HOME      •      SEARCH      •      EMAIL    •     ABOUT


Family • Connaraceae
Gikos-gikos
Rourea volubilis (Blanco) Merr.

Scientific names Common names
Rourea volubilis (Blanco) Merr. Baralang (Ibn.)
Rourea heterophylla Planch. Bitog (Ig.)
Rourea microcarpa Elm. Gikos-gikos (Tag.)
Rourea subvolubilis Elm. Hanambabau (Bis.)
Cnestis volubilis Blanco Kalayan (Bag.)
Cnestis trifolia Blanco Kamagsa (Tag.)
Santaloides volubile Schellenb. Kamagsa-takiliis (Tag.)
  Mabindato (Bis.)
  Palo santo (Span.)
  Tiao (Bag.)
  Ungalina (Bis.)
Kamagsa is a local common names shared by both (1) Rourea erecta and (2) Rourea volubilis.
Gikos-gikos is a local common names shared by (1) Rourea erecta and (2) Rourea volubilis, and (3) Saga, Arbus precatorius

Botany
Gikos-gikos is a large, woody vine reaching several meters in length, with stems 7 to 10 centimeters in diameter. Leaves are similar to kamagsa in appearance, but larger and fewer, usually with three leaflets, the terminal one being the largest. Flowers are small, white, and fragrant, and occur in large numbers on compound inflorescences. Fruit is about 7 millimeters long, 5 millimeters thick, and constricted at the apex.

Distribution
In thickets and forests at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.

Parts used
Fruit, roots.

Uses
Folkloric
Fruit is used for poisoning dogs.
Roots have the same use as those of kamagsa.
Others
Rope: Used for tying fish traps.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

August 2011
•

HOME      •      SEARCH      •      EMAIL    •     ABOUT