Stately Dracena multiflora

Dracena multiflora Warb. ex P. Sarasin & Sarasin is known by different common names like false yucca, flowering yucca, yucca,flowering green dragon among others.

This species is found in Melanesia, Caroline islands, Palau, Celebes, Sulawesi and the Philippines. This is found in limestone cliffs in many parts of the country. It is one of the native plants found in many provinces like Batanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Nueva Ecija, Polilio islands, Quezon, Mindoro, Palawan, Ticao, Masbate, Sorsogon, Samar, Leyte, Sulu Archipelago among other areas.

Dracena multilfora growing on an outdoor garden with mounted orchids within a gated subdivision in Novaliches, Quezon City

Specimen sized plants looked stately and serves as focal point in many houses with large manicured garden.

Dracaena L., a member of the family Ruscaceae, was first founded by Sprengei in 1826.

Genus Dracena

The genus name “Dracena” is derived from the Greek word “drakaina“, which means “dragon” referring to the sap or juice of the stems which resembles blood.

Dracaena means Dragon Goddess or a female Dragon. The first named species, Dracaena draco has been used as a medicinal plant in Europe and China. The species is also the symbol of Canary Islands.

This had 120 species which is mostly found in the old world with dozens of hybrids and cultivar varieties.  Some of the popular indoor plants are found in this genus and grown extensively in many parts of the world were Dracaena fragrans, D. goldiana, D. surculosa, D. sanderiana and D. ellenbeckiana have variegated forms used as indoor plants.

Sanseviera is a historically recognized genus of flowering plants, native to Africa, Madagascar and parts of southern Asia on the basis of molecular studies were officially included as part of the genus just about two decades ago, but it is only few years ago that horticulturist began reclassifying the genus.

Economic Uses

Dracena multiflora is fairy popular in horticultural, ornamental plant industry where this plant was planted in large estate, focal point in landscape, big terracotta pots, subdivision, parks and schools. Some old plants can be spotted growing in Ayala -Alabang in Muntinlupa, BF Homes Parañaque,Greenhills in San Juan,Forbes Park, Urdaneta Village, Bel-Air, Dasmariñas Village in Makati City, Batasan Hills, Corinthian Garden, White Plains, La Vista, Teacher’s Village, Project 6, 7 and 8, Kingspoint Subdivision within Novaliches, Quezon City among others.

This became popular in the late 1960’s, mid- 1970’s, early 1980’s, mid-1990’s and few years ago. This plant can grow as tall as 5 to 6 meters if not disturbed.

Some backyard hobbyist would mount ferns, orchids, hoyas, dischidias and tillandsia on mature stems of the plant. Which add beauty to the bare stems.

This species had naturalized in many parts of tropical Asia, Latin America, Australia and the United States.

Small Dracena multiflora would cost between Php 350 to as much as Php 600 in some garden centers in Metro Manila, While bigger ones would cost a few thousand bucks depending on the height and growth.

Dracena multiflora in bloom within Holy Child Academy Kindergarten section in Katipunan Avenue corner King Ferdinand street, Kingspoint Subdivision, Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City

Superstitious Beliefs

A homeowner from Greenhills, San Juan believe that whenever the plant bloom, There will be a distant relative who will get marry. Another grower from Novaliches told the author that dwarfs would come and play whenever the plant is in bloom.

Another old time grower from Quezon City also believe that having Dracena multiflora planted in front of their house attracts positive vibe or chi.

This plant came into limelight when Tiyang Amy or Ms. Amy Perez in her youtube recounted saving her yucca plant from the monsoon rains.

Propagation

The fastest way to propagate this plant is via stem cuttings or by seeds.

Care and Fertilization

For newly planted stem cuttings, part shade is recommended and moving gradually to higher intensity light is recommended.

Keep them hydrated by misting the leaves with water and keeping the soil lightly misted (never soggy) as well with good drainage. Always allow the top soil to dry out before watering. Do not over water.

