Cycas riuminiana explained

Cycas riuminiana, commonly known as the Arayat pitogo or simply pitogo, is a species of cycad endemic to Luzon, Philippines. It is also locally known as bayit in Tagalog and sawang in Ilocano, among other names.^[1]

Distribution

There are five subpopulations of Cycas riuminiana.^[2]

• Pampanga province, near Mount Arayat
• Bataan province, near Morong and Bagac
• Batangas province, near Lobo
• Isabela province, near Mount Dipalayag
• Aurora province, near Baler

Uses

Young curled-up fronds of C. riuminiana are edible and can be cooked as vegetables. The ripe seeds are poisonous, but they can be crushed and soaked in water several times to remove the toxins before being dried and processed into a flour-like substance used for making small cakes or gruels.^[3]

See also

• Cycas circinalis
• Cycas rumphii

Notes and References

1. Lindstrom . Anders . Hill . Kenneth . Stanberg . Leonie . The genus Cycas (Cycadaceae) in The Philippines . Telopea . 15 February 2008 . 12 . 119–145 . 10.7751/telopea20085805. free .
2. Agoo, E.M.G. . Madulid, D.A. . Linis, V.C. . Sambale, E. . 2010 . Cycas riuminiana . 2010 . e.T42095A10630183 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42095A10630183.en . 11 January 2020.
3. Book: Polinag . Mercedita A. . DENR Recommends. 12. Food From the Wilderness . 2003 . Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of the Philippines .