Kalingag
Cinnamomum mercadoi
Family: Lauraceae
What it is like
A small to large tree. The trunk can be 65 cm across. It is usually straight but not very tall. The leaves are opposite, smooth, leathery and pointed at both ends. They are distinctly 3 nerved and 8 to 20 cm long. The fruit are about 2 cm long and surrounded in the middle by a persistent calyx.
There are about 250 Cinnamomum species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. Widely distributed and well known but rather scarce in the Philippines. Occur in forests at low and medium altitudes from Babuyan Islands and northern Luzon to Mindanao.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The bark is used as a spice. It has a sassafras odour and is also used in root beers.
Edible parts
Spice, bark