One can start pruning the older stems just before on the onset of the rainy season to encourage branching.

Apply minimum amount of water soluble balance fertilizer 20N-20P-20K every other week, trace elements and organic fertilizer during growing season which also coincide with the rainy season.

20% loose soil, 60% loam soil and 10% organic compost, combination of 10% coco choir, aged cow dung and rice hull for the mixture.

References, Sources and Bibliographies

Personal communication among local growers and landscapers.

Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines

Dracaena multiflora Warb. ex Sarasin Reisen, Sulawesi 1 (1905) 136; –Pleomele multiflora (Warb.) Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 205. Philippines, Sulawesi. BATANES, LUZON: Nueva Ecija, Quezon, POLILLO, MINDORO, PALAWAN, TICAO, MASBATE, SULU ARCHIPELAGO. Chiefly on coastal limestone formations.

Lu, Pei-Luen & Morden, Clifford W. (2014), “Phylogenetic Relationships among Dracaenoid Genera (Asparagaceae: Nolinoideae) Inferred from Chloroplast DNA Loci”, Systematic Botany, 39 (1): 90–104

Madulid, Domingo; Winner, National Book Award, Science, 1995. Revised Edition, 2000 with 388 pages. AGAVACEAE: Page 49, Bookmark, Makati, A Pictorial Cyclopedia of Philippine Ornamental Plants.

Philip, D; Kaleena, PK; Valivittan, K & Girish Kumar, CP (2011), “Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. and Schult. F.”, Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 10 (4): 512–8

Dracena multiflora: http://www.phytoimages.siu.edu/imgs/pelserpb/r/Ruscaceae_Dracaena_multiflora

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Shaw, JMH. 2011. Miscellaneous nomenclatural and taxonomic notes mainly relating to cultivated plants. Hanburyana 5: 47-56. [Disporopsis]

Takawira-Nyenya, R, L Mucina, WM Cardinal-McTeague & KR Thiele. 2018. Sansevieria (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae) is a herbaceous clade within Dracaena: inference from non-coding plastid and nuclear DNA sequence data. Phytotaxa 376: 254-276.

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Collection of Religious Chalkware in the Philippines ( Part 2)

In a recent visit to a mid-century ancestral house within Greenhills in San Juan City. I got a privilege to see some of the vintage religious chalk ware items that were on display in a family altar.

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Fatima were made from eskayola or chalkware

Some of the religious items are still in good condition while those expose to elements got a lot of chipping cause by natural elements and by people rubbing their hands.

Last Supper wall decor made from eskayola/ escayola or chalkware probably made in the mid 1970’s or 1980’s

In my previous post, These chalk ware items are getting hard to come by, since very few people would make them.

Collection of Religious Chalkware

Santo Niño and Our Lady of Lourdes were made from eskayola or chalkware probably in the early 1970’s.

We got about a dozen of religious chalkware, most of which were bought in different areas like Tayuman, Quiapo and Tondo by my mom. The oldest dated ones were probably bought around 1969 or 1970, while the latest one was bought around mid-1994 in Evangelista street, Quiapo district.

There were at least 2 or 3 broken religious chalkware or eskayola in our home kept in storage area. When we took the religious statues to a religious statue restorer, They told us that it would cost a few thousand of pesos just to restore the three items.

We are still thinking if it would be wise to let a professional religious restorer to restore the three broken religious statues or just left them as is.

Bibliographies and References:

Tara Hamling’s Decorating the “Godly” Household: Religious Art in Post-Reformation Britain (Yale University Press, 2010) explores the uses of large-scale religious figural and ornamental plaster moldings, mantels, wall panels, ceilings, and other interior architectural decoration in Protestant domestic spaces from 1560 to 1660.

Personal communications: Mr. Carlo Yap, Professor Dennis Maturan, Edgardo Gamo Jr., Diana Religious Supply Store, Maro Adriano, Salvacion de Vera and Mr. Peter Andres.

