Sagip Sarihay Series features critically endangered species in the Philippines, with weekly posts of alternating plant and animal species, and with the primary aims of awareness and call to action. This series is a project of the SciTech and the VA sections of UST-CSJ. (Note: Weekly order of posting does not reflect actual order of intensity of endangerment. Database reference for selection of species is the IUCN Red List.)

SAGIP SARIHAY #9

Species: Cycas curranii (Curran’s pitogo or Pitogong-Palawan)

Words by Franz Robert Estampador
Artwork by Maria Magdalaga

A visual representation of Pitogong-Palawan.

Description

Cycas curranii (J.Schust.) K.D.Hill, commonly known as Curran’s pitogo or Pitogong-Palawan, is a critically endangered cycad found in the Philippines. It is named after forester Hugo M. Curran, the type specimen collector who found it near the banks of Molinao river in Palawan 1906 (Lindstrom et al., 2008).

Key to identifying this species is the presence of microsporophyll with an apex that cannot fully expand in a spine-like formation. It has at least 10 ribs measuring 44–46 by 36–37 mm, more noticeable than those of Cycas wadei (Madulid & Agoo, 2009).

In 2016, a study by Ng and fellow researchers discovered several chemical constituents from the dichloromethane extract of C. curranii like squalene and lutein from the leaflets of the cycad species. This important biodiversity plant has some promising pharmaceutical benefits.

Locality

It is mainly found in the lowland forests of Palawan and some areas of Oriental Mindoro (Madulid & Agoo, 2009).

Threats

These cycads are threatened by the loss of their habitat and their removal from the wild for ornamental or trading purposes (Lindstrom et al., 2008). More so, there is a rapid conversion of forest cover to grassland for cattle raising. The seeds of C. curranii are also exploited for collection or decoration (Madulid & Agoo, 2009).

How can we help this endangered species?

Protecting lowland forest habitats would be the best way to conserve the remaining C. curranii population. The Philippine government is at the forefront of environmental conservation by identifying additional protected natural areas in the country, especially in Palawan (Lindstrom et al., 2008). Moreover, information drives about this plant at the relevant community level might help protect these cycads.

References

Agoo, E.M.G., Madulid, D.A., Linis, V.C. & Sambale, E. 2014. Cycas curranii. The IUCN Red

List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T42090A61490070. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T42090A61490070.en.

Lindstrom, A. J., Hill, K. D., & Stanberg, L. C. (2008). The genus Cycas (Cycadaceae) in the

Philippines. Telopea, 12(1), 119–145. doi: 10.7751/telopea20085805

Madulid, D. A., & Agoo, E. M. G. (2009). Taxonomy and conservation of Philippine

Cycads. Blumea-Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants, 54(1–2), 99–102. doi:10.3767/000651909X474140

Ng, V. A. S., Agoo, E. M., Shen, C. C., & Ragasa, C. Y. (2016). Chemical Constituents of Cycas

curanii (J. Schust.) KD Hill. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 8(1), 100. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292869640_Chemical_Constituents_of_Cycas_curranii_JSchust_KDHill