Xanthostemon verdugonianus

Xanthostemon verdugonianus, or Mangkono, is an evergreen Philippine tree. It belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Its native range covers the central and southern Philippines. PFAF lists Homonhou, Dinagat, and eastern Leyte as its range. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome. The species is rare in the wild. Habitat loss and timber cutting threaten its survival. Useful Tropical Plants reports a Vulnerable assessment from 2011.

This slow-growing tree can reach a great size. PFAF lists a height of 98 feet [30 metres]. It gives a spread of 82 feet [25 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants lists 131 feet [40 metres]. Both sources also describe trees reaching 164 feet [50 metres]. These figures do not establish a usual garden size. The trunk may reach 3.8 feet [1.15 metres] across. It often bends and has deep grooves and uneven sides. Branches can start just a few metres above ground. The leaves are simple, thick, and set alternately along stems. Their obovate shape means they broaden toward the tip.

Red flower clusters form at the ends of branches. The supplied sources give no flowering season or pollinator details. The fruit has two or three lobes. It splits into sections when ripe, releasing small seeds. Each seed has a half-moon shape. The sources list seed as the means of propagation. They give no further guidance on raising young trees.

PFAF describes a tree that needs sun and moist soil. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils with good drainage. Its stated pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. The evidence gives little detail on care under garden conditions. It does not describe pruning needs, pests, or diseases. No food or medicinal uses are known from these sources. They also report no known hazards, but this does not establish safety for people or pets.

Mangkono has long supplied very hard, heavy, durable timber. Its yellow-brown heartwood darkens toward bronze or almost black. The grain can twist, and the texture is very fine. Workers can polish the bare wood to a high sheen. Its hardness makes the timber difficult to shape. Uses include posts, marine piles, tool handles, rollers, and bearings. The wood shrinks and dries with little warping, though cracks can form. Continued cutting adds pressure to an already rare tree.