Reconnect with Nature in Greenhills Mall

Greenhills Mall in cooperation with Plant Project PH brings to the gardening enthusiasts, students and general public three day bazaar, talks, art exhibit, plant workshop entitled  “Reconnect with Nature” at the Central Mall, Fountain Area, Greenhills Shopping Mall, San Juan, Metro Manila from February 27-29, 2020.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cjDPHKX9GmY5ZUfn8

live entertainment show which delighted customers and visitors

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jdJDPyZnDWMzL1zc6

Reconnect with Nature

https://photos.app.goo.gl/se3aBtwhUvorqcAWA

People from all walks of life enjoyed the bazaar and exhibit with feast for the eyes live orchid flower arrangement.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JvZpnazKqJNUegYb7

native baskets and fruits

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QiiuAS546EvLErT69

art session

There were over 20 table sellers which promotes different products, services and art sketches from different parts of the metropolis.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mx7Zjnn5x5iDwzvV9

Another highlight of the event was live performance, nature pop-up stories, art exhibit,  talks and demonstration workshop on how to take care of tillandsia, cacti, succulent and ornamental plants.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/41g93JsA3arFgysJ7

I visited the bazaar and met the organizer of the event who told me that they will be having future shows and partnership with Greenhills Mall and Estancia Mall.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4qTCkVeitutuPoiY6

cacti and succulents

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WjseR8WhRgmvvScW9

tillandsia

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hTWNXLyipMNxitfEA

 letters

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7AXKguCy4p2TewTJ8

showcase exhibit of paintings, cacti and succulents

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KqbNqPN3G3vfWLvw9

Unlike other shows, There were no entrance fees and free workshop.

 

 

Sibol Philippines Mobile Legends Won SEA GAMES 2019

Sibol Philippines ( Mobile Legends) Bang Bang team made a dramatic come back and won against Indonesia.  Team Indonesia were composed of members from winning members from Southeast Asia and World Champions.

SEA Games 2019 E-SPORTS

The first round came in easy for the Philippines with the crowd inside the Filoil Flying V Centre went ballistic with the first win. It was a split push by Sibol’s fighter hero Chou 12 minutes into the game.

Indonesia recovered in the next 2 games; first, a dominant game 2 victory. A competitive game 3 where they came back from a poor 0-4 start on the kill tally.

The ML:BB team was lead by Mr. Kenneth Jiane “Kenji” Villa, Karl Gabriel “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, Carlito “Ribo” Ribo, Jeniel “Haze” Bata-anon, Angelo Kyle “Pheww” Arcangel, Allan Sancio “Lusty” Castromayor, and Jason Rafael “Jay” Torculas.

It was the last game held on December 8.

Congratulations to the Philippines !

Last Few Units Available at #8 Verdum street, 298 Reraon Street, San Juan

For serious property owners and people looking for nice investment, There is a community within the center of San Juan, Metro Manila.

There are 32 units of 4 storey residential concrete town homes.  The property is well-developed and had a good chi according to some feng shui experts and well  ventilated. It also have a vertical garden space with lots of flowering plants,philodendron, ferns. There is a pocket garden with frangipani, hibiscus, palms , santans, bamboos and bougainvilleas.

living room area

Amenities and E-Homes Features

The Community includes includes solar power, swimming pool, 24 hour security with cctv camera with electric fence , half basketball court, solar power, pocket garden spaces and fully automated lights and sounds that you can control with your smart phones.

Vicinity Location

These town homes are located within the the heart of Metro Manila. These are just near Robinson’s Magnolia, Immaculate Concepcion Academy, Xavier School, La Salle Greenhills , Greenhills Shopping Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Ortigas Center, Robinson’s Galleria, SM Megamall, Saint Pedro Poveda College, ShangriLa Plaza Mall and near the cities of Manila, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati and Quezon City.

 Website: http://ymazbuilders.com/

For those interested to visit, Please contact:  Ms. Nikki Parulan – Marketing Representative 

email : wparulan@gmail.com / 0926-064-2982