Leaflets of Philippine Botany

Mention of N. sibuyanensis in a 1911 issue of Leaflets of Philippine Botany. Forests clear up to 5000 feet altitude, the upper forests becoming low stocky trees. Along this ridge, I was obliged to cut my own trail to nearly the uppermost apparently insurmountable central summit mass. I believe by making a camp at 4500 feet, a small mountaineering party can make it to the summit. Possibly a little reconnoitering will be necessary before a passable course can be found. All water for camping purposes must be taken along from the valley. My exploration work was therefore confined to the lower region, chiefly along the two already mentioned rivers. 

The vegetation along these rivers proved exceedingly interesting to me, because of its diversity. The Pauala River proved by far the most interesting and novel. This is mainly due to part of the summit vegetation having been washed down and disseminated as botanical floats along its course. Such evident examples are Vaccinium gitingensis Elm., Nepenthes sibuyanensis Elm. and Decaspermun grandiflora Elm. Along this same river were found quantities of Xanthostemon verdugo- nianus Naves which was never seen along the Patoo river. 

The fig flora of Sibuyan is poor and disappointing. Likewise, the ferns, orchids, mosses and palms. Yet otherwise, I am surprised at its novel character, many groups run over fifty percent new, and the writer is certain that there are still remaining many unknown species in the unexplored dense stocky forest region above 5000 feet elevation. The study of my collection brought out very strongly the close relationship of the Sibuyan flora to that of the flora on the east coast of Luzon along the Pacific ocean, especially from Atimonan to Casiguran of Tayabas province.