I've been thinking before what could be the relation of the Acle (Albizia acle) from the Akleng-parang (Albizia procera) tree, besides that they are both from the family of MIMOSACEAE or LEGUMINOSAE? Noticing that the two names mentioned in the book Revised LEXICON OF PHILIPPINE TREES by Justo P. Rojo show different spelling made me wonder if it was just a typographical error. Anyway, "parang" in the ordinary usage of tagalog term means "as if" or "similar to". But I still could not understand how one could be similar to the other when they both look very different.
Not until I had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Ramiro Escobin of FPRDI, UPLB that I finally understood that the word "parang" has another meaning to it. I guess that I wasn't really paying much attention to the book mentioned above because it is also specified that "parang at low and medium altitudes in regions subject to a long dry season" was part in description about the tree. Or that the word pa
rang according to the tagalog-english dictionary simply meant meadow or prairie.
Identification of tree and plant species is already a daunting task. Learning more about the official common names could also unravel secrets as to how or what these forest treasures require for them to survive.
Top photo: shows an Akleng-parang tree in its deciduous state
Left bottom: Acle seedling
Right bottom: Akleng-parang seedling
Not until I had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Ramiro Escobin of FPRDI, UPLB that I finally understood that the word "parang" has another meaning to it. I guess that I wasn't really paying much attention to the book mentioned above because it is also specified that "parang at low and medium altitudes in regions subject to a long dry season" was part in description about the tree. Or that the word pa
rang according to the tagalog-english dictionary simply meant meadow or prairie.Identification of tree and plant species is already a daunting task. Learning more about the official common names could also unravel secrets as to how or what these forest treasures require for them to survive.
Top photo: shows an Akleng-parang tree in its deciduous state
Left bottom: Acle seedling
Right bottom: Akleng-parang seedling
hi tristan,
ReplyDeletei should have told you. in bulacan, where "parang" is a word used for savanah-type ecosystem, akleng-parang meant an akle sp that thrives in this environment so it is very obvious to us bulakenyos hahaha!
Rey, before I wrote this blog, I first asked our kasambahay and office staff if they knew what the word "parang" meant. All of them answered the same thing.....that the word meant similar to, katulad, like or as if. They knew nothing about a different meaning other than what was obvious. In spite of the fact that some of them came from different parts of the Philippines, I guess that not all Filipino's are accustomed to the word "parang" to equate savanna.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing us your comment.:)