coffee bush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• coffee bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Melanthesa rhamnoides var. oblongifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned under the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, it is identified as a member of the genus Breynia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range spanning several distinct regions across the Indo-Pacific. Within the Malesia zone, its presence is noted throughout the Lesser Sunda Islands. The species also extends into Papuasia, where it can be found in New Guinea. In Australia, its distribution covers significant portions of the northern and eastern territories. Specifically, it inhabits the Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Breynia oblongifolia is characterized by its perennial growth habit and its classification through distinct botanical life forms. Primarily functioning as a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches above the soil surface, allowing it to establish a woody structure capable of enduring various environmental conditions. Depending on the specific ecological niche and the height of its persistent buds, its growth strategy can also align with the traits of a nanophanerophyte, where the woody stems are kept relatively low to the ground. This perennial nature ensures long-term survival in its habitat, utilizing its structural height to optimize light interception while maintaining a robust reproductive cycle typical of woody shrubs.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Breynia oblongifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically functioning as a self-supporting shrub. This species exhibits a terrestrial habitat preference, distinguishing it from aquatic or epiphytic life forms. As a non-parasitic organism, it maintains an independent existence without relying on host plants. In terms of structural dimension, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 3 meters, maintaining a robust, self-supporting stature rather than behaving as a liana, vine, or climbing entity.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Breynia oblongifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light environments. The plant's vegetative structure features leaves with specific morphological dimensions that facilitate gas exchange and light interception, typically ranging in length from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm, defining the overall surface area available for photosynthetic activity and transpiration.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Breynia oblongifolia is characterized by the production of fruit classified as a berry. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents, instead relying on the complete breakdown or consumption of the fleshy fruit structure. The seeds produced within these fruits are notably consistent in size, with a measured seed mass of 0.00566 g, a value that represents the mean, minimum, and maximum mass recorded for the species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Fruit type :

berry

Seed mass mean:

0.00566 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Breynia oblongifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins.

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Saponins

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Activities

Breynia oblongifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Conditions

Breynia oblongifolia has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, wounds.

Inflammation

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Wounds

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Preparations

Breynia oblongifolia has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extracts, ethanol extract.

Crude extracts

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Ethanol extract

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies