Growing Saurauia elegans
Admittedly, I'm not much into trees. Horticulturally at least. But really, it's more of a reflection of a lack of sufficient space to maintain a number of them than a lack of appreciation or interest. There is, however, a tree I am infatuated with. I now introduce you to Saurauia elegans . Saurauia elegans are small trees that don't seem to achieve even 20 feet in height, and all that I have seen so far are in the 10 to 15-foot range, with an open canopy of rough, reddish-pink stems and petioles and clothed with large, very stiff and textured leaves with serrated margins. To be truthful about it, these are more like large shrubs than trees. The genus is represented by at least 57 species in the Philippines, some of which bear edible fruits. Dagwey, a small fruit made into preserves and jams in central Luzon, is from S. bontocensis . The amusingly named 'sundot-kulangot' (literally, booger pickings) from Baguio is also from a Saurauia . I hasten to add to my no...