HIPS is happy to host Jiro and Zhereeleen. a husband and wife team who have just completed palm surveys in the Philippine islands of Samar, Sibuyan, and Luzon, discovering many new palm species and observing many variations in morphology that pose several taxonomic mysteries that require further studies to resolve.  

A remnant population of Livistona saribus in Basey, Samar with several cultivated Cocos nucifera in the background. Photos by J.T. Adorador, Palms Journal Vol 61 (4) 2017.

Often referred to as the Galapagos of the Philippines, Sibuyan island has never been part of the Philippine archipelago geologically speaking, and with its varying topography it offers much to explore.

Jiro Adorador is a botanist and assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) who specializes in the taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of native Philippine palms (Arecaceae). He has been involved in the discovery and formal description of several new palm species including Adonidia zibabaoa, a new species found on karst formations in central Samar Island. 

Zhereeleen Mendez Adoradora, is an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) .  Though her focus is on orchids, she often lends her talent in the field to palm expeditions and has been a co-author on several palm articles describing Pinanga gruezoi and Adonidia zibabaoa.  She recently described  Pseuderia samarana (Orchidaceae) from Samar island, found while surveying palms – a genera new to the Philippines.