New Plant Species Discovered in the Philippines, Traditional Use by Bugkalot People Recognized

A newly identified plant species, Clerodendrum kelli, has been formally recognized by scientists in the Philippines. The shrub, traditionally used by the indigenous Bugkalot people of Nueva Ecija to treat sick dogs, was previously known only by its local name, “kelli.” The discovery highlights the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge with modern scientific research.

Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Validation

For generations, the Bugkalot community has mashed the leaves of “kelli” and mixed them with food as a remedy for ailing dogs. Despite this longstanding tradition, the plant hadn’t been formally documented in scientific literature until December 2025 . Ateneo de Manila University researchers, in collaboration with other institutions, have now classified it as a distinct species, Clerodendrum kelli .

Habitat and Characteristics

Clerodendrum kelli is a rare shrub found only in the humid montane rainforests of the Caraballo Mountain range in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Specifically, it grows in two known locations: Mount Meddengen and Sitio Binbin within the Pantabangan-Carrangalan Watershed Forest Reserve (PCWFR) . The plant reaches about a meter in height and features oval green leaves with pale purple undersides. Its white, tube-shaped flowers bloom from reddish-pink bases and are arranged in loose, open clusters, distinguishing it from other Clerodendrum species .

Conservation Status and Threats

Researchers have found that C. Kelli is never abundant and is difficult to locate in the wild. Its limited range—occupying a total area of just eight square kilometers—has led to its assessment as critically endangered . The primary threats to its survival are habitat loss due to land conversion and natural landslides, particularly along the steep ridges where it grows. Despite being located within a protected area, ongoing habitat degradation continues to endanger the species .

Research and Publication

The discovery of Clerodendrum kelli was detailed in the study “Clerodendrum kelli (Lamiaceae), a new species from Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, and lectotypification of Clerodendrum mindorense,” published in December 2025 in Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore . The research was conducted by David Justin Ples, John Patykowski, Leonardo Udasco, John Charles Altomonte, Adriane Tobias, and Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante.

Bridging Traditional and Scientific Understanding

Ateneo de Manila University emphasized that the discovery demonstrates the valuable intersection of Indigenous knowledge and scientific research, bridging traditional and formal understanding of biodiversity . Importantly, researchers found no evidence that the Bugkalot people’s traditional use of the plant contributed to its scarcity.