Xanthostemon verdugonianus - Náves ex

Fern.-Vill.
Common Name Mangkono

Family Myrtaceae

USDA hardiness 10-12

Known Hazards None known

Habitats The species is naturally rare. Restricted to the islands

of Homonhou, Dinagat, and the eastern tip of Leyte.

Range Southeast Asia - Philippines.

Edibility Rating

Other Uses

Weed Potential No

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary
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.
Physical Characteristics

Xanthostemon verdugonianus is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a

slow rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and
prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in
the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Synonyms
Habitats
Edible Uses
None known

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of
plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

Other Uses
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[721[. The wood is exceedingly hard, very heavy and very durable[721 ,
722 ]. 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[721 ]. 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[721 ].

Cultivation details
Not known
Propagation
Seed -

Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here

Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Philippines

Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant
may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Vulnerable A1d