Balakata baccata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sapium populifolium
• Stillingia baccata
• Sapium baccatum
• Stillingia paniculata
• Carumbium baccatum
• Excoecaria baccata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 the order Malpighiales, it falls under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Balakata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several key regions of Asia. In China, it is specifically located within the South-Central provinces. Its distribution extends significantly into the Indian Subcontinent, where it can be found in Assam and across the East Himalaya. Additionally, the species is recorded in the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Finally, its presence is also noted within the mountainous terrain of Nepal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Balakata baccata is characterized by its specific distribution within distinct altitudinal gradients. This species thrives within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 300 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 650 m AMSL. The environmental conditions across its habitat are centered around a mean elevation of 650 m AMSL, suggesting that the plant is most frequently encountered as it reaches the upper limits of its preferred topographical niche.

Elevational range max:

650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Balakata baccata is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. It adopts a phanerophyte life form, specifically classified both as a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, meaning its conductive organs are elevated above the ground level. This plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bala kata baccata is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that reaches a mean height of 25 m, with the potential to grow up to a maximum height of 36 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, growing instead as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is structurally self-supporting, meaning it does not function as a liana or a climbing vine, but maintains its own upright growth form through its sturdy, woody constitution.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bala kata baccata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many temperate and tropical woody species. The plant's vegetative architecture features oval-shaped leaves with entire margins, notably lacking both thorns and spines. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7.5 cm to a maximum of 14 cm (averaging 10.75 cm), and widths spanning from 4 cm to 6.5 cm (averaging 5.25 cm). The leaf economy is further defined by a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of approximately 90.41 cm²/g, suggesting a stabilized leaf mass per unit area. Structural integrity is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 425 mg/cm³, providing necessary mechanical strength for its growth habit. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its metabolic processes.

Leaf form :

oval

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.75 cm

Leaf length min:

7.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

6.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.25 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

90.40751043 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

425 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bala kata bacata is characterized by the development of inflorescences that typically measure between 0.04 m and 0.12 m in length. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit a fleshy texture. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced with a varying volume, ranging from a minimum of 62 mm³ to a maximum of 89 mm³, resulting in an average seed volume of approximately 75.33 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.04 m

Seed volume max:

89 mm³

Seed volume mean:

75.3333333333333 mm³

Seed volume min:

62 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Balakata baccata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Stem

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Balakata baccata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Bukittinggine, Compound 1, Coumarins.

Bukittinggine

1. Planta medica

Compound 1

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Coumarins

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Balakata baccata has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antioxidant.

Antifungal

1. Fitoterapia

Antioxidant

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Preparations

Balakata baccata has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Bioorganic chemistry