- Botany: Narra, the Philippine national tree, is a majestic reddish hard wood tree, growing to 33 meters nigh and 2 meters in diameter with an irregular fluted trunk. Leaves are compound, pinnate, 15 to 30 centimeters long, with 7 to 11 leaflets which ovate to oblong-ovate, and 5 to 10 centimeters long. .
- Flowers: are numerous, yellow, fragrant, and about 1.5 centimeters long, on branched, axillary panicles.
- Distribution: primary and secondary forests throughout the Philippines. Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Vietnam.
- Properties: noted for its hardness and rapid growth, grows well in bottom lands, wind firm and less susceptible in pest and disease, considered antibacterial, anti-bilious, emetic.
- Parts Utilized: leaves, roots, bark
- Uses: young leaves and flowers are reportedly edible, the flowers- a source of honey, infusion of the leaf used as shampoo and etc.
- Others: timber, old narra is a much sought after wood for its durability and used in floorings, cabinetry, construction, furniture making, decorative carvings, and musical instruments. Dye, a source of red dye, narrin. Gum, wood is also a source of kino, a gum used as astringent and for tanning.
Tree's the Lungs of the World 