Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Makeshift Cinnamon Nursery

Last summer Cel Tungol and I chanced upon the flowering sole Cinnamomum mercadoi (or kalingag) tree I know growing in UP. Cinnamomum is a native genus of trees (with reported 17 species from the Philippines, including the endangered Cinnamomum cebuense). The genus is also popular because some of the members' wood bark yields excellent cinnamon flavoring.

Like in any other native tree we encounter, we went around its base trying to spot falling fruits or seedlings. There were none. But we chanced upon Nana Paterna who takes care of the grounds maintenance. She was very familiar with the cinnamon tree and swears that the tree does sprout seedlings around its base. She even promised to collect the seedlings in the coming months.

About the time of first semester enrollment, I tried my luck going back to Nana Paterna to ask for the cinnamon seedlings. But my luck was short then because she only collected a single specimen. But I was quite positive because after all the one seedling indicates the tree is fertile to produce viable seedlings.

Last week I again tried my luck asking Nana Paterna for more and was in luck. At a small corner of the building landscape she had tucked in the groundcovers a makeshift nursery for the seedlings. She planted them in discarded noodle and softdrink cups. I was excited to see them lined up neatly beside the concrete pathwalk. I counted them all and there were more than fifty (thank you, Nana Paterna). I was already counting in my mind the people who would receive the bounty. Part of the loot was given to Cel Tungol and Prof. Ed Gomez to rear and plant in other parts of UP. Some I gave to other collectors. I took some home. But in the spirit of Christmas I am giving away a seedling to the first five people, to be picked up in UP. So, Christmas cinnamon, anyone?

I will count the responses in www.pinoytrees.blogspot.com (not in facebook post, to be fair).

32 comments:

dr magsasaka said...

Yehey! Una ako!

George said...

Patrick, how about one for me.

metscaper said...

Noted. 3 more.

Unknown said...

eherms.. Pat.. penge. ♥٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶

Unknown said...

ako din pat... di ko pa nga pa pala nadadaan yung iba pang seedlings.. next week, asa UP ka pa ba?

metscaper said...

yes. last one yours. all spoken for the next ones.

Unknown said...

may I know where in UP can I see the cinnamon tree and Nana Paterna?

observer said...

Hi! I am interested in Cinnamon tree because I got my seedlings by chance. One time I visited the plant store at Bulua and was looking for black pepper vine, but the sales lady gave me three cinnamon seedlings instead. She didn't know the name of the plant but she said this can be used for Adobo recipe instead of black pepper. she didn't tell me to use the leaves! When I bought it, I thought I had to wait for the plant to have seeds. Now the cinnamon is 4 feet tall and I propagate it from cuttings.

phin.ancheta said...

sa UP Dilimam o Los Banos makakakuha ng kalingag seedling? Gusto ko kasi magtanim sa farm namin

phin.ancheta said...

UP Los Banos or Diliman po ba?

metscaper said...

It is in UP Diliman. In AS 101.

Observer, is it cinnamon or laurel?

phin.ancheta said...

Thanks po

phin.ancheta said...

thanks po

Arthur Tanco said...

May I be able to avail of 2 seedlings of the C. mercadoi from Nana Paterna? Kindly contact me at my office +632-714-6818

phin.ancheta said...

I just want to thank Nana Pater for giving one seedling of Kalingag. No flowers from the tree as of now. I thank God for giving us tree like Kalingag. Sana marami pa natin sila...

metscaper said...

congratulations!

Unknown said...

Saan po nakaka bili ng Cinnamon seedlings? I'd like to avail 5 or more... Pls let me know... 09195818856

natural vibes said...

I know this is an old post but im hoping to get in touch with someone i can get seeds/ seedlings of kalingag from?

Phreakshow said...

Hi im from Davao.. very much interested of having 0ne seedling ..please do contact me at this #09269955555 .

Unknown said...

pwede po kyang pumunta ng UP Diliman pra mkahimgi ng Kalingag seedling ky Nana Paterna??

Phreakshow said...

di bah sensitive eh travel yung seedlings..

Unknown said...

i just want to ask for research purposes . may i know where did u get the information about the record of species of cinnamon? it will be a great help for my research

Don McKinley said...

pahingi din ako bro kahit isang seedling lang. thanks in advance!
Don Luman-ag - 09338596975

ZiDD said...

any free seeds?

bugie12 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cris said...

Do you still have cinnamon tree? Contact me 09273830522

Unknown said...

I know this is late from the time you posted this, however, how has the kalingag nursury progressed? I am interested in planting kalingag in my farm ...
Would you know what time of the year it is best to find kalingag seedlings if one is to adventure to the Babuyan islands?

Unknown said...

Hello po.pwede po kaya makabili ng cinnamon plant sa UP diliman.gagamitin lang po sa research.Thank u po

Unknown said...

Ask lang po, if meron po kayong "Cinnamomum zeylanicum blume"? if pwede po makabili for research purposes, Thank you

Chinese Adobo said...

this is a long shot. Do you still have seedlings of the Kalingag Tree or perhaps where to buy or find it in metro manila? thank you for the response.

Unknown said...

Its Christmas 2019, im wishing i could have i could have seedlings from those who got in the past.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mam/Sir, Where can I buy the seedlings?
Thanks