Byttneriaceae

Abroma Jacq.

1. Abroma augustum (L.) L.f., Suppl. Pl. (1782) 341, as 'Ambroma'; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 48; Romeroso et al., Asian J. Biol. Life Sc. 10 (2021) 438; ≡ Theobroma augustum L., Syst. Nat., 12th Ed. (1767) 233. Distribution: India to China and Malaysia. BATANES, BORACAY (photos), HOMONHON, LUZON: Ilocos Norte (photos), Pampanga (photos), Rizal, MINDANAO: South Cotabato (photos), PALAWAN, PANAY (photos), SABTANG (photos), SIQUIJOR (photos), TABLAS. Notes: Batanes and N Luzon to Mindanao. Thickets, waste places, and open secondary forests at low and medium elevation. 100-500m (photos). Native.

Byttneria Loefl.

1. Byttneria crenulata Wall. ex Mast., Fl. Brit. India 1 (1874) 376. = Byttneria echinata Wall., Numer. List (1829) n.1149, nom. inval., nom. nud.; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Gén. Indo-Chine 1 (1911) 520; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 48. Distribution: Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines. CULION, MINDORO. Notes: Known from Mindoro from BS 21268 Escritor. Thickets and second growth forests at low elevation. 13m (photos). Native.

Commersonia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

1. Commersonia bartramia (L.) Merr., Interpr. Herb. Amboin. (1917) 362; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 48; Cortez et al., Check List 19 (2023) 987; Romeroso et al., J. Asia-Pacific biodiv. 17 (2024) 11; Raganas et al., Biodiversitas 26 (2025) 1193; ≡ Muntingia bartramia L., Amoen. Acad. 4 (1759) 124. = Commersonia platyphylla Andrews, Bot. Repos. 10 (1810) t.603. Distribution: Australia, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, China, Java, Laos, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Philippines, Solomon Isls, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam. APULIT, BASILAN, BILIRAN, BUSUANGA (photos), CATANDUANES, CEBU, CULION, DINAGAT, HOMONHON, LEYTE, LUZON: Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, Laguna, NCR, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Tarlac, Zambales, MARINDUQUE, MASBATE, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Cotabato (photos), Davao Oriental (photos), Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental (photos), Surigao del Norte (photos), Surigao del Sur (photos), Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, MINDORO, NEGROS (photos), PALAWAN, PANAY, PANGULASIAN, SAMAR, SEMIRARA, SIARGAO, SIBUYAN, TABLAS, TURTLE IS. Notes: Throughout the Philippines in most islands and provinces. Common in thickets and second-growth forests at sea level and low and medium elevation. 0-712m (photos). Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.

Guazuma Plum. ex Adans. (Not native)

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., Encycl. (Lamarck) 3 (1789) 52; Pancho & Gruezo, Vasc. Fl. Mt Makiling 2 (2006) 427. Distribution: Neotropics. Notes: Introduced recently in the Philippines. Occasionally cultivated. Cultivated, not naturalized.

Kleinhovia L.

1. Kleinhovia hospita L., Sp. Pl., 2nd Ed. (1763) 1365; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 329; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 52; Cañeda et al., Davao Research J. 16 (2025) 91. = Grewia meyeniana Walp., Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 19(Suppl. 1) (1843) 311. = Kleinhovia serrata Blanco, Fl. Filip., 1st Ed. (1837) 653. Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Indian Ocean, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu Isls, Solomon Isls, Taiwan, Vietnam. AMBIL, APULIT, BALABAC, BASILAN, BOHOL, CAGAYAN DE SULU, CATANDUANES, CORON, CULION, GUIMARAS, LEYTE, LUZON: Abra (photos), Albay, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cavite (photos), Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Laguna, Mountain Province, NCR, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Tarlac (photos), Zambales, MARINDUQUE, MASBATE, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental (photos), South Cotabato, Surigao del Sur (photos), Zamboanga, MINDORO, PALAWAN, PANAY, SAMAR, SEMIRARA, SIBUYAN. Notes: 0-590m (photos). Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
   • var. hospita. Distribution: Bangladesh, Indian Ocean, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu Isls, Solomon Isls, Taiwan, Vietnam. Notes: Throughout the Philippines, at low and medium elevation, a characteristic tree of thickets, second growth forests, and deserted clearings. Native.
   • var. velutina Koord. & Valeton, Meded. Lands Plantentuin 14 (1895) 179. Native.

