The Philippines, a tropical country located in Southeast Asia, is blessed with beautifully diverse and colorful water creatures, insects and unique flowering plants. Here are some of the most beautiful and unique plants that you’ll find only in the Philippines.
1.) Paphiopedilum fowliei
This beautiful and uniquely shaped flower is from Paphiopedilum fowliei, a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is native to the beautiful island of Palawan, Philippine’s last frontier. This species which is threatened by loss of habitat inhabits tropical and subtropical forests.
2.) Paphiopedilum acmodontum
The pretty Paphiopedilum acmodontum, which is native to the Philippines, is a unique species that belongs to the family of Orchidaceae. It is characterized by its hairy appearance.
3.) Paphiopedilum ciliolare
Another lovely plant that belongs to the Orchidaceae family is the Paphiopedilum ciliolare. Like the other two unique plants above, this species is threatened by loss of habitat. It also inhabits tropical and subtropical forests.
4.) Sacred Garlic Pear (Crateva religiosa)
The flowering tree Crateva religiosa is a flowering tree commonly called the Sacred Garlic Pear. Sometimes it is also called the Spider Tree because the showy flowers bear long, spidery stamens. Aside from the Philippines, it is also endemic to other Southeast Asian countries, Australia, Japan and many Pacific islands. It is grown elsewhere for fruit, especially in parts of the African continent. It is also commonly called Temple Plant. Other names in a variety of dialects include; Abiyuch, Barna, Bidasi and Varuna.
5.) Sea Poison Tree (Barringtonia asiatica)
The unique-looking but beautiful Sea Poison Tree is a species of endemic to mangrove habitats on the tropical coasts and islands of the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean like Philippines, Fiji, Taiwan, Zanzibar and New Caledonia. It is also known as Fish Poison Tree or Box Fruit due the distinct boxed like shaped fruit it produces.
6.) Spoon-leaved Sundew (Drosera spatulata)
The Spoon-leaved Sundew is not just a peculiar-looking plant but also a carnivorous plant. It has a large range and occurs naturally in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. This beautiful plant can be found also in China, Japan, Micronesia, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.
7.) Rafflesia schadenbergiana
This species of Rafflesia is known to the Bagobo tribe as Bo-o. To the Higaonon tribe of Bukidnon, it is known as Kolon busaw. This parasitic plant has the largest flower among the Rafflesia species found in the Philippines with a diameter of up to 80 cm. Among all other Rafflesia species, it has the second largest flower. Its first specimen was collected in 1882 and it was not seen for over a century and was thought to be extinct. It was rediscovered in 1994 on Mount Matutum, South Cotabato. In 2007, a population of this rare Rafflesia species was discovered in Baungon, Bukidnon.
8.) Peltate Nephentes (Nepenthes peltata)
This strange-looking plant is not a colorful toilet bowl. It is scientifically called Nepenthes peltata, a tropical pitcher plant that can be found only from the upper slopes of Mount Hamiguitan, Mindanao in southern Philippines. The plant is characterized by a peltate tendril attachment and conspicuous indumentum.
9.) Sibuyan Nephentes (Nepenthes sibuyanensis)
Another beautiful and unique pitcher plant native to the Philippines is the Nepenthes sibuyanensis. This tropical plant can be found only in Sibuyan Island in the Philippines hence the scientific name.
It was discovered in 1996 and this newly found species was formally described by in a 1998 issue of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter.
10.) Burke Nephentes (Nepenthes burkei)
The glossy and attractive Nepenthes burkei is closely related to the Nepenthes sibuyanensis and Nepenthes ventricosa. It was named after David Burke, a British plant collector. This tropical pitcher plant is endemic to the island of Mindoro, Philippines.
12.) Nepenthes ventricosa
Nepenthes ventricosa is a unique pitcher plant having a swelling on one side. This highland species grows at 1,200- to 1,500 m altitude in rainforests. This medium-sized species can be pale green or streaked with red, or red.
13.) Heart-shaped Nephentes (Nepenthes truncate)
Nepenthes truncate is another unique carnivorous pitcher plant native to Mindanao. This beautiful plant is characterized by its heart-shaped or truncate leaves and very large pitchers, which can reach up to 50 cm in height.
14.) Argent Nephentes (Nepenthes argentii)
The dull-colored Nepenthes argentii, which was named after George Argent, is a highland pitcher plant endemic to Mount Guiting-guiting on Sibuyan Island. This unique pitcher plant is probably the smallest species in the genus and does not appear to have a climbing stage.
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