Agoho Tree
Category: Significant Natural Resources
Plants: Flora
Contents
Background Information
Other Common Name: Agoho Tree
Scientific Name: Casuarina Equisetifolia
Classification According to Growth Habit: Tree
Classification According to Origin: Native
Habitat: It grows along sandy seashores, extending inland in open sandy valleys along streams.
Site Collected/Sighted: Dumatad Elementary School Ground
Indicate Visibility: Visible in all barangays
Indicate Seasonability: Annual
Description
Morphology
- Flower: are produced in small catkin-like inflorescences; the male flowers in simple spikes 0.7- 4 cm (0.28- 1.57 in) long, the female flowers on short peduncles.
- Leaves: are reduced to tiny scales, six to eight in whorls encircle joints of branchlets
- Fruiting: is an oval woody structure 10-24 mm (0.39-0.94 in) long and 9-13 mm (0.35-0.51 in) in diameter.
- Fragrance: No frangrance
- Special Notes: It bears a resemblance to coniferous plants due to the production of cone-like fruits and pine- needle-like leaves.
Common Uses and Scope of Use:
Ornamentals
- It can be ornamental if the area along the seashores or extending in valley along streams.
Medicinal (used as drugs, medicines)
- Infusion of branches used as diuretic.
- Bark used as astringent
- Used for stomach aches, diarrhea and dysentery, also used for beri- beri used for cough, ashma and diabetes
Industrial Crops
- Tree makes good fuel-wood. It produces high- quality charcoal. Use for making house timber, poles and rafters.
Other Uses:
- Used for making house timber, poles and rafters used to produce paper pulp using neutral sulphate and semi-chemical processes. Used for tanning.
Stories Associated with the Plant
The Agoho Tree, according to Ms. Rosine S. Valentin, was planted in 1967 by Mr. Merlo Dela Cruz from Antique, who requested permission from Lolo Ely, the owner of the parcel, so that he may build a home out of lightweight materials there with his family, where the Dumatad Elementary School is now. Farmer Merlo puts up a lot of effort. He grew Agoho trees, peanuts, and corn. For several years Merlo and his family back to his native land in Antique. The Agoho tree was get bigger and taller. Lolo Ely begged the contractor not to cut down the Agoho tree next to the classroom during the construction of the classroom building at what is now Dumatad Elementary School. According to him, Merlo's living legacy is the Agoho tree.
Agoho tree, which is 56 years old and sits in front of a grade I classroom, is still alive and well today. This tree represents Merlo's labor of love and teaches all Dumatadnons and students that the Agoho tree is a part of the school's tradition.
Significance
Scientific- it inhabits the ecosystem and creates biodiversity. It provided habitat to our wildlife animals.
Aesthetic- Agoho tree is a large, evergreen tree, tall and straight, up to 20 meters high. Crown is narrowly pyramidal, resembling some of the conifers in appearance. Bark is brown and rough. Branchlets are very slender, about 20 centimeters long, mostly deciduous, composed of many joints.
History- Agoho tree is one of the oldest trees found in Dumatad Elementary School.
Scientific- some parts of Agoho tree is used for medicinal purposes, traditionally treatment for nervous disorders, acne, throat infections, stomach ulcer, constipation, cough, diabetes, diarrhea and dysentery.
Conservation
Constraints/Threats/Issues:
Threat to endangered species, displaces native beach vegetation that provide critical wildlife habitat.
Climate change and severe weather events temperature, drought, and lightning strikes.
Conservation Measures:
The Dumandatad Elementary School Community is still manage, preserve and conserve the Agoho tree by means of propagating and planting seedlings beside the perimeter fence of school ground not just for beautification but for the heavy rains causes of landslides and strong winds brought by the typhoon.
References
| Key Informants: | MS. ROSINE S. VALENTIN, MRS. MEINDA V. TEMPLO, Dumatad, Tangalan, Aklan |
| Reference/s and Other Sources: | Interview |
| Name of Profiler/Mapper: | JAYPEE P. ALAYON, Teacher III, Dumatad Elementary School |
| Language Editor: | DIONADITH GAY H. ISTURIS, Teacher III, Numancia Integrated School |
| Layout Artist: | JOEBEN A. DUMARAN, Teacher I, Ondoy National High |
| Content Validators: | JOSEPHINE P. VICENTE, Teacher III, Regional Science High School for Region VI,
DENNIS E. BONTOGON, Master Teacher III, Kalibo Pilot Elementary School |
| Wiki Editor: | ROXANNE M. DELOS REYES, Teacher II, Panayakan National High School |
| Approved: | RUBY AGNES B. ESTRADA, PhD, Education Program Supervisor |
| Date Profiled: | June 26, 2023 |
