Barringtonia asiatica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key maritime regions. In East Tropical Africa, its range extends to the coastal areas of Tanzania. Its distribution also covers significant portions of the Western Indian Ocean. Specifically, it can be found within the Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, and Mauritius. Finally, the species is notably present throughout the large island of Madagascar.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Barringtonia asiatica is characterized by its specialized adaptation to coastal and lowland environments, thriving within a specific elevational range from 0 to 370 m AMSL. It is primarily found occupying niches such as halophytic vegetation, where it demonstrates a high tolerance for saline conditions, as well as within dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation. This distribution pattern highlights its ability to colonize disturbed habitats and coastal margins, playing a functional role in the complex ecosystems of tropical maritime regions.

Elevational range max:

370 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Barringtonia asiatica is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its tropical coastal habitats. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, establishing a robust structural presence in its ecosystem. This life form is consistently expressed through its phanerophyte growth habit, which facilitates its survival in maritime environments. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year to maximize energy production and stability in its native range.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Barringtonia asiatica is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant displays significant stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 7 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 14.25 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

14.25 m

Plant height min:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Barringtonia asiatica is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic processes, particularly regarding its foliar development and nutrient acquisition. The leaves exhibit significant variation in size, with a minimum length of 15 cm, a mean length of 40 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 52 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 21 cm. Structurally, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a non-succulent tissue composition that manages water through standard transpiration and storage mechanisms rather than specialized fleshy structures. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to support its physiological growth and metabolic functions.

Leaf length max:

52 cm

Leaf length mean:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Leaf width max:

21 cm

Leaf width min:

7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Barringtonia asiatica is driven by biotic pollination processes, specifically characterized by a pollination syndrome involving bats. The plant produces white flowers arranged in inflorescences that vary in length from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.15 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that typically range between 8.5 cm and 11 cm in length, with an average length of 9.75 cm, and a width between 8.5 cm and 10 cm. Each fruit contains a seed count typically ranging from 1 to 10 seeds. The seeds themselves are substantial in size, with lengths ranging from 40 mm to 50 mm and widths spanning from 35 mm to 40 mm. To facilitate the spread of its progeny, the species utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water to transport its fruits and seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

11 cm

Fruit length mean:

9.75 cm

Fruit length min:

8.5 cm

Fruit width max:

10 cm

Fruit width min:

8.5 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

50 mm

Seed length min:

40 mm

Seed width max:

40 mm

Seed width min:

35 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Barringtonia asiatica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Barringtonia asiatica has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include burns, wounds.

Burns

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Wounds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Barringtonia asiatica has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanol extract.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract

1. Journal of natural products