade tolerance,
and compact growth. When fully grown, the katmon can tower up to 15 metres high. As a seedling, it can properly
thrive indoors as it is shade-tolerant.

Katmon fruits are quite fleshy, eaten when green and have a taste similar to green sour apples. The fresh fruit is not
especially flavorful, but due to its acidity and juiciness, it is refreshing when eaten. It makes an excellent sauce or
jam and is also used for flavoring. For example, it may be added to pinakbet (a traditional Philippine vegetable and
pork dish) or sinigang (traditional Philippine fish, pork or vegetable sour soup) as a souring ingredient. Locals are
also known to mix the acidic fruit juice with sugar into a drink taken to treat coughs and fevers, and the young
leaves or bark may be pounded into a paste applied to wounds or swellings. The katmon fruit is not usually found
for commercial sale, and is instead harvested for personal use.

The trees are propagated by seed, but are currently threatened as they are often cut down for timber. The species
is currently considered threatened. If lost, a traditional flavor of the Philippines and an important component of the
local culinary tradition will be lost as well.
SOURCE: https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/katmon/
MUSICA
Sansevieria Bacularis

SOURCE: Pic 1 https://mygroceryph.com/snake-plant-sansevieria-bacularis-in-plastic-plant.html

Pic 2 https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/sansevieria-bacularis-mikado/classid.2000027729/
MUSICA
Sansevieria Bacularis
Description and Characteristics

Sansevieria bacularis is a perennial stemless succulent plant with one, sometimes two thin cylindrical upstanding
slender leaves up to 1.7 metres tall, but only 12 mm in diameter, and quite stiff in good light conditions. New growth
has a purple sheath at the base. Sansevieria bacularis has dark green leaves with slightly paler light green striping.
The name bacularis stems from the latin word baculum meaning stick, rod or staff. The Mikado form adds an
interesting fountain-like shape for a more modern vibe.

Sanseviera bacularis does best in moderate to bright, indirect light, but can also adapt to low light conditions.

SOURCE: Sansevieria bacularis Pfennig ex A.Butler & Jankalski, Sansevieria 22: 3 (2010)
https://hortology.co.uk/products/sansevieria-bacularis-mikado-snake-plant
MUSICA
Sansevieria Bacularis
What are the use/benefits of Musica?
Sansevieria Bacularis filter airborne toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde and are part
of our clean air plant collection.

The Bacularis is known as an unfussy plant in most regards. This is true in particular of its
need for light. Whilst it is neither stressed by bright direct light nor prolonged periods of
shade, it will however thrive in bright indirect light. This makes it perfect for the indoor
environment, even doing well in ground floor apartments which can struggle to maintain
bright light levels throughout the day.

SOURCE: https://plantophiles.com/plant-care/sansevieria-bacularis/
ZEBRA PLANT
(Calathea Zebrina)

SOURCE: Pic 1 https://www.houseplantsexpert.com/calathea-zebrina.html

Pic 2 https://gardenerspath.com/plants/houseplants/grow-calathea-zebrina/
ZEBRA PLANT
(Calathea Zebrina)
Description and Characteristics
The Zebra plant is a perennial foliage plant that displays fairly large ovate leaves at the tips of it's long stalks,
growing up to 1 metre tall. The Zebra plant is from the same family (marantaceae) as the popular indoor prayer
plant and has many similarities, although the Calathea zebrina grows taller and can be slightly more difficult to
grow. It's sometimes named prayer plant when sold at garden stores and its common name (Zebra) is also
given to the Aphelandra squarrosa.

Being a tropical plant native to Brazil the Calathea does require a warm and moist environment which
encourages the foliage to thrive and look its best.

This species is fairly undemanding and suitable for growing indoors if enough light and humidity is provided,
and the correct temperature conditions given. Caltheas love a warm but shaded spot in greenhouses or
conservatories, but anywhere indoors without cold drafts and enough light is suitable. A bright bathroom large
enough to house the plant can be a good location, because of the higher moisture levels.

SOURCE: https://www.houseplantsexpert.com/calathea-zebrina.html
ZEBRA PLANT
(Calathea Zebrina)

What are the use/benefits of Zebra Plant?

Zebrina calathea makes a wonderful foliage houseplant, but it can also be used in
interiorscapes, large indoor vegetative installations that are sometimes featured in malls or
office buildings.

And if you’re looking for a houseplant to improve air quality, it may interest you to know that
G. zebrina has the potential to help to reduce CO2 levels indoors.

SOURCE: https://gardenerspath.com/plants/houseplants/grow-calathea-zebrina/