Tamarind

The tamarind tree is grown for its fruits as well as a shade tree. It is a large tree, usually growing to a height of 20 meters or more. The leaves are even-pinnate composed of very small leaflets. The flowers which grow in recemes have yellowish petals with pink strips.

The green pods, young leaves and flowers are used for flavoring a certain favorite dish called " sinigang." The sweet ripe pods are used in the manufacture of syrup, beverage, jellies and other sub-acid confections.

The young leaves are prepared to ease rheumatic pains. To reduce inflammations of body-joints apply on them poultices of warm, pounded young leaves.The solution formed by boiling the leaves in water mixed with little sugar when taken relieve cough.

Guava

The guava tree is a small which may reach a height of about 8 meters. It has four-angled branches. The leaves are opposite, somewhat hairy, oblong to elliptic and usually pointed at both ends. The flowers are white and borne in panicles with one to three flowers.
The guava fruit is rounded, about 4 to 5 centimeters long, the introduced guavas, such as the Brazilian guava, the Florida Guava and the Java guava are much bigger than the native varieties. They are much more fleshy and have lesser seeds. The fruit when unripe is green, when fully ripe, it is yellow. The ripe fruit has pink or white pulp.
One variety, with smaller fruits but recommended for backyard planting is the purple guava. It is a sort of a novelty because of its color. The ripe fruit is sweet and delicious;
Economic and Nutritive Values of Guava Fruits
• Guava fruits are eaten ripe or unripe. The ripe guava fruits are sweet and are made into jellies which preserved in bottle.
• Ripe guavas are used in the preparation of a certain dish.
• Vitamin C content of guava fruits.
Medicinal Value
• The leaves are boiled in water and the solution is used for stomach ache and for expelling intestinal worms.
• The bark and leaves are used in childbirth to expel the placenta.
• The pounded leaves are applied to ease rheumatic pains.
• Juice extracted from roots and leaves are rubbed on the spine children having convulsions.

Guava are propagated in a number of ways. Seed planting is most common way. Guavas, however, may be planted asexually, by marcotting, stem cutting, grafting and budding.

Avocado

The avocado plant is a tropical tree. It begins bearing fruits at five to six years of age. The full bearing age maybe expected at about eight to ten years. By then it attains a height of five to fifteen meters.
It may be propagated by seed, grafting, budding and in arching. It has been extensively propagated mainly for its edible fruits.
The avocado fruit maybe oblong, nearly spherical, pear-shaped or bottle-shaped and may vary in length from 10 to 36 centimeters long. In color, it may vary from green, brown to purple. It has one large seed in the center.

Economic and Nutritive Values of Avocado
• The ripe avocado fruit is eaten either plain; with salt or salad dressing; with sugar and milk.
• Ripe avocado fruit is used as an ingredient in ice cream.
• The avocado fruit is energy-producing. Its energy-producing value is 1,000 calories per pound, which is double than that of lean meat. Its fat content is as high as 20 percent and its digestibility can equal that of butter fat and surpass that of beef fat.
• Avocado fruit is rich in Vitamin E, which is popular among people who want to remain young.
• Vitamin E together with Vitamin A is contained in avocado oil that can be extracted from the fruit pulp by using a cold mixed solvent extraction process.
Medicinal Value of Avocado
• Avocado leaves are dried and prepared as tea for the relief of headache and diseases of the throat and stomach. It also regulates menstruation.
• Avocado leaves are heated and while still warm are applied directly on the forehead of the patient for the relief of headache.
• Avocado seeds are toasted and ground and prepared for cure of dysentery.
• The powder made from the toasted seeds is prepared as poultice for inflammations.
• A piece of avocado fruit is said to relieve toothache when placed in the cavity of the aching tooth.
• Avocado seed has been found the cure rheumatism. Pulverized avocado seed mixed with coconut oil can be applied externally on the affected part.
• The pulp can be used to hasten the formation of pus in wounds.

Species of avocado grown in the country are Mexican, West Idian and Guatemalan. The Mexican varities grown in the Philippines are Ganther, Rubla, Gottfried and Northrop. Locally-grown West Indian varieties are Pollack, Family, Gardins, Wilson, Waldin, Wester and Baldwin. Among the Guatemalan varieties grown in the country are Dickeson, Lyon, Troth, Taft, Tumin, Sharpless, Blackman, Solane and Taylor.
Avocado grows best in clay loam soils. Plant at the start of the rainy season, during the months of May to August. Set the plants at 9 to 10 meters apart each way. It is advisable to propagate only budded or grafted plants as trees grown from seeds do not run true to type and slow in coming to bearing.
Avocado fruits are harvested from May to September. Fruits are not allowed to ripen in the tree, as ripe fruits readily full to the ground. Fully mature avocado fruits should be harvested and allow to ripen in clean places at room temperature.

Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)

Ampalaya is an annual herbaceous vine, climbing by means of its tendrils which measure about 20 centimeters in length. The leaves are heart-shaped at the base, 2.5 to 10 centimeters, and cut nearly to the base into five or seven variously toothed and divided lobes. The large flowers appear in the axils of the leaves on long stalks. They are yellow with petals about 3.5 to 4 centimeters long.

Some fruits of ampalaya are oblong, cylindrical, pointed at both ends and measure up to at least 25 centimeters in length. Other are rounded or short which measure from 5 to 10 centimeters long. All have wrinkled surfaces with broken ridges. From these fruits the seeds are taken for propagation.


Economic and Nutritive Values of Ampalaya

* The young fruits and leaves of ampalaya are extensively used as vegetable.

* The leaves are excellent sources of iron and calcium and a good source of phosphorus.

* The leaves are also high in carbohydrates and a good source of Vitamin B.

Medicinal Value of Ampalaya

* The leaf juice is used for cough, to kill parasites to heal wounds.

* Juice extracted from the green fruit is effective against colitis(the inflamation of the large intestine)and bacilliary dysentery.

* The whole plant can be prepared to treat diabetes, skin diseases, sterility in women and chronic ulcers of the stomach.

* The plant can be prepared to bring vomiting.

* The powder from roots, fruits and seeds can be used as an ingredient in a aphrodisiac preparation.

* The powdered roots, fruits and seeds can be applied externally to hemorrhoids because they have astringent properties, that is, they posses the quality to shrink tissues and prevent the secretion of fluids from wounds.

The fruits are ready to be harvest 12 to 14 days after the female flowers have fallen. The young leaves may be harvested anytime the vine has developed a luxuriant foliage.

Alugbati (Basella alba L.)

Alugbati is a twining, herbaceous vine which grows to several meters in length. It has luxuriant, succulent, heart-shaped edible leaves growing on green or purplish stems. It bears small flowers and fruits. The flowers are pinkish.


Economic and Nutritive Value of Alugbati

* The young, fleshy and delectable leaves are usually cooked with other vegetables
or with fish and meat.

* The leaves are rich in food value, especially in minerals and vitamins.

Medicinal Value of alugbati

* The roots are prepared as poultice for local inflammations or swellings.

* The leaves are crushed or pounded and place over boils and ulcers.

* The leaves are also prepared as mild laxative for pregnant women.

There are two varieties of alugbati, namely the green variety and the red variety.
Both varieties are propagated either by seeds or cutting. Backyard planting is usually done through cuttings. To prepare cutting from 20 to 25 centimeters long. Remove some leaves to reduce water loss caused by transpiration in the cutting during the process of their growth.

Harvesting usually starts a month after planting. Harvesting is done by cutting the shoots 15 to 30 centimeters long. Weekly or bi-weekly harvesting may follow if there is vigorous and abundant growth of leaves.