The island of Batanes is considered a rich assemblage of terrestrial flora due to its isolated land mass

features and remote geographic location in the Philippines. Different studies conducted in the island
focuses on the identification of unknown endemic species which leads to new discoveries. One of the
newly discovered plant species of Batanes that is not known to many is the Rerey (Elastostema
platyphylum Wedd.), an edible wild plant (EWP) of the Ivatans locally used as wild vegetable and known
as Menthol plant.

This study focuses on morphometric analysis and determination of the nutritional properties of Rerey
species. The study is a descriptive-experimental research. Morphometric study and plant collection was
done on site in three (3) dominant habitats- Kayuganan (S1), Kayvaluganan (S2) of Uyugan and Valugan
(S3) of Basco, Batanes The nutritional properties of Rerey was determined via proximate (crude protein,
crude fiber, crude fat, moisture and ash) and plant tissue analysis (N, P, K, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) using
standard method.

Results revealed general morphometry of Rerey plants. Mean height of Rerey is 29.22 inches, perennial
monoecious, with covered canopy width of 9.30 inches, fresh biomass of 85.44 g, and dry biomass of
71.73 g. Roots are fibrous, brown in color, density of 4 roots per plant, length of 5.73 inches, diameter of
0.30 inches, and fresh weight of 2.33 g. Stems are succulent, ascending and branched, with light to dark
green in color, length of 22.91 inches, circumference of 1.50 inches, and fresh weight of 98.67 g Leaves
are pinnately compound, thin, green in color, density of 12 leaves per plant, perimeter of 13.28 inches,
length of 8.10 inches, width of 2.92 inches, vein density of 15 veins per leaf, and fresh weight of 23.44 g.
Flowers are globules in shape, light green in color, stamen is white crystalline, density of 9 flowers per
plant, diameter of 0.99 inches, and fresh weight of 5.00 g. Rerey stem is 76% by fresh weight, its leaves
is 18%, flowers is 4%, and its roots is 2% (Stem Leaves Flowers>Roots).

Highlights of the study revealed that there is no significant difference in the morphometry of Rerey
(Elatostema platyphyllum Wedd.) plant found in the different sites of Kayuganan (S1), Kayvaluganan (S2)
and Valugan (S3) in all aspects, except plant height, number of roots and number of flowers, leaves and
stem are all the same in the three (3) sites.

There is highly significant difference in the proximate properties of leaves (TI) and stem (T2) of Rerey
plants. The proximate properties of Rerey leaves (T1) include 33.98% Crude fiber, 22.58% Dry matter,
19.45% Ash, 19.32% Crude protein, 3.68% Crude fat and 0.99% residues. While proximate properties of
Rerey stem (T2) include 33.50% Crude fiber, 26.12% Dry matter, 26.23% Ash, 8.37% Crude protein,
5.18% Crude fat and 0.60% residues

There is also highly significant difference in the trace element composition of leaves (TI), stem (T2) and
roots (T3) of Rerey plants. The trace element composition of Rerey leaves (T1) include 2.10% Nitrogen,
16.30% Phosphorus, 3.93% Potassium, 26.67 ppm of Zinc, 8.00 ppm of Copper, 36.33 ppm of
Manganese and 329.00 ppm of Iron, respectively. Rerey stem (T2) has 1.75% Nitrogen, 11.43%
Phosphorus, and 3.37% Potassium, 61.00 ppm of Zinc, 36.00 ppm of Copper, 95.00 ppm of Manganese
and 733.33 ppm of Iron. On the other hand, Rerey roots (T3) has 1.25% Nitrogen, 12.40% Phosphorus,
9.40% Potassium, 12.67 ppm of Zinc, 5.00 ppm of Copper, 11.00 ppm of Manganese and 180.67 ppm of
Iron, respectively.

It is recommended that determination of other micronutrients such as vitamins, calcium (Ca),

magnesium (Mg), Selenium (Se) and other minerals present in edible Rerey should be studied to
complete the nutritional facts of Rerey plants. The presence of high concentration of copper (Cu),
manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) in Rerey plants suggests the possibility of heavy metal accumulation. A
study should be conducted on the determination of heavy metals in Rerey plant samples for food safety.
Nutritional study on processed Rerey should also be studied and compared to fresh Rerey to determine
nutrient retention. The menthol aroma of Rerey suggests the presence of aromatic compounds and such
determination of essential oil is also possible. Lastly, Rerey found on other islands of Batanes should be
explored in future studies for morphometric and specie differentiation.