Burmese grape

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Burmese grape
• Burmese-grape
• baccaurea
• Burmese grape

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pierardia sapida
• Gatnaia annamica
• Baccaurea wrayi
• Baccaurea sapida
• Baccaurea pierardi
• Baccaurea propinqua
• Baccaurea oxycarpa
• Baccaurea flaccida
• Baccaurea cauliflora

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Baccaurea, of which Baccaurea ramiflora is a member.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving towards the Indian Subcontinent, the species can be found growing in the state of Assam. Additionally, its distribution extends into the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Baccaurea ramiflora is defined by its specific vertical distribution within tropical forest ecosystems, where it occupies a broad altitudinal gradient. This species is typically found across various terrains, ranging from low-lying areas starting at a minimum elevation of 100 m AMSL to higher montane reaches that peak at a maximum elevation of 1300 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 700 m AMSL, positioning it as a versatile component of mid-elevation forest structures. This elevational plasticity suggests an ability to adapt to varying climatic conditions and moisture levels found across different altitudinal zones.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Baccaurea ramiflora is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its growth upward, maintaining its photosynthetic organs well above the ground level through woody stems. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a consistent canopy and continuous metabolic activity. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a phanerophyte life form ensures its structural stability and long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Baccaurea ramiflora is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. It is a terrestrial species that maintains a self-supporting structure, distinguishing it from climbing vines or lianas. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 15 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 12.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

12.5 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Baccaurea ramiflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic strategy typical of many tropical woody species. Its foliar morphology features elliptic leaf forms with entire margins, entirely lacking in leaf thorns or spines. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 9 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, maintaining an average length of 12 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 8 cm, with a mean width of 5.5 cm. The plant's resource allocation and leaf structure are further reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which shows a mean value of approximately 163.08 cm²/g, ranging from a minimum of 152.80 cm²/g to a maximum of 174.54 cm²/g. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological processes.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

9 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

174.5429104 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

163.078498175 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

152.8041958 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Baccaurea ramiflora is characterized by a complex fruit and seed development process where self-fertilization is notably absent, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination mechanisms. The resulting fruits are fleshy in texture, serving as a primary vehicle for seed dispersal. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, typically maintaining a mean length of 2.25 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm) and a mean width of 1.75 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm). Within these fleshy fruits, the seeds play a critical role in the plant's life cycle, possessing a mean volume of 445 mm³, with individual seed volumes fluctuating between a minimum of 370 mm³ and a maximum of 520 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.25 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.75 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Seed volume max:

520 mm³

Seed volume mean:

445 mm³

Seed volume min:

370 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Baccaurea ramiflora has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Scientifica
2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
3. Food science & nutrition

Fruit

1. Bioinformation

Chemicals

Baccaurea ramiflora has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, CYCLOOCTASILOXANE.

Flavonoids

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. Food science & nutrition

Saponins

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. Food science & nutrition

Tannins

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. Food science & nutrition

2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol

1. Scientifica

CYCLOOCTASILOXANE

1. Scientifica

Dimethyl sulfone

1. Scientifica

Dimethylsulfoxonium formylmethylide

1. Scientifica

Flavonoid

1. Scientifica

Glycosides

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Phenols

1. Food science & nutrition

Activities

Baccaurea ramiflora has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. Food science & nutrition

Antimicrobial

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Medicinal Uses

Baccaurea ramiflora has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aspergillus fumigates, Inflammation, Salmonella typhi.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations