- Scientific Name: Agathis alba
- Botany: Almaciga is a large tree with a pyramidal crown and whorled branches, growing to a height of 50 to 60 meters, the trunk up to 3 meters in diameter with a smooth and graying bark exuding resin. Leaves are simple, opposite or nearly so, entire and leathery, oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, obtuse, 3 to 9.5 centimeters long, 1 to 2.5 centimeters wide. Male cones are cylindrical-oblong, 1.5 to 5 centimeters long.
- Distribution: in primary forests, at medium and higher altitudes, 200 to 2000 meters above sea level, from Babuyan Islands in luzon and in Mindanao, also found in Malay Peninsula.
- Constituents: Manila copal consists mainly of amorphous-free resin acids, also containing a neutral resin indifferent to alkalies, and a volatile oil.
- Properties: Manila copal varnishes are durable, but do not strongly adhere to the surface, and lacking brilliance. They are often used for interior work and enamels.
- Part Used: Resin, wood
- Uses: For arthritis, resin is softened by steam or indirect heat (not open fire) and spread on cloth or gauze and apply over affected area. In Malaysia, powdered wood used to treat headache and myalgia. For asthma, smoke is inhaled from the burning resin.
- Caution: Reports of allergic contact dermatitis to the resin / oleoresin.
- Availability: Wild-crafted. Cultivated. Resin and resinate products commercially.
Tree's the Lungs of the World 