Bischofia javanica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple regions in Asia and Africa. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Additionally, its presence extends to the tropical island province of Hainan. Beyond Asia, the species is also documented within East Tropical Africa, specifically in Kenya. This wide range highlights the adaptability of the species across various tropical and subtropical climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bischofiia javaica is characterized by its preference for diverse tropical environments, primarily thriving within rain forests, dense secondary shrublands, and rudeural vegetation. It exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying various ecological niches across a significant vertical gradient. This elevational range extends from a minimum of 200 m AMSL to a maximum of 2200 m AMSL, with the species most commonly found at a mean elevation of approximately 800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Genetics

The genetics of Bischofiia javanica are characterized by a highly complex and unusual karyotype, most notably evidenced by its extreme chromosome number. Scientific observations of this species have documented a chromosome number of 196, a figure that places it among the rare group of plants exhibiting massive polyploidy or complex genomic rearrangements. Such a high count suggests a sophisticated evolutionary history involving multiple rounds of genome doubling or chromosomal fragmentation, which significantly influences the plant's genetic diversity and its ability to adapt to diverse ecological niches. This massive chromosomal load serves as a fundamental component of its biological makeup, shaping the inheritance patterns and genomic stability of the species.

Chromosome number :

196

Life history

The life history of Bischofiia javaica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems, a life form classification that identifies it as a woody species where the buds are borne high above the ground level. This phanerophyte growth habit ensures its structural dominance within its ecological niche, supporting its long-term survival and development over many years.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bischofiia javaica is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that exhibits a self-supporting growth habit. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than occupying aquatic or semiaquatic niches. The plant displays significant verticality, with height measurements ranging from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 45 meters, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 29.33 meters. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, allowing it to stand firmly as a self-supporting tree without the need for climbing mechanisms such as vines or lianas.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

45 m

Plant height mean:

29.3333333333333 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bischofia javaica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its reliance on the standard carbon fixation process common to many woody tropical species. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its foliage. Its foliar dimensions show significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a mean of 11 cm, reaching a maximum of 15 cm, while leaf widths vary from a minimum of 3 cm to a mean of 6 cm, with a maximum width of 8 cm. Structurally, the plant possesses a stem with a mean specific density (SSD) of 635 mg/cm³, reflecting its wood density and mechanical properties. Furthermore, Bischofia javaica does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

635 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bischofia javaica is characterized by a specialized reproductive strategy that relies on external biological agents. The plant does not engage in self-fertilization, as the trait is noted as absent, suggesting a dependency on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The fruits produced are fleshy in texture, with widths ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 1.3 cm, maintaining an average width of approximately 0.95 cm. These fleshy fruits facilitate a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, where animals play a critical role in moving the seeds, though the species also exhibits anthropochorous dispersal, indicating movement aided by human activity. The seeds themselves are relatively small and uniform in volume, with a recorded maximum, minimum, and mean volume of 17 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds vary from a minimum of 0.00644 g to a maximum of 0.01576 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of 0.0106 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit width max:

1.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Seed mass max:

0.01576 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0106 g

Seed mass min:

0.00644 g

Seed volume max:

17 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Bischofia javanica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Bischofia javanica has 18 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke