freshwater mangrove

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• China-pine
• Derbyshire-pine
• cassowary-pine
• cornbeefwood
• fish-poison-tree
• freshwater mangrove
• mango-pine
• mangobark
• powderpuff-tree
• Brackishwater Mangrove
• False-Guava
• Fish-Poison Tree
• Hippo-Apple
• Horse chestnut
• Wild-Guava

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caryophyllus racemosus
• Butonica racemosa
• Michelia rosata
• Michelia ceylanica
• Michelia apiculata
• Barringtonia racemosa var. elongata
• Barringtonia terrestris
• Butonica alba
• Stravadium obtusangulum
• Eugenia racemosa
• Barringtonia obtusangula
• Barringtonia pallida
• Barringtonia stravadium
• Barringtonia rosaria
• Barringtonia rosata
• Barringtonia rumphiana
• Barringtonia salomonensis
• Barringtonia racemosa var. minor
• Barringtonia racemosa var. procera
• Barringtonia racemosa var. subcuneata
• Barringtonia longiracemosa
• Barringtonia lageniformis
• Barringtonia elongata
• Barringtonia celebesensis
• Barringtonia ceramensis
• Barringtonia ceylanica
• Barringtonia afra
• Butonica rosata
• Butonica ceylanica
• Butonica inclyta
• Butonica rumphiana
• Butonica terrestris
• Barringtonia timorensis
• Butonica apiculata
• Butonica afra
• Megadendron pallidum
• Megadendron ambiguum
• Michelia racemosa
• Michelia timorensis
• Stravadium racemosum
• Huttum racemosum
• Menichea rosata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, falling within the family Lecythidaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Barringtonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent and its surrounding islands. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is recorded in both Kenya and Tanzania. Moving further south, it can be found within the coastal areas of Mozambique in South Tropical Africa. The species also extends into the Southern African region, specifically within KwaZulu-Natal. Finally, its range reaches the Western Indian Ocean, where it is documented in the Comoros.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Barringtonia racemosa is characterized by its specific preference for low-lying, hydric environments, typically thriving within an elevational range of 45 to 90 m AMSL. This species is most commonly found in forest settings situated alongside rivers and streams within the coastal belt, extending slightly inland. Its habitat often encompasses the transitional zones between mangroves and bordering grasslands or thickets, where it frequently establishes itself with roots submerged or frequently in contact with water.

Elevational range max:

90 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

45 m AMSL

Habitat :

in forest by rivers and streams in coastal belt and some short way inland, also between mangroves and bordering grassland or bush with roots often in water

Life history

The life history of Barringtonia racemosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term persistence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, contributing to its structural presence in its habitat. The plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the seasons and providing continuous vegetative cover. This combination of life strategies allows it to establish a stable, long-lived presence, while its classification as a nanophanerophyte further refines its growth habit within the complex strata of its environment.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Barringtonia racemosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or vine. This terrestrial species exhibits significant variation in stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 10 m. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and grows strictly as a terrestrial plant, lacking any epiphytic tendencies such as being a hemi-epiphyte or holo-epiphyte. The structure is defined by its robust, woody nature, supporting its development as a prominent tree within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Barringtonia racemosa is characterized by its adaptation to coastal and riparian ecosystems, where it manages complex metabolic processes to thrive in saline or waterlogged environments. As a dicotyledonous angiosperm, it undergoes standard photosynthetic processes to convert solar energy into chemical energy, supporting its rapid growth and large floral displays. Regarding its nutrient acquisition, the plant does not engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation; it is not a nitrogen fixer (trait_1: no), meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules containing diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms. Instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its extensive root system to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and chlorophyll production. Its physiological resilience is further evidenced by its ability to regulate osmotic pressure, allowing it to maintain cellular turgor and metabolic function despite the potential physiological drought induced by high salinity in its natural habitats.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Barringtonia racemosa is characterized by a complex interplay of biotic pollination and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The plant employs a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically adapted for interaction with bats, which facilitates the transfer of pollen between flowers. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces a fruit classified as a drupe. This fruit is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its seeds. To ensure the spread of its offspring, the species utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water currents to transport the fruits to new locations, a strategy that is essential for its typical coastal or riparian habitats.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Barringtonia racemosa has 5 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem, fruit, leaf, seed.

Root

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. PeerJ
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Fruit

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Leaf

1. PeerJ

Seed

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Chemicals

Barringtonia racemosa has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, bartogenic acid, 3,3'-dimethoxy ellagic acid, Clerodane Diterpenoid, Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside.

Gallic acid

1. PeerJ
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

bartogenic acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

3,3'-dimethoxy ellagic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Clerodane Diterpenoid

1. Fitoterapia

Quercetin 3-O-rutinoside

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

STIGMASTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

dihydromyticetin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

ellagic acid

1. PeerJ

kaempferol

1. PeerJ

polyphenols

1. PeerJ

Medicinal Uses

Barringtonia racemosa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lipid peroxidation, oxidative damage, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations