Eagle wood

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Aquilaria crassna, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Thymelaeaceae and is situated within the genus Aquilaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Aquilaria crassna, possesses a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the Indo-China region. It can be found growing naturally throughout the territory of Cambodia. Furthermore, its habitat extends into the forested areas of Laos. The species is also widely distributed across various parts of Thailand. Finally, the plant is a significant component of the native flora in Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Aquilaria crassna is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain its presence in its native ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its regenerative buds to a height well above the ground, typically developing into a woody tree structure. This life form is consistent across its developmental stages, as it remains a phanerophyte throughout its mature existence. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage year-round, providing a continuous canopy and maintaining physiological activity across different seasons.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aquilaria crassna is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that can reach a significant height, with a mean plant height of approximately 20 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows in non-aquatic environments and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, meaning it does not require external structures such as lianas or vines for support, maintaining a robust and upright structure through its woody composition.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aquilaria crassna is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. As a C3 plant, its metabolic processes are highly dependent on ambient environmental conditions, particularly temperature and moisture levels, to optimize gas exchange and photosynthetic efficiency. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; instead, it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to support its growth and secondary metabolite production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Aquilaria crassna has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sesquiterpenes.

Sesquiterpenes

1. International journal of analytical chemistry