Ziziphus talanae

Ziziphus talanae
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Ziziphus
Species:	Z. talanae
Binomial name
Ziziphus talanae (Blanco) Merr.

Ziziphus talanae, the balakat, aligamen, or talanai, is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae.

Distribution

Ziziphus talanae is endemic to Luzon and Visayas, in the Philippines,[1] The tree is found in the Philippinean Limestone Forest ecoregion.[2]

Uses

In Antique Province, its bark is used medicinally for diseases from ringworm to urinary tract infections. Studies have shown that the bark does have antimicrobial properties.[3]

The city of Mabalacat in Pampanga Province was named after it in 1712, using the indigenous Negrito word mabalacat meaning "forest of balakat."

References

1. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Ziziphus talanae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T33326A9776687. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33326A9776687.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
2. Peter Martin Rhind. "Plant Formations in the Philippinean BioProvince" (PDF). Terrestrial-biozones.net. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
3. Anas, A. R. J.; Villaseñor, I. M.; Matsuura, H.; Okino, T. (2009). "Anti-Mycobacterium phlei activity of the bark of Ziziphus talanai (Blanco) Merrill". Philippine Agricultural Scientist. 92 (4): 388–391. ISSN 0031-7454.