Alangium chinense

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Marlea affinis
• Guettarda jasminiflora
• Karangolum chinense
• Stelanthes solitarius
• Alangium begoniifolium
• Alangium chinense var. taiwanianum
• Stylis chinensis
• Alangium chinense subsp. triangulare
• Stylidium bauthas
• Alangium cordifolium
• Stylidium begoniifolium
• Stylidium chinense
• Alangium chinense subsp. pauciflorum
• Alangium chinense var. pauciflorum
• Alangium chinense subsp. strigosum
• Alangium kenyense
• Alangium platanifolium f. triangulare
• Alangium taiwanianum
• Marlea begoniifolia
• Marlea chinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cornales, it is classified under the family Cornaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed within the genus Alangium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across various regions within West-Central Tropical Africa. Its geographical range includes the nation of Burundi, where it grows in specific local habitats. It can also be located in the territory of Cabinda and throughout Cameroon. Furthermore, the species is distributed among the various islands within the Gulf of Guinea. Finally, its presence extends eastward to include the country of Rwanda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alangium chinense is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit diverse mountainous and sub-montane terrains. The species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying a wide vertical niche that begins at low elevations of approximately 200 m AMSL and extends to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 2400 m AMSL. On average, the plant thrives at a mean elevation of 1800 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-elevation montane ecosystems where specific temperature and moisture gradients are maintained. This wide elevational range indicates an ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures and thermal fluctuations across different topographical layers.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Alangium chinense is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its stem system above the ground, providing a structural framework for its development. This species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal cycle. Additionally, its life form can be classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting specific structural adaptations in its growth pattern within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alangium chinense is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial, independent species that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of approximately 21.34 m, maintaining an average height of about 13 m. Structurally, the plant is classified as self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or a climbing vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

21.33625945 m

Plant height mean:

13 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alangium chinense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process optimized for environments where water loss through transpiration is managed via standard stomatal regulation. The plant's vegetative structure features cordate-shaped leaves with entire margins, notably lacking any defensive morphological adaptations such as thorns or spines. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 13 cm to a maximum of 19 cm (averaging 14.64 cm), and leaf widths spanning from 5.1 cm to a maximum of 15 cm (with a recorded minimum value of 9 cm). Structurally, the plant possesses a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 479 mg/cm³, providing the necessary mechanical support for its growth habit. Furthermore, Alangium chinense does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological development.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length mean:

14.64 cm

Leaf length min:

13 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.1 cm

Leaf width min:

9 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

479 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alangium chinense is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insect activity. The plant produces inflorescences that are relatively small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.04 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that vary in size, typically maintaining a mean length of 0.6 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm) and a mean width of 0.65 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm). The dispersal of the offspring follows a zoochorous syndrome, where animals play a key role in spreading the seeds. The seeds themselves are quite consistent in mass, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.05208 g. Morphologically, the seeds have a mean length of 7.8 mm, a maximum width of 5.1 mm, and a maximum height of 3.5 mm, with a consistent seed volume of 170 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.04 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

3.5 mm

Seed length mean:

7.8 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.05208 g

Seed volume max:

170 mm³

Seed width max:

5.1 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Alangium chinense has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. RSC advances
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Alangium chinense has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anabasine, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Coniferyl aldehyde, Isoarborinol, Octacosanol.

Anabasine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Coniferyl aldehyde

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Isoarborinol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Octacosanol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

SYRINGIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Salidroside

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

VanillicAcid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

protocatechuic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

sucrose

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Conditions

Alangium chinense has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthropathy, pain, rheumatic diseases, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthropathy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatic diseases

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Rheumatism

1. RSC advances

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Skin diseases

1. RSC advances

Wind

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Alangium chinense has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanol extract, 90% EtOH extracts, dried leaves, ethyl acetate extracts of Alangium chinense, fibrous roots.

70% ethanol extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

90% etoh extracts

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Dried leaves

1. Journal of natural products

Ethyl acetate extracts of alangium chinense

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fibrous roots

1. RSC advances