Leptonychia Turcz.

1. Leptonychia banahaensis (Elmer) Merr., PJS 4c (1909) 298; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 48; Veldkamp & Filipphi, Blumea 32 (1987) 448; ≡ Grewia banahaensis Elmer, LPB 1 (1908) 319. Distribution: Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines. LUZON: Apayao, Aurora, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Rizal, MINDORO, PANAY, SAMAR. Notes: 180-800m. Native.
   • var. banahaensis. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LUZON: Apayao, Aurora, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Rizal, SAMAR. Notes: In forests. 180-800m. Native.

Possibly present

1. Leptonychia caudata (Wall. ex G.Don) Burret, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9 (1926) 729; Veldkamp & Filipphi, Blumea 32 (1987) 451; ≡ Grewia caudata Wall. & G.Don, Gen. Hist. 1 (1831) 547. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, ?Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam. Notes: Note by P.B. Pelser (21-June-20): Reynoso & Majaducon PPI 21875 and Gaerlan & Romero PPI 23303 (L) from Quezon Prov possibly represents this species. 0-1300m.

Melochia L.

1. Melochia corchorifolia L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 675; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 330. = Geruma subtriloba Blanco, Fl. Filip., 1st Ed. (1837) 182. = Melochia concatenata L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 675; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 46. Distribution: Pantropic. CULION, LUZON: Isabela (photos), Rizal (photos), MINDANAO: Davao del Sur (photos), MINDORO (photos), PALAWAN. Notes: Possibly not native to the Philippines. P.B. Pelser (31-May-21): According to Merrill (1912), this species is "undoubtedly introduced". Throughout the Philippines at low and medium elevation in the settled areas, occurring as a ruderal along waysides, waste places, open grasslands, rice paddies, etc. Cryptogenic.
2. Melochia umbellata (Houtt.) Stapf, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1913 (1913) 317; ≡ Visenia umbellata Houtt., Nat. Hist. (Houttuyn) 2(8) (1777) 309. = Melochia indica (J.F.Gmel.) Kurz, Prelim. Rep. Forest Pegu App. A (1875) 23; ≡ Visenia indica J.F.Gmel., Syst. Nat., 13th Ed. (1791) 515. Distribution: India, Indian Ocean, Indochina, Malay Peninsula, Philippines. BALABAC, BOHOL, BORACAY (photos), CAMIGUIN, CEBU, CULION, DUMARAN, LEYTE, LUZON: Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Ifugao, Laguna, NCR, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Tarlac, Zambales, MARINDUQUE, MINDANAO: Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Surigao, Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur, MINDORO, NEGROS, PALAWAN, SAMAR, SEMIRARA, SIARGAO, SIASI, TAWI-TAWI. Notes: Throughout the Philippines. A common and characteristic shrub or treelet in old clearings, secondary forests, etc. at low and medium elevation. 0m. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.

Theobroma L. (Not native)

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Theobroma cacao L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 782; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 328; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 49. Distribution: C America. Notes: Widely cultivated at low and medium elevations but nowhere spontaneous. Cacao. Cultivated, not naturalized.

Waltheria L. (Not native)

1. Waltheria indica L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 673. = Waltheria americana L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 673; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 330; Merrill, EPFP 3 (1923) 47. Distribution: America. CULION, HUNDRED ISLS (photos), LUZON: Cagayan (photos), MINDORO (photos), PALAWAN. Notes: Throughout the Philippines. Naturalized in dry open places in the settled areas at low and medium elevation. Naturalized.