Vaccinium Kilangensis: A New Plant Species Discovered in Mt. Kilang, Butao, Calanasan, Apayao

This is the 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴, a newly described plant species discovered by a team of scientists and researchers at Mt. Kilang in Butao, Calanasan, Apayao. This rare blueberry shrub is found nowhere else in the world which means it’s biologically unique to Apayao. 

The researchers named the new plant species after Mt. Kilang. Thus the plant’s 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 name. 

The findings of the researchers were published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa on October 3, 2025. The research team is composed of Dr. Pieter Pelser and Dr. Julie Barcelona of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, Breiden Dela Cruz of the provincial government of Apayao, and Ma. Susana V. Legaspi and Dr. Jayson C. Ibanez of the Philippine Eagle Foundation. 

With the discovery of this new species, the number of 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 species in the Philippines rises to 45. 

Here’s the ABSTRACT for the research team’s paper published in Phytotaxa:

“A new species of small-leaved 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 is described from Kilang Pass in northern Luzon (Philippines), bringing the total number of Philippine 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 species to 45. 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 differs from the other species in the genus in having elliptic (to narrowly obovate) leaves with an entire leaf margin and obtuse apex, one- to two-flowered inflorescences with persistent foliaceous bracts, broadly conical-urceolate corollas, and spurred anthers.”

[Photos by the Philippine Eagle Foundation.]