Clonal propagation was successfully achieved in Tectona philippinensis Bentham et Hooker f. ex Merrill (Verbenaceae). The Philippine teak is endemic and famous for its high quality timber. Its restricted distribution and its presence in highly vulnerable habitat have rendered the plant population very low, thus the World Conservation Monitoring Center in 1992 declared its global status, rare and endangered. Both untreated and treated cuttings in various concentration levels of Indolebutyric acid (IBA) and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) responded to rooting under misted condition in polyethylene enclosures. Response at 45 days was manifested by formation of one or more adventitious roots with or without laterals,and formation of callus and fissures near the treated base. The latter, enabled many of the cuttings to be as healthy as those that have adventitious roots. Cuttings also survived despite the absence of roots, callus or fissures but were not as healthy and vigorous as their counterparts. Percentage values for rooting, callusing and fissure formation were high and were not significantly different in all concentration levels of IBA and in the untreated treatment. The number of cuttings which did not respond in the untreated treatment, 100 and 250 ppm IBA was high and these were significantly different (5% level, F-test) with the low values obtained under 500, 750 and 1000 ppm of IBA. Survival was 95 % in untreated cuttings and ranged from 97-100% in IBA-treated cuttings. The difference was not significant. IBA- rather than NAA-treated cuttings performed better with more number of large and green leaves and with higher results in rooting, callusing and formation of fissures. High concentrations of NAA at 750 and 1000 ppm greatly reduced the survival, rooting, callusing and fissure formation in cuttings. The study shows that Philippine teak is an easy-to-root species and there is much hope for the success of re-introducing the plant in its historical ranges of habitat.

Key words: Tectona phillipinensis, alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, clonal propagation, endangered species, endemic species, Family Verbenaceae, indolebutyric acid