Mangkono
Xanthostemon verdugonianus
Family: Myrtaceae
What it is like
Xanthostemon verdugonianus or commonly known as Mangkono is a tree growing up to 50 m in height and 115 cm in bole diameter. It can be found in Southeast Asia particularly in the Philippines and is currently threatened by habitat loss. The bole is very irregular, fluted, and bent. Leaves are simple, relatively thick, alternate, and obovate. The inflorescence is red and located at terminal branches. The fruits are dehiscent with 2-3 lobes that split into 2-3 sections when ripe. The seeds are small and half-moon shaped. No plant part is of medicinal importance and edible. However, the plant is mainly valued for its excellent wood that is extremely hard, very heavy, and probably the most durable wood of the Philippines. It is of superior quality and is used for posts, piles, tool handles, wooden tool parts, bowling balls, dumbbells, paper weights, pulleys, rollers, etc.
Xanthostemon verdugonianus is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 30
Where it is found
The species is naturally rare. Restricted to the islands of Homonhou, Dinagat, and the eastern tip of Leyte.
Southeast Asia - Philippines.
Conservation Status: Status: Vulnerable A1d
Countries/locations it is found in
Philippines
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 4
Other Uses The heartwood is a yellowish brown, turning to a dark bronze colour or nearly black with age; it is sharply demarcated from the 1 - 2cm layer of pale reddish heartwood. The grain is always crossed, frequently curly and twisted; the texture extremely fine and dense, so that the raw wood without oil or polish) can be burnished almost like metal. The wood is exceedingly hard, very heavy and very durable. It is probably the most durable wood of the Philippines; posts 40 years old have just 1cm of the sapwood decayed at the surface of ground, and salt-water pilings over 20 years old are attacked by teredo only to about the same extent. The wood seasons without warping much, but large logs have often several radial heart cracks, and fresh sawn pieces check superficially, but not deeply. Very difficult to work. It is used for posts, piles, tool handles and other wooden tool parts, bowling balls, dumb-bells, paper weights and other desk novelties, pulleys, rollers, sheaves, bearings, saw-guide blocks, etc.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Not known
Propagating it: Seed -
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist