indian-atalantia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• indian-atalantia
• Indian atalantia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Atalantia malabarica
• Malnerega malabarica
• Limonia spinosa
• Trichilia spinosa
• Atalantia umbellata
• Atalantia platystigma
• Atalantia puberula
• Atalantia floribunda
• Atalantia carissoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Atalantia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions of South and Southeast Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it is widely distributed across the vast territory of India. Its presence is also noted in the neighboring nations of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the species can be found in the specific region of Assam. Finally, its distribution extends to the Indo-China area, specifically encompassing the Andaman Is.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Atalantia monophylla is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a long-term presence in its natural habitat. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen status, ensuring that its foliage remains lush and functional year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf retention supports its steady growth patterns and sustained biological activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Atalantia monophylla is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically functioning as a tree. This plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 4 m. In terms of its structural habit, it is classified as a self-supporting species, lacking the climbing mechanisms associated with lianas or vines, and maintains a robust, woody constitution.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Atalantia monophylla is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in many woody tropical species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Atalantia monophylla has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Atalaphyllidine, N-Methylbuxifoliadine E.

Atalaphyllidine

1. Phytochemistry

N-Methylbuxifoliadine E

1. Phytochemistry