New ‘horn-leaf’ plant species discovered in Apayao

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

February 24, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A new horn-leaf species was discovered in the forest of Barangay Eva in Calanasan, Apayao, the Philippine Eagle Foundation said.

The species, named Medinilla calanasan was formally described in the international journal Phytotaxa on Feb. 18, the foundation said.

The plant has a pair of “small, horn-like protrusions at the base of each leaf blade,” a feature not recorded in other known Medinilla species in Southeast Asia. It is described as a glabrous shrub that can reach about two to three meters in height and “bears drooping clusters of white flowers that may blush soft pink as they mature.”

Researchers said they first encountered the plant during a November 2023 field expedition aimed at documenting botanical diversity to support the area’s nomination as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which was officially granted on July 4, 2024.

Dr. Pieter Pelser of the University of Canterbury, one of the authors of the scientific description, said the plant’s distinctive leaf features highlight how much remains to be documented in Philippine forests.

“This species is scientifically remarkable because of its unique leaf structures. Even in plant groups that have been studied for decades, the Philippines continues to reveal new discoveries. It reminds us that much of our biodiversity remains undocumented,” Pelser said.

Mariglo Rosaida Laririt, Department of Environment and Natural Resources assistant director for the Biodiversity Management Bureau, said discoveries like this help explain why “protected areas and strong local partnerships remain essential for national conservation goals.”

“The discovery reminds us of the Philippines’ status as a biodiversity hotspot – so much variety of life forms, so many active challenges. Protected areas and biosphere reserves provide opportunities for exploration and discovery to continue while keeping threats at bay,” Laririt said.

According to the foundation, the species has been observed in only two locations in Barangay Eva, with the two known plants roughly a kilometer apart.

The sites fall within the Apayao Lowland Forest Key Biodiversity Area and are managed locally under the indigenous “Lapat” protection system, which reinforces community rules for safeguarding important places.

“When we protect the Philippine Eagle and its forest home, we protect entire ecosystems. The discovery of Medinilla calanasan within an eagle nesting territory shows that these forests still hold incredible secrets. Protecting apex predators safeguards countless other species, many of which we are only just beginning to discover,” said Felicia Atienza, Philippine Eagle Foundation chairperson.