Alphitonia philippinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Rosales, it is further categorized into the family Rhamnaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Alphitonia, with the species being Alphitonia philippinenis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Asia. In East Asia, its presence is noted within the Hainan province of China. Its range extends into Indo-China, where it can be found in both Cambodia and Vietnam. Moving into the Malesian region, the species inhabits the island of Borneo. Finally, its distribution completes its reach within the Philippines.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Alphitonia philippinenis is characterized by its growth form as a tree, exhibiting a robust and established stature typical of woody perennials. As a woody plant, it possesses a permanent structural framework composed of lignified tissues, providing the necessary mechanical support for its upright development and long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Growth form :

tree

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alphitonia philippinensis is fundamentally characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy where the first stable product of carbon fixation is a three-carbon molecule. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells during the Calvin cycle. As a C3 plant, its physiological processes are closely tied to environmental moisture availability and light intensity, as the efficiency of its carbon assimilation is subject to photorespiration when stomatal conductance decreases under heat or drought stress. This metabolic framework dictates its gas exchange dynamics and water-use efficiency, influencing how the plant manages its internal carbon balance and energy production to support its growth and secondary metabolite synthesis.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Alphitonia philippinenis is primarily driven by the production of seeds, which exhibit a highly consistent morphological profile regarding their weight. The seed mass for this species is characterized by a uniform distribution, with a recorded mean value of 0.018 g. This consistency is further evidenced by the fact that both the maximum and minimum observed seed mass values are identical at 0.018 g, indicating a lack of significant variation in seed size within the studied parameters. This precise seed mass suggests a specialized reproductive strategy where energy is allocated into standardized units to ensure predictable germination and dispersal outcomes.

Seed mass mean:

0.018 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Alphitonia philippinensis has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology