A rare ornamental plant at the Agricultural Sciences Cluster (ASC) in UP Los Baños is in full bloom again after three years.

The Jade Vine (Stronglydon macrobotrys A. Gray), locally known as Tayabak, had almost disappeared completely in the UPLB campus. But now two plants have started bearing flowers again and thanks to the efforts of ASC it may no longer be endangered here. At present there are four Jade Vines planted in the ASC’s permanent trellis.

This tree climber is considered as a threatened species because of relentless deforestation all over the country. Found only in the humid forests and ravines of the Philippines at 700-1000 meters above sea level, it is also constantly threatened with over collection for ornamental purposes.

The jade vine is striking with its long cluster of distinctive flowers, measuring 60-90 cm long. The boat shaped flowers are deep blue green in color like the color of jade, and gently curved like an upturned beak. The flowers are said to shine out at dusk to attract bats which pollinate its flowers.

The Jade Vine was already around in UPLB since the early 1980s, perched in the same trellis of the ASC when it was still known as the old Agronomy building. But since it wasn’t given proper care it disappeared from sight and was replaced by the more common Passion fruit. When the ASC building was renovated in 2004, the permanent trellis was also restored.

The ASC recognized the need to establish the Jade Vine in its permanent trellis. Four plants from the Laguna-Quezon Land Grant (LQLG) were planted in July 2005 right after the Celebration of ASC but only one managed to survived. Replanting was done in late 2006 and 2007. Now all the efforts are paying off.

Conservation management strategies such as artificial fertilization and tissue culture are being employed by the ASC to slow down the population decline of the species.