black currant-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black currant-tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tsjeru-caniram grossularioides
• Cansjera grossularioides
• Antidesma ghaesembilla var. paniculatum
• Antidesma ghaesembilla var. vestitum
• Antidesma frutescens
• Antidesma vestitum
• Antidesma rhamnoides
• Antidesma pubescens
• Antidesma spicatum
• Antidesma schultzii
• Antidesma paniculatum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Antidesma ghaesembilla, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Antidesma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan territories. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, its presence is notably documented in the state of Assam. Additionally, the species extends its range into the country of Bangladesh. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significant presence across diverse subtropical habitats.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Antidesma ghaesembilla is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its natural habitat. This species typically inhabits various terrain levels, maintaining a minimum elevation of 200 m AMSL and reaching its maximum recorded elevation of 1100 m AMSL. Across its broader geographic range, the plant demonstrates an ecological preference for mid-range elevations, with an average elevational range mean of approximately 650 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Antidesma ghaesembilla is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and structural classification, the species exhibits life forms categorized as both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte, indicating that its stem system is elevated above the ground level to support its vegetative and reproductive development.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Antidesma ghaesembilla is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, but maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structural habit, distinguishing it from climbing vines or lianas. In terms of stature, it displays significant vertical development, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 10 m, though it can reach a mean height of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Antidesma ghaesembilla is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. Its vegetative structure exhibits significant morphological variation in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9.5 cm, maintaining a mean length of 6.25 cm. The leaf width follows a similar pattern of variability, spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, with an average width of 3.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation to support its nutritional requirements and physiological development.

Leaf length max:

9.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Antidesma ghaesembilla is characterized by specific physiological and morphological parameters governing its fruit development and pollination mechanisms. In terms of its reproductive output, the plant produces fruits with a highly consistent dimension, showing a mean fruit width of 0.45 cm, which is matched by both its minimum and maximum width measurements of 0.45 cm. This uniformity suggests a highly stable developmental process for the fruit size within the species. Furthermore, the reproductive cycle is influenced by its pollination biology, as self-fertilization is notably absent in this species, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination mechanisms to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed production.

Fruit width max:

0.45 cm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Antidesma ghaesembilla has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Asperphenamate, Chavibetol, Daucosterol, Sitostenone, protocatechuic acid.

Asperphenamate

1. Planta medica

Chavibetol

1. Planta medica

Daucosterol

1. Planta medica

Sitostenone

1. Planta medica

protocatechuic acid

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Antidesma ghaesembilla has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane and methanol extract.

Dichloromethane and methanol extract

1. Planta medica