Bagras

The Rainbow Gum tree or locally known as Bagras is a fast-growing native evergreen tree from Mindanao and best known for its smooth, orange-tinted trunk bark which peels in summer to reveal its unique multi-colored inner bark showing a mixture of shades of pale blue, pale green, red, orange, and purple-brown color. The leaves produces an aroma when crushed. Due to the attractive appearance of its bark, it has been cultivated in other parts of the country as an ornamental tree. Sadly, this species is widely exploited for its wood, which is traded internationally.

Aside from it being an ornamental tree for some parts of the world, it is also being used in treating asthma, common cough and colds as well as a mosquito-repellant. The tree is also capable of colonizing land that were eroded by landslides and areas of recent volcanic activity. It has been used in reforestation and in enriching planting trials in logged-over forest, where it has shown considerable potential.

Despite of these economical, ecological, and medicinal importance, its conservation status is already considered to be Vulnerable with the decreasing population trend (IUCN, 2019).

Did you know that we have our Rainbow Gum trees inside our Sintang Paaralan? Yes! You have read it right! It can be found along the sidewalks of PUP Oval near the Gabriela Building. However, this was estimated to be 5 years old only so our dear PUPians, we better take care of our Rainbow Gum tree friends, okay?